Pets in the Apartment

Here we've put together some advice for both pet owners and those who live next door to people with pets.

For those of you with pets

Advice for Dog Owners

As a dog owner, you should:

Keep an eye on your dog to make sure it doesn't cause any trouble or damage to its surroundings.
Make sure it doesn't bark all the time.
Keep your dog on a leash most of the time.
Pick up after your dog. Throw the bag in a trash can.

Advice for Cat Owners

As a cat owner, you should:

Keep an eye on your cat. For example, it must not wander into your neighbor’s apartment or urinate or defecate in the stairwell. The cat must also not make a mess in flower beds or sandboxes.
Identify and register your cat, in accordance with a new law. Read more about the law on the Swedish Board of Agriculture's website.
I'd prefer to keep the cat indoors.
Neuter your cat if you don't plan to use it for breeding.
Do not flush cat litter down the toilet. Dispose of the cat litter in the household trash.

You may have to pay

If your pet makes a mess in the stairwell—for example, by urinating or defecating there—you, as the pet owner, may be charged. This creates extra work for our staff to clean up, and you will then be responsible for the cost of that work.

Permit for a snake

In the municipality of Skövde, a special permit is required to keep snakes at home. Contact the Environmental and Health Protection Administration at 0500-49 80 00.

For our neighbors

What do I have to put up with as a neighbor?

If you live in an apartment building, you should expect there to be a little more noise than in other types of housing. For example, as a neighbor, you need to be understanding that a dog might bark from time to time.

Cats have the right to roam freely. If you're having trouble with cats in your yard, you can, for example, cover your vegetable garden with netting.

If you're bothered by your neighbor's pets

If your neighbor's pets are bothering you, here's what you can do:

Start by speaking to your neighbor in a friendly manner. Tell them that you feel bothered by their pet. Ask if there’s any way to change the situation that’s bothering you.
If you cannot agree on a change that satisfies both parties, you can contact either the housing and social services unit (you can find contact information here) or Miljösamverkan östra Skaraborg. Before you do so, please keep a diary for at least three weeks. Write down the days and times when you are disturbed, and if possible, what is disturbing you.

More information

Much of the information in this text is taken from the Miljösamverkan östra Skaraborg website.