When looking for a new place to live, there are several factors people typically consider: what cost of rent is, the terms of the lease agreement, security deposit and safety often make that list.

For some people, the pet policy is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, determining factor. That’s where I have a problem.

For as long as I can remember I have wanted an Australian shepherd. One day I found a shepherd/chow mix at the humane society and took her home. She has been my constant companion ever since.

She’s nothing if not awkward and takes a while to warm up to people, but I firmly believe it is not because of her breed.

She was beaten and starved as a puppy before I brought her into my life. Of course she’s going to be hesitant to trust new people.

I never realized how difficult it might be to find a good apartment that would accept her. Unbeknownst to me, she is a mix of two apparently aggressive breeds. Those breeds aren’t allowed at most of the apartments I’ve been interested in.

It feels like all the apartment complexes are doing is making a preemptive strike against certain types of dogs, mostly due to their genes. They are worried about something that might happen if I am forced to either leave my canine companion behind, or else I will have to find a place that will accept us without it being the best fit.

If it means having her by my side in my home, I’m always going to sacrifice the latter.

Attacks are going to happen. It’s the nature of the beast, for lack of a better phrase. But I think it’s less about the animal and what it was bred for, and more about how that breed gets treated.

She certainly has the hereditary possessive behavior that is in chows and could be pretty frightening should she ever feel that she or I are in danger. But I’ve also seen her run into a glass door because she was afraid of a toad hopping toward her.

I understand that it’s a liability factor more than anything. But why can’t the owner sign a contract stating that they are responsible for any damages and expenses brought upon as a result of the animal?

There are a lot of things I am willing to give up and a lot of hoops I am willing to jump through in order to have her by my side. But I can’t think of anything that I would give her up for.