How to find pet friendly travel nurse housing for an assignment

Finding pet friendly travel nurse housing comes down to three things: starting your search early, telling hosts about your pet in your first message, and making it easy for them to say yes. Most hosts are less worried about animals than about the unknown, so the more clearly you describe your pet and your plan, the better your chances.

This guide covers how to search, the questions hosts usually ask, how pet deposits work in a few provinces, the house rules worth settling before you book, and what to bring so your host feels comfortable from day one.

Key takeaways

• Start looking for pet friendly housing earlier than you would on your own, because fewer homes accept animals and the good ones go first.
• Mention your pet in your first message to a host, with its type, size, age, temperament and how long it will be alone during your shifts.
• Pet deposit rules differ by province, and furnished stays for travel may not fall under residential tenancy law at all, so get the deposit terms in writing.
• A short pet profile, vaccination records and your own cleaning and furniture-protection supplies show a host you take their home seriously.
• Walk through the home with your host before move-in and record its condition, so any deposit questions at the end are simple to settle.

Where do you start looking for pet friendly travel nurse housing?

Start with your hospital, not with the pet. On Travel Nurse Houses you can search homes near your hospital, and each home shows its distance to nearby hospitals. TNH covers 900+ hospitals across Canada and lists 1,100+ furnished homes, so you can build a shortlist by commute first and then narrow it by which hosts will take your animal.

Read each listing closely for anything about pets, yards, flooring or building rules. If a listing says nothing either way, do not assume no. Many hosts have never been asked and will consider a well-behaved pet once they know more.

• Search early. Pet friendly homes are a smaller pool, so give yourself extra weeks if you can.
• Message hosts directly. On TNH you message hosts yourself, which lets you explain your pet before anyone decides.
• Loop in your agency. If your staffing agency is helping with housing, tell them about your pet at the start so it is part of every conversation with hosts.
• Widen the radius a little. A home a few more minutes from the hospital, with a yard or ground floor entrance, can be a better fit for a dog.

What do hosts want to know about your pet?

Hosts are trusting you with their home and furniture while you are at work for long shifts. Answer their likely questions before they ask, in your first message, and you will usually get a faster and warmer reply.

• Type, breed and size. A 4 kg cat and a 40 kg dog are very different requests.
• Age and health. Mention if your pet is fully house-trained, older and calm, or still young.
• Temperament. Does your dog bark when left alone? Does your cat scratch furniture or use a scratching post?
• Time alone. Explain how long your pet will be by itself on a 12-hour shift and what your plan is, such as a dog walker or daycare.
• Where your pet will sleep and stay. Say whether you use a crate and whether your pet stays off beds and sofas.
• Vaccinations and parasite prevention. Confirm they are current and that you can share records.
• Your track record. If you have rented with this pet before, say so, and offer a reference from a past host or landlord if you have one.

It also helps to show who you are. A verified nurse badge on TNH means TNH staff have checked your licence, which gives a host one more reason to feel confident about you as a traveler.

How do pet deposits work in Canadian provinces?

Pet deposit rules are set provincially and vary a lot. There is also an important catch: provincial residential tenancy laws do not always apply to furnished stays used for travel. In British Columbia, for example, the Residential Tenancy Act does not apply to accommodation occupied as vacation or travel accommodation, although the province notes a tenancy can still be established in some circumstances, and longer stays of several months may be one of them.

Here is what the provincial rules say where they do apply.

Province	What the rules say about pet deposits
British Columbia	A pet damage deposit can be charged on top of the security deposit, up to half of the first month's rent, and only one pet deposit is allowed no matter how many pets. It covers pet damage unless otherwise agreed.
Manitoba	A pet damage deposit can be up to one month's rent. It cannot be charged for a tenant who relies on a service animal, and the landlord must say a pet deposit is required before allowing the pet.
Ontario	Security deposits are prohibited, and a rent deposit is capped at the lesser of one rent period and one month's rent. A no-pets clause in a lease is void, but a landlord can decline an applicant who discloses a pet, and condo rules that ban pets must be followed.
Alberta	The total security deposit is capped at one month's rent, and pet deposits count toward that cap. Landlords can refuse pets, specific breeds or sizes, or more than one pet.

Some hosts ask for a non-refundable pet fee instead of a deposit. Whether those fees hold up varies, so ask exactly what you are paying, whether any of it comes back and what it can be used for. If you are unsure which rules cover your stay, contact the residential tenancy office in the province where your assignment is.

Which house rules should you agree on before you book?

Most disagreements between travelers and hosts come from things nobody said out loud. Settle the details in writing, in your messages or your rental agreement, before you pay anything.

