How we score: the Pet-Friendly Score

Every listing on PetFriendlyPad gets a Pet-Friendly Score from 0 to 100. It's a quick way to compare how well a home fits life with a pet. The rubric is fully public, so landlords and renters can check the math.

Home & pet policy: 70 points

Fenced yard, pet rent, deposit and fees, breed and weight limits, and how many pets are allowed. These come from the landlord's listing.

Neighborhood: 30 points

Distance to the nearest dog park and veterinarian, and walkability. We look these up for the listing's address.

No guessing

If any input is missing, we don't estimate it. The listing shows "Score coming soon" until every input is confirmed.

The rubric

FactorMax
Fenced yard
Private, fully fenced yard: 25 · Shared or partly fenced yard, or a dog run: 12 · No fenced area: 0
25 pts
Monthly pet rent
No pet rent: 8 · Up to $25 per pet: 5 · $26–$50: 2 · Over $50: 0
8 pts
Deposit & one-time fees
No deposit, or a refundable deposit only: 7 · Non-refundable fees totaling $300 or less: 4 · More than $300 non-refundable: 0
7 pts
Breed restrictions
No breed restrictions: 10 · Any breed restriction: 0
10 pts
Weight limit
No weight limit: 10 · 50 lb or higher: 6 · 25–49 lb: 3 · Under 25 lb: 0
10 pts
Number of pets allowed
3 or more: 10 · 2: 7 · 1: 3
10 pts
Nearby dog park
Within 1 mile: 10 · 1–3 miles: 5 · Farther: 0
10 pts
Nearby veterinarian
Within 3 miles: 10 · 3–10 miles: 5 · Farther: 0
10 pts
Walkability
A public walkability index (0–100) for the address, divided by 10 and rounded
10 pts
Total100 pts

Worked example

EXAMPLE — not a real listing

2BR house · Sample City

90Pet-Friendly
Score / 100
Private fenced yard25
Pet rent $25/mo per pet5
Refundable deposit only7
No breed restrictions10
No weight limit10
Up to 2 pets7
Dog park 0.8 mi away10
Vet 2.5 mi away10
Walkability index 606
Total90

What the score is (and isn't)

The score reflects pet-related features and costs only. It isn't a rating of the landlord, the neighborhood's safety or the home's overall quality, and a lower score doesn't mean a home isn't a great fit for your pet. Small pets and cats may not need a yard at all, so always read the full pet policy.

Assistance animals are not pets, so pet fees, breed limits and weight limits generally don't apply to them. The score is based on the policy for pets only.

Landlords: want to raise your score? Clear, generous pet policies score higher. List your rental free or read our pet deposit & fees guide. Questions about the rubric? [email protected]