“Upton, who, after staying in a shelter for nearly a year, is adjusting quite well to living in a house”
“Dear PoPville,
I’m a volunteer with a small coalition working to lower pet rent in DC (to set a cap at $25/month as well as launch a pet-friendly homeless shelter and eliminate breed discrimination) and would like to share a link to a hearing coming up on October 8th for the Pets in Housing Act.
here are the three basic components of the bill:
1. Improving Affordability for Renters
Rightsizes excessive pet deposits and fees by setting a District-wide cap on pet rent at $25/per month while eliminating non-refundable fees, such as so-called “pet move-in fees”
Places a reasonable cap on pet security deposits to require that they are not in excess of $300
2. Opening Doors for Pet Owners
Creates safe and dignified housing options for pet owners by requiring that the District maintain at least one pet-friendly low barrier shelter for residents experiencing homelessness
3. Eliminating Breed Discrimination
Addresses the harmful emotional and financial impact of dog breed discrimination, particularly against pet owners of color, by prohibiting landlords from imposing breed, weight, and size restrictions on pet-friendly rental units
I’d be more than happy to talk to anyone if they’d like to learn more about Upton! We call him Inspector Upton and he’s blossoming into a cuddly, curious, and playful dog outside of the shelter (he’s an HRA dog).”