You will be eliminating a tax break that can be hugely beneficial to you as you enter retirement.You're most financially beneficial option would be to sell those properties and do 1031 exchanges into other real estate that is passive in nature. 

If you do, I would charge a pet security deposit, a pet fee for processing paperwork (require vet shot records), and monthly pet rent.

Take a good look at your budget and explore different financing options, such as traditional loans, FHA loans, VA loans, and private financing.

I see they suggest offering the tenants the option of paying by Credit Card.

Either way, there are a number of good options currently on the market for the goals you have laid out.

What are other options to buy and hold while recycling my cash and not getting too deep on negative cash flow?

-negotiate if you can and always remember this may be the most important step-due diligence, make sure zoning regulations don't cause you any problems in the future-purchase agreement - this outlines the terms of the sale, make sure you have a lawyer review this-financing - if they are owner financing that is great, if not try to have this secured before signing a contract-closing - commercial property closing is much simpler and has less documents than a residential closingHope this helps.  

You will then have a few options with that rent money....you can put it into principal or you can start saving it to purchase yet another property.

Consider targeting properties that have the potential for appreciation in value, as well as options for utilizing tax-saving strategies such as cost segregation and 1031 exchanges.

I was starting to look at this as an option.