Animal Welfare Professionals

Updated 8/15/22 at 2:22pm - Recording now available to watch on demand! 

We hope to see you at the next Weekly Community Conversations call! As a reminder, the former Monday and Friday calls have now been combined into this ONE (50 minute) weekly call that will take place every Monday at a NEW time: 11AM PT/2PM ET.

If you haven't already done so, register now.

This Monday, August 15, join @Dianne Prado, Executive Director of Housing Equity & Advocacy Resource Team (HEART L.A.), as they present on housing equity and advocacy.

According to the 2020-2021 National Pet Owners Survey, about 85 million people in the United States (70%) are pet owners. Over 70% of a person's income goes towards paying either rent or their mortgage. Housing and pet ownership are interrelated as our pets are part of the family- to house ourselves is to house our pets. [10/30/23 Update received from World Animal Foundation:  According to the latest research and data of 2023-2024, 86.9 Million US Households Owns a Pet, Which Accounts for 66%.]

The definition of a pet requires a human owner and as such we can't fail to consider the barriers a pet owner faces when finding housing. This conversation will focus on the housing rights of tenants with pets and how animal welfare advocates can be a part of ensuring housing is a right for both the person and their companion animal.

About HEART L.A. - Keeping People & their Pets Housed
Housing Equality & Advocacy Resource Team (HEART L.A.), is a nonprofit public interest law firm that provides technical assistance, education, and policy advocacy to keep people and their companion animals housed.

Many individuals and families are being forced out of their homes due to having pets. New owners or deceitful managers use the threat of eviction to force out long-term tenants from rent-controlled properties so they can increase the rent. Heartbroken and desperate, these people believe they have no choice but to surrender their beloved pets to a shelter. In almost every circumstance, the threat of eviction was illegal. With the growing housing crisis in Los Angeles no one should be illegally evicted because of their companion animal.

​HEART L.A. is here to help you and your companion animal remain housed in a safe and healthy environment and to advocate for legislation that breaks down barriers for tenants with pets looking for housing. - https://www.heartla.org/

This post will be updated with the recording if you're unable to attend live. Additionally, Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the giveaway drawing entry forms that will be shared in the chat during the calls.

See you Monday!

​
#CaseManagement*
#Diversity,Equity,InclusionandJustice
#LawsandPublicPolicy

------------------------------
Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

Thanks to the 308 people who joined us live for today's call! The recording is now available to watch on-demand: https://youtu.be/apT8EFwsoRI
Don't forget to enter to win a grant from Maddie's Fund after watching the recording or attending live: https://www.maddiesfund.org/weekly-community-conversations-aug22-giveaway.htm

I've attached a copy of the incredible @Dianne Prado's presentation and HEART LA's Support Animals FAQs. If you have any additional questions for Dianne, feel free to ask them in the comments below.

Agenda: Housing Equity and Advocacy

• Welcome – today's co-hosts are @Ariel Zhang, Chief Strategy Officer at The Animal Foundation https://animalfoundation.com/ and @Allison Cardona, CA State Director at UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program https://www.sheltermedicine.com/about/our-personnel/allison-cardona-california-state-director/
• QOTW: What nice thing have you done or was done for you this last week or month?

