Scout is a family member just like your husband and children.  Moving around and finding rental properties that allow Scout can be a bit of a challenge, especially if Scout is a puppy or weighs 100 pounds.  Many cats and dogs end up in shelters when their family has a hard time moving them from place to place.  Below are some tips to smoothly transition from place to place keeping your entire family in tow.

• Have 1 cat or dog.  Multiple pets can cause more wear and tear on a home when they play and run together.  Most Landlords allow one pet but become hesitant when there will be multiple pets in the home.  Plan trips to the dog park and take your pet to daycare for social interaction.
• Train your pet. A well trained pet goes a long way.  If a property is listed as no pets contact the Property Manager to see if this is negotiable.  Understand the Property Manager knows their Client and the Client may have a strict no pet policy, but it's always worth asking.  The Owner may be willing to negotiate if the Owner or Property Manager can meet the pet.
• Crate train your pet.  t's not that most Landlords don't like animals.  Landlords are concerned a pet will cause damage to their investment property.  Pets that are crate trained love their crates and will go lay in them even when their Owners are home.  Knowing that the pets are crated when the Tenants are away from the home adds reassurance to a Landlord that the pet is not going to be unsupervised and cause damage the home while the Tenants are away.
• Keep your pets on flea prevention.  The requirement to have pets on flea prevention should be in every lease when a pet resides in the property.  A flea infestation is very hard to treat and many people (including me) are highly allergic to their bites.  
• Be honest about the number of pets you have. Don't tell your Property Manager you have 1 pet when you have 3.  It's a violation of the lease and grounds for eviction.  It's amazing how many Tenants have a relative out of town they are "pet sitting" for or they made some type of heroic act rescuing a pet when they are confronted that additional pets that were never approved are in the property.  Regardless of the reason for the additional pet it's a violation of the lease if the pet has not been approved.  Get permission for your pet ahead of time, pay the pet fee, and have the new pet added to your lease agreement.
• Landlords should consider installing low maintenance floors.  You have decided to make your residential property an investment property.  Consider installing low maintenance floors such as laminate, ceramic tile, or scratch resistant wood.  This will minimize the wear and tear on floors caused by pets and market your property to more prospective Tenants.  Professional carpet cleaning upon vacancy should be included in the lease if the property has carpets.
• Accommodate for showings and walk throughs.  Landlords don't like to hear that a Property Manager or Real Estate Agent cannot conduct a walk through or show a property because of a pet.  When a walk through or showing is scheduled make accommodations for your pet.  Place them in their crate or a bedroom and let your Property Manager know where the pet will be.  Even if you think Scout is the most friendly dog in the world animals can behave differently when someone tries to enter their home and their Owner is not present.  If the animal is loose in the home it may be a liability for a Property Manager or Real Estate Agent to enter.  Working together to accommodate showings will keep the Landlord happy and result in better rental references.
• Know the difference between a pet fee and a pet deposit.  A standard South Carolina lease agreement lists the pet fee as a non-refundable fee to have your pet in the property.  It cannot be used for cleaning or carpet cleaning when a Tenant vacates.  Understand that you are responsible for the pets behavior and any damages that occur. If your pet causes damage be honest with the Property Manager.  The two of you can then work together to get the repair made.  If a Landlord indicates the money is a refundable pet deposit and not a pet fee get this IN WRITING.

I had a Landlord at a property I rented several years ago request a $500 pet deposit for my large dog.  I asked him if it was refundable and he said YES.  When I went to sign the lease agreement it was dusk and there was no power on at the property.  I signed the lease agreement without being able to read it.  When I vacated the property I asked about my $500 refundable deposit and the Landlord stated it was a non-refundable deposit per my lease agreement.  Lesson learned.  Don't ever sign a lease if you can't read through it.  

Pets bring a lot of joy to our homes.  If you know you are going to be traveling and renting long term limit the number of pets you have.  If you like being around lots of animals consider volunteering at an animal rescue.  Keep open communication about your pets and finding a rental home that suites your needs should be relatively easy.