The Nottingham’s pets-welcome policy attracts residents

DeWITT — A pet-friendly policy has helped one area senior-living facility attract clients.

“They are thrilled that we allow pets,” says Jennifer Ingerson, VP of housing for Loretto and executive director at The Nottingham. She says the pet-friendly policy has helped convince people to move in. And, she is not aware of anyone who decided against living there because pets were allowed.

Owned by Loretto, The Nottingham is a senior living community — located at 1301 Nottingham Road in the town of DeWitt — with housing options ranging from cottages, independent living apartments, and assisted living to accommodations for skilled nursing. It has 300 units in all.

Ingerson says residents at each level of care have had pets. There are 12 to 18 cats and dogs right now and there once was a pet bird.

The pet-friendly policy dates back to when The Nottingham opened in 1989, Ingerson says, and from the start there have been rules.

First and foremost, residents must be able to take care of their pets, Ingerson says. She adds that there are services available to ease the task. There are dog-walking services, pet sitters, as well as businesses that will transport pets to appointments with groomers or veterinarians. Some home-care agencies offer companion care as well, she says.

Pets are not allowed in common areas, Ingerson says. Nor are they allowed on elevators — unless residents have a waiver because they can’t use the stairs in the two-story facility. If they are going on an elevator, pets must wait until there is no one else in the elevator.

“There’s a lot of really good community rules around pets,” Ingerson says. She says residents helped modify the rules over the years.

The Nottingham’s website lists the frequently asked question, “Am I able to have a pet in my apartment?” and provides a straightforward answer: “Residents can have a pet that weighs less than 30 pounds in their apartment. All pets must be properly vaccinated and be under the medical supervision of a veterinarian. The Nottingham requires that we have an emergency contact in addition to the resident who cares for the pet. Our resident agreement has a pet addendum to sign for this.”

The reality, as Ingerson explains it, is a bit more nuanced. There are exceptions for dogs over 30 pounds. She says some larger dogs make great additions to the environment. She singled out Labrador Retrievers for being welcomed additions, even if they weigh more than twice the limit. “It has to be the right pet,” she says.

“They really add a lot. It’s like built-in pet therapy, and not just for residents,” she says of pets that can help make some days better for residents and staff.

There is an extra fee of $25 a month for keeping a pet, Ingerson says, and all pet owners are told about the rules and the addendum to the resident agreement required before they move in. “It’s a big responsibility,” she says. Most pets arrive when the owner moves in. Few people get pets after they’ve moved in, she says.

While there are rules in place should a resident no longer be able to properly care for a pet, Ingerson says they’ve never been invoked. Residents and families have worked to see that pets were adopted by others. Those new owners have included staff at the Nottingham, Ingerson notes.

Once, she recalls, the whole place adopted a dog that made its home in the assisted care facility. “Everyone took care of it,” she says.

“We’ve always been able to work it through.”

DeWITT — A pet-friendly policy has helped one area senior-living facility attract clients.

“They are thrilled that we allow pets,” says Jennifer Ingerson, VP of housing for Loretto and executive director at The Nottingham. She says the pet-friendly policy has helped convince people to move in. And, she is not aware of anyone who decided against living there because pets were allowed.

Owned by Loretto, The Nottingham is a senior living community — located at 1301 Nottingham Road in the town of DeWitt — with housing options ranging from cottages, independent living apartments, and assisted living to accommodations for skilled nursing. It has 300 units in all.

Ingerson says residents at each level of care have had pets. There are 12 to 18 cats and dogs right now and there once was a pet bird.

The pet-friendly policy dates back to when The Nottingham opened in 1989, Ingerson says, and from the start there have been rules.

First and foremost, residents must be able to take care of their pets, Ingerson says. She adds that there are services available to ease the task. There are dog-walking services, pet sitters, as well as businesses that will transport pets to appointments with groomers or veterinarians. Some home-care agencies offer companion care as well, she says.

Pets are not allowed in common areas, Ingerson says. Nor are they allowed on elevators — unless residents have a waiver because they can’t use the stairs in the two-story facility. If they are going on an elevator, pets must wait until there is no one else in the elevator.

“There’s a lot of really good community rules around pets,” Ingerson says. She says residents helped modify the rules over the years.

The Nottingham’s website lists the frequently asked question, “Am I able to have a pet in my apartment?” and provides a straightforward answer: “Residents can have a pet that weighs less than 30 pounds in their apartment. All pets must be properly vaccinated and be under the medical supervision of a veterinarian. The Nottingham requires that we have an emergency contact in addition to the resident who cares for the pet. Our resident agreement has a pet addendum to sign for this.”

The reality, as Ingerson explains it, is a bit more nuanced. There are exceptions for dogs over 30 pounds. She says some larger dogs make great additions to the environment. She singled out Labrador Retrievers for being welcomed additions, even if they weigh more than twice the limit. “It has to be the right pet,” she says.

“They really add a lot. It’s like built-in pet therapy, and not just for residents,” she says of pets that can help make some days better for residents and staff.

There is an extra fee of $25 a month for keeping a pet, Ingerson says, and all pet owners are told about the rules and the addendum to the resident agreement required before they move in. “It’s a big responsibility,” she says. Most pets arrive when the owner moves in. Few people get pets after they’ve moved in, she says.

While there are rules in place should a resident no longer be able to properly care for a pet, Ingerson says they’ve never been invoked. Residents and families have worked to see that pets were adopted by others. Those new owners have included staff at the Nottingham, Ingerson notes.

Once, she recalls, the whole place adopted a dog that made its home in the assisted care facility. “Everyone took care of it,” she says.

“We’ve always been able to work it through.”