Gonna have to eat this one and chalk it up to a lesson learned.

If you absolutely don't want animals in the apartment then stick to the lease as the previous guy said.

The laundry room and family room needed to be gutted due to the animal damage.

That is someone wanting you to hand them a steak dinner to eat and then has a knife ready to stab the hand giving them the food.No legal advice given.  

When I go out to eat and pay for a meal is that a conflict of interest? 

They also were heavy smokers, hoarders, and animal lovers, but refused to clean up after them.

Probably just let them do their thing, want the animal activity.And the big one, Health. 

When I showed up I found most of their kitchen drawers and cabinets contents still there, trashed carpets with motor oils (tracked in from working on his car in the garage), half of a 2 car garage full of trash bags, a broken window, lots of stuffed animals and art supplies, and about 150 empty 12 pack cardboard containers of Keystone Light and as many cans.

Mind you, it might not be such a bad thing if you plan to hold long term.I believe they invest there themselves so, in a way, they're eating their own cookie.

BTW my 2 pits and 3 huskies are all support animals and really well behaved.