D.C., Stand Up for Pet-Friendly Housing

Washington, D.C. B25-0827—Pets in Housing Act of 2024

ASPCA Position: Support

Update — February 10, 2024: This bill is making progress! The District's Council voted unanimously to pass this bill in December, and it was later signed by Mayor Bowser. It is now before Congress, the bill's final stage before becoming law. Thank you for each action you took to help advance this bill and make D.C.'s housing truly pet friendly.

A bill before the Council of the District of Columbia will help families find and keep homes that welcome their beloved pets. This bill aims to increase housing stability for renters and remove barriers to owning pets in rental housing by capping pet deposits and pet rent, prohibiting certain restrictions on common household pets, and removing breed restrictions for renters' insurance. Additionally, this bill would ensure that unhoused individuals have access to pet-friendly shelters.

Why pet-friendly housing is important

Pet owners face huge barriers when searching for a home. Renters, especially lower-income renters, are more likely to have to rehome their pets due to housing issues than for any other reason. When renters do find housing that allows pets, it often comes with costly upfront pet deposits and/or ongoing pet-related fees. When added to other housing-related expenses, such as moving, security deposits and application fees, these costs have a devastating impact on people who are already struggling to find cost-appropriate housing.

Pets are considered part of the family by most people, yet an increasing number of pet owners are being forced to surrender their animals due to restrictive and costly housing policies. It’s severing precious bonds and flooding animal shelters and rescues with pets who could have remained with their families if these barriers didn’t exist. Passing this bill would be a huge step toward eliminating barriers to keeping pets at home with the people who love them.

Please check back for updates about this bill's progress, and join our Mobile Action Team to stay informed of breaking news and urgent actions you can take to advocate for animals.

Advocacy Alert

Your Message

Subject Please Support the Pets in Housing Act of 2024

Dear Councilmember,

Message

As a D.C. resident, I am asking you to please affirm your support the Pets in Housing Act of 2024 on December 17th to advance equity, improve affordability and open doors for renters with pets across D.C. The high cost of housing in the District affects families in a variety of adverse ways, including putting families in a position where they are forced to choose between keeping their pet or keeping a roof over their head. As housing instability has increased, the upfront pet-specific costs and the pet-related restrictions are regularly cited as a reason why people relinquish their pet to already over-capacity animal shelters.

We also encourage the Council to move an expansion of the bill’s scope in 2025 to ensure that breed restrictions in insurance underwriting aren’t a barrier is a missing piece that will make this effort successful and ensure that renters, homeowners and landlords have access to insurance coverage for all dogs/pets. We ask that you support this addition to the bill.

Pet-inclusive housing options are essential to keeping pets and people together. Those who are willing and able to care for their pets should not be faced with the impossible decision of relinquishing their beloved animals due to a lack of housing options.

Once again, I ask that you please support the passage of the Pets in Housing Act of 2024 this year to ensure that the excessive barriers imposed by landlords to renters with pets doesn’t force families to make a decision to give up an important member of their family.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]
[Your Address]

Your Information

Salutation *

Alternate Salutation

Most elected officials’ constituent email systems accept a very limited set of salutations. Please select the one you would most prefer.

First Name *

Last Name *

Address *

Apt./Unit

City *

State *

Zip Code *

Phone Number *

Email Address *

Yes, sign me up to receive text messages from the ASPCA*

Yes, the ASPCA may use my phone number to call me

E-mail Opt-in

Yes, I would like to receive email from ASPCA

We submit your correspondence through officials' contact forms and therefore must provide the information that they require. They may contact you by email or phone in response to your message.

* By opting in, I agree to receive periodic text messages from the ASPCA. Text STOP to opt-out, HELP for more info.

Message and data rates may apply. Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy

Leave this field blank