The Pet Policy
You’ve recently moved into a new apartment with a strict pet policy, forcing you to choose between breaking the rules or giving up your furry friend.
Start DilemmaPreview
You’ve just moved into your dream apartment. It’s quiet, affordable, and perfectly located, but it has a strict pet policy: “No dogs over 20 pounds.” Your old dog weighs close to 30 pounds, but she's quiet, gentle, and a huge source of emotional support. She will probably only live a few more years.
You took a chance and signed a one-year lease, thinking it wouldn’t be a big deal. No one said anything about your pet until you had lived there for a month. Today, posters have gone up around the building reminding tenants of the strict pet policy and emphasizing the weight limit for dogs. You’re worried these posters are aimed at you. According to the notice, anyone who does not comply could be evicted.
What do you do?
Risk eviction and ask your landlord to bend the rules.
Rehome your old dog and stay in the apartment you love.
Useful Language
Students can access a Useful Language drawer at any time during the activity. The key vocabulary and sentence stems will help your learners express their thoughts and opinions.
Keywords:
- bend the rules: to make an exception
- lease: a rental agreement for a home
- policy: a rule or guideline to be followed
- violation: the breaking of a rule or agreement
- evicted: forced to leave one's rental space
- consequences: the results of one's choices or actions
Sentences Stems
- Personally, I think...
- I care more about...than...
- Keeping the dog might cause...
- If I rehomed the dog, I would feel...
- Both options have emotional consequences, but...
- There is no easy answer here, but...