Being Pet Friendly
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Pet Amenities
Pets are like family, and when it comes to keeping them happy and healthy, most owners will do just about anything for them, regardless of cost.
In a 2014 survey on pet products and services, market research firm WSL found that 81% of respondents spent more or the same on their pets despite recent economic troubles. In a separate study, the American Pet Products Association, in its National Pet Owners Survey, found that pet owners spent $58 billion on their pets in 2014, up from $41 billion in 2007.
That's why, to win over animal-lover residents, more properties have invested in amenities in the past 10 years that cater to a higher standard of living for pets.
"We're always looking at every single building and what we can do to maximize people's enjoyment of their lifestyle," says Daria Salusbury, senior vice president of leasing at Related Cos. "We realized a long time ago that pets are people's extended family."
Though Related Cos. has always been pet-friendly, the team has recently found success in providing more for their four-legged tenants. Related first built a dog grooming station in One Carnegie Hill in Manhattan. Salusbury says it was the most-used amenity in the entire building. With MiMA, also in Manhattan, Related went one step further by introducing Dog City, a dog spa that takes care of every need imaginable, from dog walking and doggie dates to geriatric care and nutrition plans.
If going all-in on a dog spa or grooming stations isn't feasible, pet events are also fun ways to attract tenants. AvalonBay, for example, offers Doggie Paddle pool parties, Yappy Hours, and pet CPR classes to foster a sense of community among pet owners.
But not everybody loves dogs, cautions Gables Residential's Sullivan.
"We want to be careful where we put those amenities and how they're integrated into the community, because if you're not a dog lover, you don't want to be sitting at the pool [next to one]," she says.
