VETERINARIANS URGE CONGRESS TO ALLOW EQUAL RIGHTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING

This document is a press release from AVMA

PRESS RELEASE

VETERINARIANS URGE CONGRESS TO ALLOW EQUAL RIGHTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING SCHAUMBURG, IL -- Federal housing regulations currently allow the elderly and disabled to keep their pets. The American Veterinary Medical Association is urging Congress to expand this right to all residents in public housing. Presently, the responsible family that has a well-behaved, well-cared-for pet is in danger of being evicted.

"Companionship of animals has been shown to greatly enhance the quality of life of individuals, families, and communities," said Dr. John Freeman, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. "The human/animal bond has proven time and time again that it can change people's lives for the better. The strength of that bond is so powerful that positive physical and emotional changes actually occur. To take away that love and camaraderie from someone because they are not elderly or disabled and their economic situation forces them to seek public housing is unfair," Dr. Freeman added.

The anti-pet coalition cites the possibility of dangerous, unruly, and messy animals. Current laws governing all pet owners would also apply to pet owners in public housing. Housing owners and managers would set pet ownership standards that are appropriate to each situation and would require compliance with all state and local public health, animal control and anti-cruelty laws.

"The Department of Housing and Urban Development recently admitted that problems expected to result from the 1983 law allowing senior citizens and disabled persons to keep pets never materialized," said Dr. Freeman. "In fact, most pet-owning residents have proven to be model tenants, abiding by all of the rules, not just ones related to pets," explained Dr. Freeman.

Massachusetts has a highly successful "responsible pet owners program" for their state-assisted multifamily housing residents. This program features tenant-based A pet committees." These committees require dogs and cats to be spayed or neutered; payment of a "pet deposit" and establishing clear expectations for both tenants and landlords.

The AVMA is a professional organization of more than 61,000 veterinarians.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Pamela Abney; Governmental Relations Division; (202) 789-0007

Sharon Granskog; Public Information Division; (847) 925-8070

pets in public housing