Moving to SF w/a rescue pitbull--neighborhood/rental suggestions? (Oakland: rentals, houses) - San Francisco - Oakland - California (CA) - City-Data Forum

vistacruiser · 02-28-2008, 10:55 PM

I am moving to SF and bringing my two dogs with me. One of them is a rescued pitbull who is great with people, with cats, and with his brother (a mini dachshund).

But he can't handle being around other dogs while he's on a leash. That means I need a yard... and a rental situation that will accept my pooch. Roommate would be okay, but they'd have to be extremely like-minded and responsible.

Currently I live in a home that I own, complete with yard. But I want to rent out my house and move to SF. Finding a place for my dog feels way more daunting than finding a job.

Any suggestions on neighborhoods, and types of rentals that would have secure backyards, and be dog-friendly.

Thanks for your time, I really appreciate it, as I can't imagine not having my dog with me, but i can't imagine letting that fact prevent me from moving, either. So I need to figure it out!

~VC

gizmo980 · 03-01-2008, 04:28 PM

First and most important question - what is your rental budget going to be? I have a dog (40 lb. non-pitt mutt) and two cats, and it was very difficult to find a rental here in my price range... if you don't mind being in a less-desireable neighborhood, I'd suggest you look in the southeast part of town (Bayview, Excelsior, Portola, Ingleside, etc.), which is where I ended up. Sorry to say it, but landlords in SF aren't very dog-friendly, especially when you have a Pitbull.

If you don't need to be in the city itself, you may have the best luck in the East Bay - Oakland, Hayward, San Leandro, and thereabouts. Hope you find something!

sonarrat · 03-01-2008, 05:10 PM

Ingleside is southwest, no? That's the area around SFSU. I would tend to agree that the Bayview/HP, Visitacion Valley, etc. would be most compatible with something that would be considered an attack animal (whether or not this is actually true). You won't get messed with, that's for sure.

mkcking · 03-02-2008, 05:23 PM

Sonarrat, I have to disagree. I also had a rescue pit in the city, she got kidnapped one day near the projects. We were lucky to get her back alive.

Stay away from the projects, she came from them and was messed up when we got her (she was soooo sweet to people, but always hated dogs).

I'd say, move to the sunset, bigger yards there. Or move to the suburbs where the yards are larger.

Consider a muzzle, I know it's a drag but I always found that dogs would mess with my dog even when she was on a leash and I'D get blamed because she'd attack them. There isn't much you can do when your dog is on leash and the other is off leash.

gizmo980 · 03-02-2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkcking

Sonarrat, I have to disagree. I also had a rescue pit in the city, she got kidnapped one day near the projects. We were lucky to get her back alive.

Stay away from the projects, she came from them and was messed up when we got her (she was soooo sweet to people, but always hated dogs).

To be fair, I never said anything about moving to the PROJECTS!

Yes, I live in the Bayview, but it happens to be a very nice, safe & quiet neighborhood... and we have a little fenced yard, which has been just perfect for my dog. I shared pictures of my place on another thread, so you can see that not ALL of the southeast (or southwest) is that horrible - you just get more bang for your buck, and would be more likely to find a pit-friendly landlord. Trust me, I would've loved to live in the Sunset, but there was literally nothing dog-friendly out there when I was looking. But if the OP can find something in the Sunset, of course that's a great neighborhood!

vistacruiser · 03-04-2008, 06:35 PM

Thanks Gizmo, Sonnarat, and Mkcking for your advice. I'd thought of the Sunset, but not Ingleside, Bayview, or Visitacion Vallely. The rent isn't as much of an issue for me as being able to keep my dog. So I'll be looking in all of the place you suggested!

mkcking · 03-04-2008, 09:19 PM

Sorry Gizmo, I know there are some great areas over in Bayview, I'm just a little paranoid because my dog got nabbed out in that general vicinity. But I know that can happen anywhere, you have to be careful when you own a pitbull (even if it is a sweet dog).

gizmo980 · 03-05-2008, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkcking

Sorry Gizmo, I know there are some great areas over in Bayview, I'm just a little paranoid because my dog got nabbed out in that general vicinity. But I know that can happen anywhere, you have to be careful when you own a pitbull (even if it is a sweet dog).

Oh, I completely agree! That's why I refuse to tie my dog outside when I'm in a store, since a crack-head tried to steal him at 7-11... that was when I lived in East Palo Alto, which is a really bad neighborhood, so I'm also a bit paranoid. But the way our houses here in SF are set up (row-style), it would be impossible for anyone to grab a dog from a backyard. So just don't leave him in the front yard, but those are pretty rare anyway.

vistacruiser · 03-05-2008, 12:21 PM

thanks for the tip-- but he's never outside in the backyard unless i'm home, because he barks his fool head off at the slightest sound of a truck rumbling by let alone an actual dog growling or barking. as for walking him to the store, i wish-- he's so reactive that i pretty much have to keep him cloistered away from the world, which is why he has his little dachshund sister to play with and keep him company. just taking him to the vet is a major ordeal. he wears a Gentle Leader Calming Cap (think translucent lucha libre mask with no eye holes) to obscure what he can see to prevent him from busting through the glass in my car windows should he see a dog (or anything remotely resembling one) on the street. i honestly didn't know i'd rescued a baiter dog until long after i'd grown attached to the sweet guy. but it comes with loads of responsibility and limited housing options. so again, i really appreciate your help, because living with him is like living with a dangerous special needs child. and moving into a city with much higher population density than los angeles is really daunting.

gizmo980 · 03-05-2008, 08:38 PM

Wow, that must be tough to deal with... you should call the dog whisperer!

Seriously, he's dealt with dogs like that on his show, and there are ways to "cure" the problem - believe it or not, they include MAKING him go into the world, and learning to face his fears & aggressions. Have you seen the show or read Cesar's books? They might be helpful to you, as they were to me when I was raising my pup. Anyway, good luck!