Tiny Houses and Furry Friends - A good idea?

According to the Humane Society, 62% of all US households have at least one pet and in 2012 more than $50 billion dollars (yes, with a “B”) was spent on their care. 

Do you have a dog?  Then you have a lot in common with the 47% of the population who own one.

Prefer a more mild-mannered companion? The number of cat owners reflects, rather amusingly, that we are as likely to own a cat as a dog; since 46% of us do.

Climbing cats are happy cats!

 

If you’re thinking of downsizing, and moving into a tiny house you probably have a pet.  And given that 82% of you also have children, this makes the decision just that much more complicated.  Where will they all sleep? Eat? “Go”?  We worry about all the little details of their lives. It’s no wonder why so many of us refer to our pets as “our children”.

I am an animal person.  I love them all.  I have owned and raised horses, cats, dogs, gerbils, hamsters, parakeets, goats, chickens, geese, ducks, rabbits, and even raised pigeons for a time.  Given, however, my currently hectic raise-kids-work-build-tiny lifestyle I only have two cats now.  One is mine, and one is my daughter’s.

I guess you could say that having animals in my tiny house is a given.  I cannot remember a time in my life when I didn’t have at least one, and I sincerely appreciate the “life” they add to a household. 

So, where will they all sleep? Eat? “Go”?

 

A tiny sweater for a cute, tiny, gerbil.

 

Litter Box or Yard? – From the start of my tiny house design, I thought my litter box would hang on the outside of my tiny house (envision a “removable” shed) and accessed via a cat door.  But, as the design has morphed, I recently discovered that I have enough space under one section of the stairs to add a litter box there.  Easier to clean and access.  Yay!  And even though my cat loves the outdoors, he won’t “go” out there.  So, an indoor litter box it is.  Sometimes I think about getting another dog.  (my 13 year old Golden Retriever died last year)  And while the where-to-go decision is obvious (aka outside) I have to admit that having marmoleum flooring in my tiny house makes the idea of having another dog closer to a reality.  Carpets and dogs (and especially puppies) don’t mix.  Accidents happen.  And, dare I say, wood floors don’t always fare well either. 

Dinner Time! – When floor space is at a premium, constantly stepping over pet bowls will not only be a minor inconvenience, it’ll be a flat out pain in the ass.  After you’ve accidently kicked a full pan of water across the floor for the fifth time, you will no doubt be scanning the pet catalogs online for a more stable and visible option.  But, bowls are only part of this equation.  Consider a pet feeding schedule.  You put the bowl down, they eat, you pick it up.  Repeat, twice a day.  It provides them with a sense of stability and routine (good for both pets AND children) and eliminates the possibility of your pet becoming overweight.  You can more easily control their intake and adjust it as needed.  Yes, it takes more time than filling a large free-feeding bowl a few times a week but when you live in a tiny house you have time to spare. (that’s the idea anyways)  An Added Bonus:  If your kitty is an indoor-outdoor one like mine, they’ll come running home at the sound of a rustling food bag!

Size Doesn’t Matter – When it comes to tiny houses, the size of your pet doesn’t really matter as much as the temperament of the animal.  Great Danes are well known for their laid back persona, but they may not literally FIT into a tiny house.  While an Australian Shepherd is a comparably small dog, they’ll drive you NUTS in a tiny space because they are bred for herding and require a LOT of space to run.  Even a tiny Jack Russell terrier may not be a good fit (pun intended) given their proclivity to dig and jump and bark.  Small animals may do well in your tiny house but I can tell you that even parakeets can make a huge mess.  If you love ferrets or other rodents, they may love the nooks and crannies a tiny house will provide but their natural coat oils will have your tiny house smelling like musk in no time flat.   Consider not your pet’s size but your pet’s smells, environment, personality and exercise needs; before considering a drastic move to less than 200 square feet. 

