The Pros and Cons of Being Pet-Friendly

Among the concerns of new property owners is the option of allowing pets. Many people consider their pets part of their family and therefore, they want to bring them along on vacation. Most condo complexes do not allow renters to have pets, but for private homes, it’s up to the individual owner. Keep reading to learn about the pros and cons of pet-friendly vacation rentals.

Pros of Pet-Friendly Vacation Rentals

Let’s start with the pros. If you allow pets in your home, you are increasing the pool of renters that might be interested in your home. For some people, bringing their pet with them on vacation is non-negotiable, so they won’t even look at Lake of the Ozarks vacation properties that do not allow pets. Another pro would be that you could get a slightly higher nightly price from those guests bringing a pet, as they would likely be paying a pet fee.

Cons of Pet-Friendly Vacation Rentals

Probably the biggest con of allowing other people to bring pets into your home, is the higher potential for damage. Scratching at doors and floors, chewing on furniture, etc. are all a risk of allowing pets into your home. Other cons include nuisance to neighbors from excessive barking, and extra cleaning, particularly from pet hair. You also could be eliminating possible rentals from people who have pet allergies.

In the end, it really comes down to your personal preference. If you have a pet of your own, then maybe having a pet-friendly rental is a good idea for you. If you don’t have a pet or are concerned about damage, then maybe you don’t allow pets. We currently only have about 4 pet-friendly vacation rentals on our program, and while they do tend to see a lot of rentals, so do our non-pet-friendly homes.

Pet-Friendly Vacation Rentals at Lake of the Ozarks

If you choose to allow pets in your home and you’re on our Lake of the Ozarks vacation rental program, we do have limits, guidelines and fees that guests will need to abide by. We do not allow more than two dogs, and those dogs are not allowed to be left at the property unattended. In addition, we charge a pet fee that is paid to the owner for extra wear and tear on the property due to allowing pets, as well as an additional cleaning fee that is paid to the housekeeper for the cleanup of pet hair. If there is damage from a pet, we would charge the guest’s credit card to cover those damages.

Please also be aware of the difference between pets, emotional support animals and service animals. Vacation rentals are not allowed to refuse service animals, including condo complexes. These animals undergo special training and therefore, would not be a risk for damage or nuisance. Emotional support animals are not trained and therefore, they fall into the same category as a pet when it comes to allowing them in a vacation rental.