Yes, The Ellington is a pet-friendly apartment community in Plano, and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is the closest major airport to the property. If your main question is whether this is a realistic home base for a renter who travels through DFW with a dog or cat, the answer is potentially yes, but the right fit depends on how often you fly, whether you drive yourself, and how much on-site pet support matters between trips.
The part worth evaluating carefully is not just whether pets are allowed, but how airport routines and pet routines overlap. A community can work well for frequent travelers if it supports day-to-day pet care at home, gives you a reliable place to park, and offers enough space to manage carriers, crates, supplies, and a pre-flight or post-flight schedule without making the apartment itself feel cramped.
What to check before choosing a home near DFW when you have a pet
DFW is one of the largest airports in the country, with five terminals and a layout that can make “near the airport” sound simpler than it feels in real life. When comparing homes, it helps to look beyond a map pin and test the full trip you would actually make, including your usual departure terminal, the time of day you leave, and whether you expect to park, use a ride service, or get dropped off. For many renters, the airport decision is really a routine decision.
If you travel with a dog or cat, think about what happens in the hours before and after a flight. Many pet owners want a place where they can walk a dog before leaving, unload after returning, and keep pet gear organized. At The Ellington, the relevant facts are straightforward: the community is pet-friendly, it allows up to two pets per apartment home, and it has a dog park. Those details matter more than marketing language, because they affect daily use.
It is also worth confirming the current pet policy before you lease. The established policy includes a non-refundable pet fee of $400 per pet and monthly pet rent of $25 per pet, with a maximum of two pets per home. Breed and weight restrictions may apply, so anyone moving with a dog should verify the current approved-breed guidelines and any required paperwork before making plans around the community.
Airport access should also be matched to your household setup. If one person travels often and another handles pet care at home, a larger layout or townhouse-style design may matter more than a shorter drive. If you live alone and take short trips, the simpler question may be whether you can get out the door, secure your pet setup, and return without a complicated parking or baggage routine. Those are the practical differences that shape whether a location feels easy or frustrating over time.
How The Ellington may fit renters who fly regularly and live with pets
For this specific search, the strongest fit points at The Ellington are its pet policy and its on-site pet amenity. The community welcomes dogs and cats, and the dog park can be useful for residents trying to fit in quick exercise before heading to the airport or after getting back into town. Even if you mainly use nearby off-site parks, having an on-site option can reduce stress on a tight schedule.
Parking is another factor that matters more for airport-oriented renters than it does for many local movers. The Ellington offers open parking for residents, and reserved carports are available for $50 per month based on availability. That does not replace airport parking, of course, but it can help if you want a more predictable setup at home, especially when loading a pet, luggage, or a carrier into your vehicle early in the morning or late at night.
Inside the apartment, layout can matter as much as location. The Ellington offers one-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom townhomes, with select homes offering attached garages. For pet owners, that may affect where you keep food, crates, cleaning supplies, leashes, and travel carriers. Residents who work remotely between trips may also care about space for a desk setup, and select homes have built-in desks, which should be confirmed for the exact apartment you are considering.
There is also a difference between a community that merely allows pets and one that supports ordinary pet ownership. At The Ellington, the dog park, private patios and balconies, spacious closets, and available larger floor plans may all be relevant depending on your animal and your travel habits. None of those features automatically make the community right for every flyer, but they are the kinds of everyday details that can make airport travel with a pet more manageable.
How to verify whether this is the right airport-and-pet setup for you
Start by checking the trip the way you will really use it. Plug the community address, 4701 Preston Park Boulevard in Plano, into your map app, then test the route to DFW during the exact windows you usually travel, such as early weekday mornings, Friday afternoons, or late-night returns. Look at your likely terminal, not just the airport as a whole, because DFW’s size can change the feel of the trip significantly.
Next, ask the leasing team the pet questions that directly affect move-in, not just the headline question of whether pets are allowed. Confirm the current breed and weight rules, verify any documentation requirements, and ask how pet fees and pet rent are applied. If your pet has special needs, such as medication timing, crate needs, or mobility issues, it is reasonable to ask whether the specific building or floor plan you are considering would make that easier.
Then compare the floor plan to your actual travel pattern. A one-bedroom may be enough if you make occasional solo trips and want to keep costs and upkeep simpler. A larger one-bedroom townhome or a two-bedroom home may make more sense if you want extra room for pet gear, a separate work area, or storage tied to frequent travel. For any feature listed as available in select homes, such as attached garages, built-in desks, vaulted ceilings, bay windows, or fireplaces, verify that it is included in the exact home you tour.
Finally, treat the airport question as one part of a broader routine. DFW access can be good on paper, but your real decision should combine pet policy, parking, home layout, and how your pet behaves when you are preparing for a trip. If that combination is what matters to you, a useful next step is to contact The Ellington and ask specifically about current pet restrictions, available homes with the layouts you want, and whether any apartment with the features most helpful for airport travel and pet care is available to tour.