• Number and type of pets allowed. Name each animal so there is no confusion later.
• Off-limits areas. Bedrooms, sofas, beds, a home office or a finished basement.
• Alone-time rules. Whether your dog must be crated when you are out, and whether a dog walker can enter.
• Outdoor space. Whether the yard is fenced, where your dog can relieve itself and how you will clean up.
• Building or condo rules. Leash rules in hallways, elevator use, noise expectations and any pet limits in the building.
• Cleaning expectations. What a move-out clean should include, such as vacuuming fur from upholstery or washing pet bedding.
• Deposit and damage. The amount, what it covers, how damage will be assessed and when it will be returned.

Asking these questions does not make you look difficult. It tells a host you are thinking about their home the way they do.

What should you bring to make a host comfortable with your pet?

The best way to reassure a host is to arrive with everything you need to protect their home. Pack these alongside your scrubs and work shoes.

• A one-page pet profile. A photo, your pet's name, age, breed, temperament, routine and your vet's contact details. Send it with your first message.
• Vaccination and health records. Bring paper or digital copies so you can share them if asked.
• A crate or carrier. Familiar space helps your pet settle and gives the host confidence when you are on shift.
• Your pet's own bedding. It keeps fur off the host's furniture and helps your pet feel at home faster.
• Washable throws or furniture covers. Useful even if your pet is meant to stay off the furniture.
• A mat for food and water bowls. It protects floors from spills.
• Cleaning supplies. A lint roller, a pet hair brush for upholstery and an enzyme cleaner for accidents.
• Litter box, litter mat and scoop for cats, plus a scratching post to save the host's furniture.
• Waste bags and a leash. Plan to clean up every time, including in shared yards and on the street outside.

None of this has to be expensive. What matters is that the host sees you came prepared.

How do you protect your deposit during the stay?

Treat the first and last days of your assignment as the most important ones for your deposit. British Columbia's guidance suggests that landlord and tenant inspect the home before a pet deposit is paid and before the pet moves in, and that is a good habit anywhere.

1. Walk through with your host at move-in. Take dated photos and short videos of floors, doors, furniture and any existing marks.
2. Share the photos with your host. Send them through your messages so you both have the same record.
3. Report problems early. If your pet scratches a door or has an accident on a rug, tell the host and offer to fix or pay for it. A quick, honest message usually goes much better than a surprise at move-out.
4. Keep a routine on long shifts. A tired, well-exercised dog is far less likely to chew or bark. A dog walker or daycare on long days protects both your pet and the home.
5. Clean well before you leave. Remove fur, wash pet bedding, check under furniture and take photos of the finished result.

What if a host says no to your pet?

A no is often about one specific worry, not about pets in general. Ask politely whether anything would change their mind, such as a larger deposit, a crate rule, a cat instead of a dog, or a reference from a past host.

If the answer is still no, thank them and move on. Keep a few options in play at once so one decline does not leave you without a home close to your start date. If you are short on time, ask your agency for help: staffing agencies can post a housing request with the hospital, dates and budget and alert hosts near that hospital, which can widen your options quickly.

Bringing your pet on assignment takes a little more planning, but it can make a new city feel like home much sooner. When you are ready, search homes near your hospital and send your first message to a host with your pet profile attached.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring my dog on a travel nurse assignment in Canada?

Yes, many travelers bring dogs on assignment, but you need a host who agrees to it. Tell hosts about your dog in your first message, including size, temperament and your plan for long shifts. Start your search early because pet friendly homes are a smaller pool.

How much is a pet deposit for a furnished rental?

It depends on the province and on whether residential tenancy law applies to your stay. In British Columbia a pet damage deposit can be up to half of the first month's rent, and in Manitoba it can be up to one month's rent. In Alberta, pet deposits count toward a total security deposit cap of one month's rent, and Ontario prohibits security deposits altogether.

Do provincial tenancy laws apply to furnished travel nurse housing?

Not always. In British Columbia, the Residential Tenancy Act does not apply to accommodation occupied for vacation or travel, though a tenancy can still be created in some situations, including some longer stays. Check with the residential tenancy office in your assignment province and get all deposit terms in writing.

What should I tell a host about my cat or dog?

Share the type, breed, size, age and temperament, whether your pet is house-trained, and how long it will be alone during your shifts. Mention vaccinations, crate use and whether your pet stays off furniture. A short pet profile with a photo makes this easy for the host to read.

Can a host charge a pet deposit for a service animal?

In Manitoba, landlords cannot charge a pet damage deposit for a tenant who relies on a service animal. Rules elsewhere differ, so check with the residential tenancy office in your province. Let your host know early so you can sort out any paperwork before you arrive.