Congratulations to HAP, Rep. Abney, and Rep. Ortitay. This is a big step, and the bipartisan part matters as much as the bill itself, because it says out loud that keeping families housed with their pets is not a left or right issue, it's a common sense one.
The part people outside this work miss: breed and weight restrictions are a surrender pipeline. A family does not give up a dog they love because they stopped caring. They give it up because the only apartment they can afford says no dogs over 40 pounds, or no dogs that look a certain way. The restriction makes the choice for them, home or dog, and the dog ends up in a shelter that is already full. Legislation like this closes that door before a family ever has to walk through it.
We come at the same problem from the housing side in Central Alabama, working directly with landlords to open pet-inclusive units, so it's good to see the legislative lever getting pulled too. Both have to happen. You can change one landlord's mind at a time, or you can change the rule for all of them at once.
Judged as an individual is exactly the right frame. Thank you for fighting this one.
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Join The Shift To Prevention.
BJ Adkins
Founder/Director
Animal-Angels Foundation
Pinson, AL
calendy.com/animal-angels
bjadkins@animal-angels.organimal-angelsfoundation.org
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