National Updates​

• Season 2 Premiere of Maddie's Candid Conversations features Elijah-Brice-Middleton, Director of Plainfield Area Humane Society in New Jersey – Wednesday, August 24 at 12n Pacific/3pm Eastern. Register here: https://maddies.fund/candidconvoElijahBriceMiddleton
• Using Care Pathways to Manage Your Shelter Behavior Program - webcast with Dr. Sheila Segurson on Wednesday, August 31 - Register: https://maddiesfund-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_b1uGR2fRSMWolVFpQ1NckQ
• Register now for the Return to Home Challenge Huddles!
  Every Wednesday during the month of September, there will be a 50-minute Zoom Huddle at 12pm PT/3pm ET. Each Zoom Huddle will consist of 20-minute presentations from peers involved in Return to Home programs at their animal shelter or rescue organization. This will be followed by 30-minute Q&A. Learn More: https://www.maddiesfund.org/return-to-home-challenge-huddles.htm
  Register: https://maddiesfund-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApcemqqjsrGNYzrpKm40RsKD5Bb6T6jPYm
• Maddie's® Pet Forum August Resource Drive: Field Services and Public Safety
  https://forum.maddiesfund.org/discussion/august-resource-drive-field-services-and-public-safety-resources
• Call for Abstracts open for Humane Canada's 2023 Summit for Animals in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia https://humanecanada.submittable.com/submit/226360/2023-humane-canada-summit-for-animals
• The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement is hosting a Transport Best Practices Round Table on August 17th at 4 pm EST You can register here: https://learning.theaawa.org/products/the-roundtable-transport-best-practices
• NACA is accepting nominations for their 2022 awards https://www.nacanet.org/awards/
• Midwest Animal Sheltering Conference, Sept 23-25 in Columbia, MO
  https://www.missourianimals.org/aboutmasc
• Human Animal Support Services Pets Find Help https://pets.findhelp.com
  AND, for instructions on how to get your programs and services listed: https://hass-net.americanpetsalive.org/pets-findhelp-com
• Maddie's Fund Monthly Giveaways! Enter here for a chance to win CA$H in a random drawing: https://www.maddiesfund.org/weekly-community-conversations-aug22-giveaway.htm

Presentation: "Housing Equity and Advocacy"

• Dianne Prado, Executive Director of Housing Equity & Advocacy Resource Team (H.E.A.R.T.) http://www.heartla.org/

Related links shared in the chat

• Washington Post April 2022 "Rents are rising everywhere. See how much prices are up in your area" https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2022/rising-rent-prices/
• The Hustle "Why is rent skyrocketing?" https://thehustle.co/why-is-rent-skyrocketing/
• Eviction Lab is a good data resource: https://evictionlab.org
• https://www.humananimalsupportservices.org/toolkit/pet-eviction-calculator/ and https://evictedbook.com/
• From Andrew N Rowan, DPhil, Board Chair & Chief Program Officer, WellBeing International:  "In 15 states, at least half of all renting households spent at least 30% of their income on housing in 2020" https://www.prb.org/articles/u-s-housing-cost-burden-declines-among-homeowners-but-remains-high-for-renters/
• Found Animals resources for shelters that want to share data in their communities relative to pets and housing: https://www.foundanimals.org/pets-and-housing/ and https://www.foundanimals.org/pets-and-housing/2021-pet-inclusive-housing-report/
• Civil Right to Counsel http://civilrighttocounsel.org/map

​​

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Charlotte Otero
Community Strategist at Maddie's Fund
she/her
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-12-2022 12:38 PM
From: Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
Subject: Community Conversations - 8/15/22 - Housing Equity and Advocacy

Updated 8/15/22 at 2:22pm - Recording now available to watch on demand! 

We hope to see you at the next Weekly Community Conversations call! As a reminder, the former Monday and Friday calls have now been combined into this ONE (50 minute) weekly call that will take place every Monday at a NEW time: 11AM PT/2PM ET.

If you haven't already done so, register now.

This Monday, August 15, join @Dianne Prado, Executive Director of Housing Equity & Advocacy Resource Team (HEART L.A.), as they present on housing equity and advocacy.

According to the 2020-2021 National Pet Owners Survey, about 85 million people in the United States (70%) are pet owners. Over 70% of a person's income goes towards paying either rent or their mortgage. Housing and pet ownership are interrelated as our pets are part of the family- to house ourselves is to house our pets.

The definition of a pet requires a human owner and as such we can't fail to consider the barriers a pet owner faces when finding housing. This conversation will focus on the housing rights of tenants with pets and how animal welfare advocates can be a part of ensuring housing is a right for both the person and their companion animal.

About HEART L.A. - Keeping People & their Pets Housed
Housing Equality & Advocacy Resource Team (HEART L.A.), is a nonprofit public interest law firm that provides technical assistance, education, and policy advocacy to keep people and their companion animals housed.

