"If they don't, I know they won't have a problem
finding another place to live, and I will wish them luck," says
Montalbano. "I prefer renters with pit bulls because I know how hard it is
to find a place to with live with one, for no reason other than the ignorance
and labels."
It can indeed be punishingly difficult to find a rental,
when you are in possession of a blocky-headed dog, about whom so many
persistent but untrue negative stereotypes abound.
This can lead to pit bull owners forced into terrible
choices, like having to sleep in their car or even giving up a beloved pup.
In fact Montalbano -- an art director for an advertising
company, who volunteers with a local nonprofit called Handsome Dan's Rescue for
Pit Bull Type Dogs -- bought the house a couple of years ago, when she was
having a tough time finding a rental that would allow her own pair of doggies,
plus a rotating cast of fosters.
"I looked for about two weeks and knew it was going to
be a waste of time, so I decided to buy," she says.
It's been a great couple of years -- so much so that she
and her dog are leaving it to move in with her boyfriend and his two dogs.
(Montalbano's second dog recently died of cancer.)
Her boyfriend is a Humane Law Enforcement Officer she met
through mutual friends in the animal rescue world.
"I'm probably
the luckiest person in the world that I found someone who shares the same
passion I do for animals," says Montalbano.
Since her listing went up a week ago, there's been 20-some
inquiries from interested parties -- many of whom, Montalbano's pleased to
note, have included photos of their dogs.
It'll be hard to choose among them, unless, hint hint, one
offers to expand their household by adopting or fostering through Handsome
Dan's. (We'll wait while you go check out a favorite: Lady Maybelline.)
Montalbano's also heard from lots of folks who aren't
looking for a place themselves. They just want to thank her, for giving a
family with pit bulls a place to live.
Which makes her happy, as a personal matter. And makes
Montalbano think there's a good business opportunity here, catering to this
clearly under-served community.
So she'd love to buy more rental properties herself. And
then she'd really love to see other landlords stealing away her clientele, by
opening up their own homes to pit bulls and the people who love them.
"I have something that can sincerely help keep a
family together, so why wouldn't I rent to a family with a pit bull?" she
says. "To me, this should be the norm, and I don't think I'm doing
anything that I wouldn't expect other dog lovers to do,."