Bored Animals are BAD Animals - Cats are a good option for a tiny house pet but make sure yours is well mannered and easy going before subjecting them to such a small space.  They’ll scratch and tear apart every surface of your house if they’re unhappy or bored or do not have an adequate scratching post.  Door posts, floors, upholstery, towels, etc… Trust me.  It’s not pretty.  In a larger home, you may have the option of skipping a walk or two, with your loving canine companion, when it’s raining.  In a tiny house, that just won’t do.  Any dog, large or small, will need to be walked at least twice a day.  Don’t even THINK of owning a dog, in a tiny space, without understanding this very important part of their developmental and social needs.  If you think a cat can turn your tiny space into a smelly, destroyed space; dogs will do it faster.  Birds need mirrors and swings and chewing blocks or you’ll never sleep. Incessant. Tweeting.  Day. And. Night.  (and not the online kind)  Rodents need running wheels.  (Side note: Have you ever tried to sleep in the same room as a hamster running on his wheel?  It is akin to torture in my world.)

Keeping watch!

 

Communal Beds – I never allowed animals to sleep in my bed until I spent over $1500 on my cat, just a few months ago, for an emergency surgery to unblock his urinary track.  I wouldn’t let him out of my sight and I had to be keenly aware of his every sound and his every “movement”.  “Confinement” was the name of the game and there was no place better, than my room.  I’m not a fan of pet hair in my bed.  I’m not a fan of having him sleep on my head, or him waking me up with his cold and wet nose on my cheek at 3 am demanding to be fed.  Even the noises he makes when he drinks water, wakes me up.  (Maybe it’s the mom in me.)  With that said, however, whether or not to allow your pets in your bed is a very personal decision.  So, in this regard, it is not really a tiny house thing, it’s a do-I-want-fleas-in-my-bed thing.

Pets enrich our lives.  They love us unconditionally.  (actually, not sure about cats but dogs certainly do)  And even after we’ve cleaned up after them for the seventh time in a single afternoon, we can’t deny that they are an awesome addition to our tiny families.  And, like any member of the family, their needs should be a part of any discussion involving major change.  If you are considering downsizing into a tiny house and do not know how your animals will fit into your new lifestyle, think about it.  Think about it long, and hard, and with kindness and consideration.  They deserve to be loved, and cared for, just like your children or your significant other or any other member of your household.

Pets should be treated with respect and doing so will give you all, people and furry friends alike, the best chance of living happily ever after in your tiny house.

 

Michelle The Tiny House Advocate - Part I

A little over a month ago, the mayor of my little town posted a video inviting everyone to come appear in front of the city council to express their ideas for a new neighborhood that is currently in the planning stage.  I wrote up a 5 minute speech, and attended the next meeting.  I couldn’t have asked for a better response.  The council members asked questions, and commented, and I was invited to apply for a seat on the Planning Commission.

 

So many projects, so little time!

 

My speech was so well received; I thought that others could maybe benefit from my speech as well. The following week I posted my speech on facebook  with an “insert your city name here” invitation.  I received dozens of emails from tiny house enthusiasts asking for suggestions and encouragement and ideas that they could use when they face their local zoning authorities.

I have also posted the entire speech at the bottom of this blog post. 

Please, do, copy it to your computer and use it!

Just a few days later, I had an open house for the local Meetup group.  My house isn’t done but as it turns out there were a LOT of people that wanted to see a tiny house in progress.  Over 40 people showed up and we had a great time.  After everyone else had gone, a gentleman showed up and told me he was on the committee that was responsible for the zoning of the new neighborhood.  We debated a bit.  He gave me the opportunity to reverse his original impression of tiny houses as transient solutions for the homeless and/or houses that would necessitate a mobile home park layout.  When he left he said “You’ve convinced me.  Tiny houses and cottages WOULD be a good idea for our little town.”

It was such a beautiful day for a  tour!

