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Pets Vs. Landlords

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Pet ownership in Red Deer is very popular, however, in rental properties it can be a real area of contention between Landlords and Tenants.

First let’s examine what is meant by a no pets clause in a lease, because a lot of tenants think that it simply means no cats or dogs…so they bring in a caged animal like a rabbit or Hamster, Turtle, Snake, Bird or Fish.

Different landlords will look at these other pets with varying degrees of concern but the safest bet is to assume No pets, means No Pets.

As a property manager with a lot of years in the business I have had large aquariums leak while tenants were away on vacation causing substantial damage to the property, including the dead rotten fish.  And we have had small animals escape their cage and chew carpet and electrical wires that caused a fire.

…and more than a few times the tenant did not have insurance to cover the damages.

Next, you have tenants that take on babysitting of pets for others, sometimes this babysitting becomes longer term.

Unfortunately, the length of time the pet is in the house is irrelevant, for most landlords, No Pets means No Pets, not even temporarily.  Some landlords even object to pets visiting for a few hours occasionally.

We have had a tenant get a dog due to security concerns, sorry but a security scare does not give you the right to suddenly get a dog.  NO Pets means NO Pets, not for security, companionship or any other reason.  You can get a security system if you feel the need, wireless please.

This is not to say that all landlords are ruthless tyrants, many will allow for small caged animals or fish, but if your lease has a No pets clause in it, make sure that you get written approval first or you are in breach of your lease and can be evicted over this issue.

In Alberta landlords, can charge a non-refundable pet fee, it can be anything that they want, may be a onetime fee or it may be a monthly fee.  Some provinces do not allow landlords to ban pets such as Ontario, but Alberta does until the Tenancy act that governs Residential tenacities changes.

Why do Landlords have such an aversion to allowing pets:

First is damage to the property.  While 99% of pet owners are great, it is the 1% that can cause a lot of grief, I have had firsthand experience where a single cat has caused damage to an entire home in carpet repairs due to clawing and peeing, damages that far exceeded the security deposit that was held.

Housebreaking new pets can result in lots of damage until the pet is trained.

Second, sometimes future tenants are allergic to animals.  We have lost many potential tenants simply because the moment the prospective tenant walked into the home they started to get stuffy as they were extremely sensitive to the pets that were in prior, it can take a lot of extra specialized cleaning to remedy a house allergen free, it is just easier to not go there in the first place.

Finally, in multi-family such as apartments and townhomes, nothing drives neighbours crazy like a dog barking next door all day long at every slight sound.

For most landlords the risk of the 1% out ways the desire of the 99%

Red Deer Property Rentals is Central Alberta’s Upscale Rental Home Agency.  CLICK HERE to check out our website for your next quality rental home.

Les Brown

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Business

LEGO to invest $366 million on major U.S. expansion

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Quick Hit:

The LEGO Group is expanding its U.S. footprint with a $366 million investment to build a 2-million-square-foot warehouse in Virginia. The move will create 305 new jobs and deepen the company’s commitment to the United States.

Key Details:

  • The new warehouse and distribution center will be built in Prince George County, complementing LEGO’s upcoming factory in neighboring Chesterfield County that’s set to open in 2027.

  • Virginia secured the project through a $2.53 million Commonwealth Opportunity Fund grant, with additional support from state programs including the Virginia Jobs Investment Program and the Port of Virginia’s economic development incentives.

  • LEGO’s Chief Operations Officer Carsten Rasmussen said the center will “bring greater flexibility” to the company’s North American supply chain and reduce both customer wait times and environmental impact.

 

Diving

Deeper:

The LEGO Group will invest $366 million to build a 2 million-square-foot warehouse and distribution center in Prince George County, Virginia, a move expected to create 305 new jobs, according to a Thursday announcement by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

The project marks another milestone in LEGO’s ongoing U.S. expansion, following the 2022 announcement of its Chesterfield County factory currently under construction. The company’s operations in Virginia are projected to create more than 2,000 jobs total when both sites are fully up and running.

“The LEGO Group is not just a household name, it’s a symbol of creativity, innovation, and quality that resonates globally,” said Governor Youngkin. “Three years after choosing Virginia to establish its U.S. manufacturing plant, the LEGO Group’s decision to expand into Prince George County is an exciting new chapter in this partnership.”

