My husband is a clergyman who lost his congregation 3 years ago due to congregational and communal politics after 2 very difficult years in the pulpit. His reputation was tarnished and we could not anticipate that he find a similar job until things cooled down. We were fortunate in that he recieved a fellowship invitation to study Bible in Jerusalem for two years. Jerusalem is a high rent, difficult to locate apartment metropolis much like Manhattan. We went with an apartment secured for only one year's lease as the best situation we could find. We spent that year battling physical and emotional illness and financial difficulty. For our second year I viewed a dozen apartments all either way out of budget or too horrible to consider living in. When I finally found a respectable place at a respectable price all was fine until time to sign the final contract. There at the end of the contract was a clause for no pets. The only saving grace of our previous year had been the joy that the family dog brought all of us-we were so glad we had gone to the expense and trouble of bringing him. What to do? We knew we were already pushing it with the prospective landlord to have our children with us in the apartment. THey would never accept a pet. Where would we live? Our lease was almost up and apartments were scarcer and scarcer. We asked the real estate agent's opinion. He suggested we go ahead with the contract and not mention the dog. We knew it was wrong but we did it anyway. All went well and we survived the year without any damage due to the dog (except for a hole in the screen door which we promptly repaired)or any complaints from the neighbors. We returned relieved to the United States in AUgust to begin a new life with a new congregation. THe rub: Today our former landlord sent a nasty email incensed that our former neighbors in the apartment building are asking her about our 'cute dog'. OOOPS! She really let into us and went on about how she expected more of a clergy man etc... As there is nothing she can do to us legally I plan to just let it go, but I do feel shamed and guilty enough to have searched for this site and to have written about it. We didn't kill anyone, commit adultry , steal goods or money but I guess there's still enough honesty in me to make me feel bad even a little (though I do believe she is overreacting!) THanks for the chance to vent!