Many individuals and families are being forced out of their homes due to having pets. New owners or deceitful managers use the threat of eviction to force out long-term tenants from rent-controlled properties so they can increase the rent. Heartbroken and desperate, these people believe they have no choice but to surrender their beloved pets to a shelter. In almost every circumstance, the threat of eviction was illegal. With the growing housing crisis in Los Angeles no one should be illegally evicted because of their companion animal.

​HEART L.A. is here to help you and your companion animal remain housed in a safe and healthy environment and to advocate for legislation that breaks down barriers for tenants with pets looking for housing. - https://www.heartla.org/

This post will be updated with the recording if you're unable to attend live. Additionally, Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the giveaway drawing entry forms that will be shared in the chat during the calls.

See you Monday!

​
#CaseManagement*
#Diversity,Equity,InclusionandJustice
#LawsandPublicPolicy

------------------------------
Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

Patricia Gomez, the Asst. Outreach Manager with the World Animal Foundation, reached out to us to share some updated statistics about Pet Ownership in the US:  
"Based on our most recent data of 2023, these figure has been updated, and According to the latest research and data of 2023-2024, 86.9 Million US Households Owns a Pet, Which Accounts for 66%."  You can find out more about the new research stats on the World Animal Foundation's Pet Ownership Statistics webpage. 

------------------------------
Kim Domerofski (she/her)
Community Manager
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-12-2022 12:38 PM
From: Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
Subject: Community Conversations - 8/15/22 - Housing Equity and Advocacy

Updated 8/15/22 at 2:22pm - Recording now available to watch on demand! 

We hope to see you at the next Weekly Community Conversations call! As a reminder, the former Monday and Friday calls have now been combined into this ONE (50 minute) weekly call that will take place every Monday at a NEW time: 11AM PT/2PM ET.

If you haven't already done so, register now.

This Monday, August 15, join @Dianne Prado, Executive Director of Housing Equity & Advocacy Resource Team (HEART L.A.), as they present on housing equity and advocacy.

According to the 2020-2021 National Pet Owners Survey, about 85 million people in the United States (70%) are pet owners. Over 70% of a person's income goes towards paying either rent or their mortgage. Housing and pet ownership are interrelated as our pets are part of the family- to house ourselves is to house our pets. [10/30/23 Update received from World Animal Foundation:  According to the latest research and data of 2023-2024, 86.9 Million US Households Owns a Pet, Which Accounts for 66%.]

The definition of a pet requires a human owner and as such we can't fail to consider the barriers a pet owner faces when finding housing. This conversation will focus on the housing rights of tenants with pets and how animal welfare advocates can be a part of ensuring housing is a right for both the person and their companion animal.

About HEART L.A. - Keeping People & their Pets Housed
Housing Equality & Advocacy Resource Team (HEART L.A.), is a nonprofit public interest law firm that provides technical assistance, education, and policy advocacy to keep people and their companion animals housed.

Many individuals and families are being forced out of their homes due to having pets. New owners or deceitful managers use the threat of eviction to force out long-term tenants from rent-controlled properties so they can increase the rent. Heartbroken and desperate, these people believe they have no choice but to surrender their beloved pets to a shelter. In almost every circumstance, the threat of eviction was illegal. With the growing housing crisis in Los Angeles no one should be illegally evicted because of their companion animal.

​HEART L.A. is here to help you and your companion animal remain housed in a safe and healthy environment and to advocate for legislation that breaks down barriers for tenants with pets looking for housing. - https://www.heartla.org/

This post will be updated with the recording if you're unable to attend live. Additionally, Maddie's Fund will be giving away up to $10,000 in grants each month! You can enter to win each time you attend a call or watch it on demand during the month by completing the giveaway drawing entry forms that will be shared in the chat during the calls.

See you Monday!

​
#CaseManagement*
#Diversity,Equity,InclusionandJustice
#LawsandPublicPolicy

------------------------------
Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------