 

Last week I interviewed for a position on the Planning Commission.  I didn’t get the “gig” but once I understood the time commitment required I will admit that I would have been hesitant to accept it, even if offered.  I just don’t have 10 hours a week to spare for a volunteer position.  On a positive note, however, I discovered that I can still be a part of the zoning discussion by attending Planning Commission meetings and work sessions designed to elicit community feedback on a real time basis.  This level of engagement would certainly be a much better use of my time since I won’t be attending EVERY planning commission meeting like those that would include a review of new traffic lights, building permits, store front signage applications, etc….

Just yesterday I received a call from a reporter from the Oregonian.  (the “big city” newspaper covering stories throughout Oregon)  She was in attendance and heard my speech at the city council meeting.  Afterwards, she asked me for my business card and was following up on our initial meeting.  (though I had NO idea that she was a reporter when I met her the first time.) She had nothing but complimentary things to say about my presentation and has requested her own tour of my tiny house and asked me if I would like to be interviewed for an article about my project, and tiny house advocacy efforts.  Of course, I agreed, and I’m pretty excited.

I don’t know what will happen next but I’m very optimistic about the future and the many opportunities for me to make even a tiny difference, one town at a time, starting with mine.

 

"WELCOME" to my tiny house!

Here’s my speech:

If you’re a baby boomer, your kids have grown and moved out, and you’d like to downsize to a home with less expense, and upkeep; what are your options here in Sherwood?

If you have aging parents whom you want to live near you, but not with you, that have limited income, but are not ready for an assisted living facility, what are your options here in Sherwood?

If you’ve recently graduated from college, got a new job, have student loans to pay, and want to live a simple car-free life while still having the ability to stay engaged with the community of Sherwood, what are your options here in Sherwood?

My name is Michelle Boyle, I am Sherwood resident, and am here to begin a dialogue about tiny houses and to be an advocate for socially and fiscally responsible living.  As you may know, I am building a tiny house right now, in the driveway of my rental home.  When I am done, I would like to consider moving out of my rental home and into my tiny home but what are my options if I want to do so, and stay in Sherwood?

Let me be clear.  Apartment living is not an answer for everyone.  Our aging population may have difficulty climbing stairs.  And, I can assure you, the growing young families living in our community do not enjoy lugging groceries and strollers up several flights either.  If you personally had the choice between a small quaint cottage in a little village setting, or an apartment with a pool you never use, which would you choose? 

I have been invited to come here today, to share my opinions on what can and should be done with the newly annexed area, west of Sherwood.  And in my opinion, Sherwood has an amazing opportunity to set themselves apart, once again, from our sprawling neighbors and consider more thoughtful and sustainable living options like tiny house communities. Not everyone needs, or can sustain, a 2300 square foot home and the recent downturn in the economy has proven that bigger is not always better.  While I understand that developers may initially favor apartments and large homes for their positive return on investments, when you consider the carbon footprints or the average sustained home values per square foot, I would encourage them, and you, to look again.

You would have to be in a cave to have NOT noticed that tiny houses are gaining popularity on all fronts.  Empty Nesters, Baby Boomers, recent college graduates, small families with their eyes on sustainability….are all eyeing the financial advantages of living responsibly.  These are not poor residents who have no other options than to live tiny.  They instead, and like myself, look forward to spending less on housing costs so we can give back and spend more on dining out, traveling and contributing more of our time and money to non-profit and art focused organizations.

If you were in charge of recruiting perfect residents for Sherwood, aren’t those the kind of people you want to attract?

If you want to gain the national spotlight for being a progressive, socially, and environmentally responsible town, shouldn’t you consider zoning rules which encourage the lifestyles that focus on those goals?

I am here to merely start the dialogue about tiny homes.  But, I am not just here to start the dialogue and leave it up to you to finish it.  What can I do?  Who do I talk to or meet with to make this happen?  What committee should I join or what other evidence would you like me to present to you?

I may be the ONLY person who stands before you to talk about tiny homes.  But, rest assured, it’s only because so many have not actively considered the out-of-box thinking they require.  Once you think about it, tiny homes and communities make sense.  They make sense for us all, residents and township alike, and are something that even the most extreme of community activists will..…no doubt….rally behind.