"No Pets Allowed"

Much has been written about the growing sense of isolation experienced by individuals in our society. One of the main causes of this isolation is the mobility of our population. It is now the exception rather than the rule for a person to live his entire life in the same town. In addition, divorce tears apart an ever-increasing number of families each year. Deprived of extended family, and sometimes of any family at all, more and more people are turning to their pets for love and companionship. Moreover, recent studies suggest that pet ownership provides health benefits, particularly for the elderly, and may help with the social development of children.

Ironically, at a time when people are more than ever in need of the warmth and comfort a pet can provide, apartment complexes and condominium associations are slamming their doors in the faces of pet owners. Even homeowners associations in newer neighborhoods of single-family homes are limiting the number of pets a family can have.

Ask anyone who's worked in an animal shelter, and they'll tell you that "moving" and "landlord won't allow" are among the most common reasons people give when relinquishing their pets. According to statistics compiled by the Humane Society of the U.S., 35% of people without pets would own a pet if their landlords permitted it; and, if all rental housing allowed pets, 6.5 million animals could be placed in homes.

Obviously, opening up more rental housing to pets could make a sizable dent in the homeless pet population. The trick is to come up with a workable plan that protects the rights of the pet owner and at the same time addresses the concerns of the landlord. The San Francisco SPCA, as is often the case, led the way with their Open Door Program. In its first year of operation in 1990, the program increased "cat friendly" housing from 33% to 55% and "dog ok" housing from 11% to 29%. Overall, after six years, the number of apartments allowing pets increased from 11% to 57%. The program provides information to pet owners looking for rental housing, sample "pet resumes," and a listing of "pet friendly" housing in the area. It also provides a Landlord Start-up Kit, which includes sample pet policies, guidelines on screening for responsible pet owners, and information on the benefits of a "pets ok" policy.

Other organizations have also developed innovative programs designed to allow pet owners, landlords, and non-pet owners to live together in harmony. The Humane Society at Lollypop Farm, through its Pets Are Welcome (PAW) Program, encourages communication between owners of rental property and pet owners. The Massachusetts SPCA's Pets in Housing Program works to enforce already-existing federal laws which allow elderly and disabled people living in subsidized housing to keep pets. To see what still other organizations are doing to address this issue, visit Delta Society's Pets in Housing Resources.

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