Airbnb and its pet policies

[Donata12]

I believe there is a real URGENT need for Airbnb to finally clarify its pet policies. Pet policies should apply based on laws and regulations of the host's location and not Airbnb TOs as they cannot overrule local jurisdictions. There is way too much confusion on this topic and the result is that hosts are always nailed or held hostages of bad reviews and inconsistent support from the platform  and its CMs.

Most urgent is:

1. define and limit allowed dogs to Service Dogs Only. These  are recognized in most countries. 

2. Get rid of ESAs (emotional Support Dogs) . This is mainly recognized in the States and anybody can get a certificate (false) on line so it should not be even included in TOs

3. Hosts are not hotels and they don't host in hundreds of rooms. Allow hosts to collect a Pet fee that has to be high enough to ensure that after a pet stay deep cleaning and air filtration is performed. Avoiding to do so puts allergic guests at risk.

4. Educate all CMs to offer consistent support and help throughout the platforms when it comes to pet rules. This is more easily done when only Service Animals are considered.

5. Make is mandatory for guests to disclose the presence of a Service Animal. Sneaking in of any animal should be not endorsed under any circumstance.

We really need to voice this concern once and for all, nobody never knows how to behave and react and this is not right!

[Donata12]

@Melodie-And-John0 thanks, when i posted this thread a year ago i checked and found nothing. Will check the other threads now.

But yes, deaf ears is the common denominator.

sad...and discouraged

[Melodie-And-John0]

@Donata12 , your welcome, its near the top on my top 5 list of policies (top of the list is Certified visible before booking Guest and Host ID's) Airbnb must reexamine now and not after we all decide to find a place that understands our pain.   

[Andrew90]

+1

[Michelle2475]

While I understand there are those that require service animals I don’t think we should be forced to accept them. Besides the fact that there is so much fraud in this area, it actually harms those with allergies (myself included). When we purchased our home - fully furnished- I couldn’t figure out why every time I was there I left with my chest tight and a headache. The previous owners had a dog. I can’t imagine paying my nightly rate and have to leave because I couldn’t breathe. Especially having chosen a pet free home. There are other properties in the area that allow pets - they’re either not as big or much more expensive so people try to get me to agree to their “small and very well trained dog”.   

I do not live on property (strictly rental) so the funny thing is that I live with a dog I’m allergic to and shreds furniture 😂. My husband and kids were told the dog had to be small, hair, and female. They came home with a male beagle...with severe anxiety 😦 

[Melodie-And-John0]

@Michelle2475 , your points are 100% relevant and should be enough all by themselves to let the mothership know they need to rethink a policy based more on feelings than reality.  Our reality is not theirs,

they never have to fix the damage (they wont even allow their "Host Guarantee" fund to pay for animal damage),

they don't have to somehow super clean and recertify their space is Animal Allergen Free (and wont remove the bad review from a toxic stay by a guest who is severely allergic and ended up in the emergency room)

Will never have to explain to the guests in the suite below that "my human super friendly tiny terrier Maddy  turns into a tiny terror and barks relentlessly when another pet enters the house" (they also wouldn't remove that review, "they wouldn't let me bring my dog but the guests upstairs had one and so did the hosts and it barked all night and we didn't get a minutes rest".  

This stuff isn't "Host imagination" its real and they really need to deal with it with us in mind not just their "great intentions"...  Stay well Michelle, JR

[Jeanne751]

I am totally shocked I have never had a guest bring a dog and not ask me until tonight. I thought they had a new pet policy but I found out tonight that this has been the case all along.  I do on request consider responsible pet owners. But I've asked them to bring a crate, and do not leave the dog unattended in the apartment. However, these guys showed up tonight pitbull in toll last-minute booking with no mention that they had a dog. My concern is not so much allergies where that is a real and good point I'm also concerned because it's flea season and most people do not take care of their dogs when it comes to this problem. I agree pets should not be allowed except for in places that allow them! So we should have a say over how and who is going to use our units. Last March Airbnb booked in one of my bedrooms a young couple with two dogs "dog stayed out in the van," but she was pregnant and then she proceeded to deliver with out my knowledge in my room. No warning no request. I really didn't even have a say in it. I later found that they were opportunist, and they had been in another home, and the people had asked them to leave. They ended up squatting on my property. After I was super good to them they lied about everything and set me up like I said I lost thousands of dollars probably $4000 easily. This was all Airbnb's doing. They didn't find it necessary to check with me. They just booked them in my room at 5 PM. I'm sorry their policies they stink. They don't take in consideration the hosts, at this point they cost me a lot of money. I think this host  is spot on. You would think that they would not just have one sided conversations with the guest,  that they would actually care about their host. But no, Airbnb does lip service to  their hosts and only has  their one-sided conversations. Obviously the corporations have stepped in and they are doing their damage. We would probably all benefit from a different platform.