What to do when guests bring pets?

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Looking for suggestions and opinions on when a guest brings a hypoallergenic dog when you have a no pet policy. They came from PA and we are in MA. Pet

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Is it a service animal? If not then I would either ask them to leave or negotiate an extra fee.

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I don’t let them in.

I’ve no problem at all with hosting pets but our HOA banned renters from having dogs. (Owners’ pets are grandfathered in).

How does ‘hypoallergenic’ fit into this?

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4

Simple, you don’t let them across the threshold and then get on to CS to let them sort it out as they’ve essentially ignored your house rule.

Alternatively, if you’re ok with it, negotiate a Pet Fee and trouser the extra money.

My immediate choice would be the first.

JF

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5

I’m guessing this is the guest pleading their case to the host. As in, “My Fluffy couldn’t possibly cause any problems…“

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I get that all the time… “Well-behaved dog that will be out with me all the time.” Yeah, until it pees on the Oriental rug, tries to kill my cat, and is left in the room alone, crying whilst I’m on a conference call.

No. Just. No. Send them packing to a pet friendly listing. I hear La Quinta works…

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This situation worries me. You turn them away, they are mad, they will likely leave you a retaliatory bad review for something that is their fault, and in the worst case, they later contact Airbnb and claim their animal is an “assistance animal” (Airbnb’s terminology that includes both real service animals and emotional support animals) and you discriminated against them.

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8

Meaning it should not be an issue of dander.

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9

I would immediately contact Air and the guest via the Air platform and say “House rules broken, showed up with a pet, never claimed it was assistance animal, showed them the door” and take it from there. Yes, people can claim discrimination. I had someone literally write the word “lol” after “assistance animal” and I asked if it was for real or was she trying one on. She disappeared, but I’m waiting for the person who has an ESA and I, like the airlines, ask for paperwork. A real service animal will have a real vest and respond to commands. There are ways to ask that sound conversational and I’d go that route.

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10

Hypoallergenic dogs (which some people can still be allergic to) still shed, can still pee on things, break things, claw things. Follow your own rules. You have them in place for a reason.

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No. Service animals in the US are not required to have a vest or any other visible identification.

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Not that it matters since Airbnb groups service animals into their broader category of assistance animals and doesn’t require the guests have documentation, give any advance notice, or get permission from hosts (except for shared-home listings where the host can claim allergies or has other pets).

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The vest is not a requirement. True service animals do not have to wear vests.

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A dog? Count your blessings, it could have been Twinkle, the emotional support horse!

Apologies for the source :expressionless:

JF

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That’s the problem. Oftentimes we don’t stand up for ourselves for fear of a bad review. If they did leave a bad review the host can respond, saying they have a “no pet” policy.

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Yeah, but in the worst case, if Airbnb believes the guest’s discrimination story, they will delist you and refuse to communicate with you to even hear your side of the story.

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Hypoallergenic dogs can harm human health as well as damage to surrounding things.

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That is a true statement. My mischievous duo are hypoallergenic male Yorkie and male Yorkie mix. Most cats are bigger than these 7-8 lb brats. 90% of the time they are good dogs but in a new environment sometimes they will pee.

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Every dog I have ever bought to a hotel has pee’d.
All of them were good dogs, never did that at home.

RR

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20

Like @jaquo my HOA forbids renters to have pets on premises. My HOA has defined standards/rules for allowing service animals.

I run a risk of a guest reporting me but if they do I will give Airbnb a copy of my HOA requirements. I hope it never comes to that.

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