Keeping a pet in the big city isn't easy. With many urban residents living in rented housing, landlords as well as limited space can prove to be obstacles. Some tenants, unwilling to part with their companions, even at the risk of eviction and their pet's discomfort, "smuggle" them in and keep them in secret.
This practice is actually quite common. Although accurate figures are difficult to obtain, it has been estimated that between 5 and 10 percent of residents in multiunit housing complexes keep pets against the rules.
Despite the overall obstacles, attitudes toward keeping pets indoors have greatly changed. A recent government poll of 3,000 people showed that 58 percent do not see any problem with keeping pets in apartments or condominiums, an increase of 16 percent from 10 years ago.