Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

A local woman is going through an experience that so many of those who rent an apartment or house have found all too common. For many that move, may start as “everything is going to be fine”. Nice pleasantries are exchanged, as the new tenant may feel that the place that they are about to move in, “is the one”. This particular woman said that she felt that way, but admitted that someone told her that she might be making a bad move. However, she felt confident that along with her dog, she made a good move. Everything, the woman said, was going fine until an incident happened involving her dog. The animal she said, was well behaved. When this reporter interviewed her, the dog through natural instincts barked from another room because dogs are territorial animals, and they will defend their space. For the most part, as the interview proceeded, the dog was not a distraction. Earlier in the year, the woman received a notice that she had to vacate the premises. The woman was confused because she had paid her rent on time. She was not a bad tenant, never getting into any altercations with other tenants, someone who was quiet that stayed out of trouble. Although, according to her, that didn’t stop her landlord from telling her that she had to leave, even though she was renting under a lease. She was told that at the end of her lease, she had to be out of the property which was June 1. She said that she believed that the “hand of God” was over her, as she has since found a new place to live where she could keep her dog. Nonetheless, her troubles with her former landlord are not over, as she has been given a list of alleged damages done by her while she was in the previous property. The alleged damage totaled to under a thousand dollars, that included the $400.00 deposit that she is not getting back. She said that the conditions at her previous residence were not that good, with floors entirely of concrete which was not good for her. She said that there was only one incident involving her dog, where the person who made contact with the animal was not injured nor was any medical treatment needed. As a precaution, the dog was isolated, given shots, had a chip implanted, and after a short period of time, was released back to her. She now says that she is at a point where she doesn’t have the money to pay the full amount for the alleged damage, as she is on a fixed income. At her current address, she is hoping that her new residence will be accepted through a rental assistance program so she and her dog can have a place to live and be at peace. She said that during her stay at the previous address, the air-conditioning went out, leaving her without any comfort from the heat, but her rent was always on time. She is hoping that this is the last time that she will experience what she went through, but knowing that her experience is that of many others. She is content in knowing that God provided a place for her and her dog to stay. She says that she knows that she “has a way” to go, but for now, because of her faith in God, she is at peace with herself and her dog is still with her.