More local apartments to allow pets

When students leave home for college, they leave some of their best friends behind – often including beloved pets.

But apartment complexes all over Chapel Hill are giving students the choice to bring their furry friends with them or to make some new ones.

Chapel Ridge Apartments recently changed their pet policy to allow students to live with their pets, Chapel Ridge community assistant Brandy Thomas said. While the policy doesn’t go into effect until fall leasing begins, students have already started taking advantage of the change.

“If they’ve already renewed their lease then we’ve allowed them to keep their pets here,” Thomas said. “I think residents are happy that they can bring pets from home. Altogether, I think it’s a good change.”

Jason Calvert, a UNC student who will be living in Chapel Ridge Apartments this fall, said he also thought the change was for the better.

“I think this change was needed,” he said. “I see more and more people buying pets, including myself, and it almost seems wrong for such a popular apartment to not allow pets.”

Chapel Ridge decided to make their policy pet-friendly because they were turning customers away.

“I think that they were noticing that a lot of people were coming in asking about pets and that was a big thing turning people away from living here,” Thomas said.

Other pet-friendly apartment complexes in Chapel Hill include Collins Crossing and Southern Village Apartments. Both allow a wide variety of pets, but have certain breed restrictions.

“Last week, a girl signed a lease here, and she’s bringing a teacup pig,” said Demi Young, leasing agent at Collins Crossing. “This morning we had someone come in, and the only reason she came in is because we told her we’d take her pet.”

Carly Huff, assistant manager at Southern Village Apartments, said she believes having a pet-friendly policy helps the complex attract more people.

“A lot of people have pets and want to bring their pets with them,” she said.

Calvert said he thinks there are many benefits of allowing residents to have pets.

“Allowing pets helps to build the home atmosphere, rather than just having the apartments feel like a place to stay while you study,” he said.

But he also recognized some of the consequences.

“Some pets could be loud or they could leave a mess outside if the owner does not clean up after them, but I think the benefits outweigh the consequences,” Calvert said.

One of the reasons Chapel Ridge was not previously pet-friendly had to do with keeping things clean.

“The apartments have been here for a while and the priority is keeping them fresh and up-to-date,” Thomas said.

But despite these reasons, Young said she recognizes the important role pets play in the lives of their human companions.

“I think it’s really important to people because pets are a part of the family, you know?”