LEGO’s global Chief Operations Officer, Carsten Rasmussen, said the regional distribution center “will shorten our supply chain in the region–reducing lead times for our customers as well as our environmental impact.” He praised the continued partnership with the Commonwealth.

State economic officials credited Virginia’s workforce and infrastructure for helping land the deal. “This investment brings high-quality jobs to Prince George County and reflects our broader commitment to building healthy, vibrant communities,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura.

Virginia lawmakers representing the area praised the announcement. State Senator Lashrecse Aird said the investment means “new opportunities for families and a stronger foundation for our community.” Delegate Carrie Coyner echoed that sentiment, calling it “a testament to the kind of community we’ve built.”

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From ‘Elbows Up’ To ‘Thumbs Up’

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From the National Citizens Coalition

National Citizens Coalition Slams Carney-Trump Meeting as ‘Insulting’ About-Face After Fear-Mongering Campaign Rhetoric

CANADA – From “elbows up” to thumbs up in record time.

The National Citizens Coalition (NCC) condemns Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cozy meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, calling it a stark contradiction of the anti-American rhetoric that fueled Carney’s election campaign. The NCC asserts that Carney’s deferential White House visit undermines the combative pledges made to Canadians, revealing how the Liberals leveraged Trump’s tacit endorsement and the ‘Rally Around the Flag effect’ to secure their minority government.

During the April 2025 federal election, Carney and the Liberal Party campaigned on a platform of staunch resistance to Trump’s trade war and his provocative “51st state” rhetoric, inflaming tensions by warning that Trump sought to “break us so America can own us.” This messaging galvanized voters on the left, particularly the collapsing NDP base and many over-55s, with polls showing a surge in Liberal support driven entirely by anti-Trump sentiment. Yet, just days after securing victory, Carney’s decision to behave in stark contrast to such rhetoric betrays the trust of Canadians who believed in his hardline stance, and in particular, betrays the young Canadians who voted in defiance of “51st state” nonsense and American election interference, but who also had major additional priorities that have been ignored by a decade of Liberal ruin.

“Mark Carney sold Canadians a story of aggressive defiance against Trump, but this meeting proves he’s more interested in reaping the rewards than holding convictions,” says NCC President Peter Coleman. “Carney’s campaign leaned heavily on fearmongering about Trump, yet here he is shaking hands, laughing, and all but sitting idly by as he’s insulted, with the very man he claimed threatened our sovereignty. This isn’t leadership—it’s hypocrisy.”

The NCC contends that Trump’s public comments, including his refusal to rule out making Canada the 51st state, however flippant the bargaining tactic, were strategically exploited by the Liberals to consolidate left-leaning voters fearful of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s perceived Trump-like style.

“Trump’s shadow loomed large over this election, and the Liberals milked it for every vote,” Coleman adds. “Canadians deserve to know if Carney’s tough talk was just a ploy to ride anti-Trump sentiment to power, only to cozy up to him afterward. This smells like a backroom deal between the two, that benefited the Liberals at the expense of much-needed hope and change, and honest and ethical conversations about the need for renewed pride in who we are, and a return to Canadian sovereignty.”

The NCC demands Carney explain how this meeting aligns with his fear-mongering on the campaign trail. Canadians deserve transparency about more of Carney’s true motives, which also may not match his statements and behaviours to date.

The National Citizens Coalition calls on all Canadians to hold Carney accountable for this cynical about-face. “We will not stand idly by while Carney exploits sovereignty concerns and election interference for political points,” Coleman concludes. “If this level of decorum had been any kind of consistent, if he hadn’t just run a fearful, pandemic-style campaign that robbed so many Canadians of hope and further inflamed alienation in the West, that’s one thing. But it’s time to reclaim the Canadian Dream from low-cunning leaders who say one thing and do another. He may be better house-broken than Trudeau, and on that, there is room for faint praise. But who really is Mark Carney? Why did the legacy media seem so disinterested in vetting him? And what does he really believe?”

About the National Citizens Coalition: Founded in 1967, the National Citizens Coalition is Canada’s pioneer non-profit conservative organization, dedicated to championing common-sense values, defending taxpayer interests, and promoting a strong, proud, and free Canada.

To support the NCC, Donate Today.

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