DC announced the Pets in Housing Act on May 22, 2024, on the steps of the Wilson Building. The bill is designed to provide accessible and affordable housing for individuals and families with companion animals and prohibit racial discrimination by housing providers. The Animal Welfare Project at George Washington University Law School, overseen by Joan Schaffner, worked with HRA and DC VRA in drafting and promoting this bill.
Joan E. Schaffner is an associate professor of law and co-director of the School of Animal Legal Education at George Washington University Law School. Additionally, Ella Schaffner is the senior advisor for the GW Animal Welfare Project and the GW Student Animal Legal Defense Fund. Schaffner’s scholarship focuses on animal protection law. She has presented on animal law panels and conferences around the world. Schaffner’s most recent scholarship has focused on stray cats with the recent publication in Society and Animals entitled: “Managing Our Relationship with Free-Roaming Cats in Zoopoland”, and the development of an international convention for animal protection with the recent article published in the Global Journal of Animal Law, and co-authored with Raj Reddy, titled “The Animal Protection Convention: The missing link in a global One Health strategy for pandemic prevention.” Joan is the author of the book Introduction to Animals and the Law, co-author and editor of A Lawyer’s Guide to Dangerous Dog Issues and Litigating Animal Law Disputes: A Complete Guide for Lawyers, and author of several book chapters, including “Valuing Nature in Law Environmental: Lessons for Animal Law and the Valuation of Animals” in What Can Animal Law Learn from Environmental Law?, “Animal Cruelty and the Law: Permissible Conduct” in Animal Cruelty: A Multidisciplinary Approach, “Value, Animals “Wildlife and Law” in Animal Welfare and International Environmental Law: From Conservation to Compassion.
Schaffner said, “The GW Animal Welfare Project, with the help of local and national animal advocates, has worked over the past few months investigating housing barriers for DC residents with pets and has worked alongside Councilmember staff White to draft the Residential Pet Law. designed to keep families together and increase opportunities for loving homes for DC’s homeless animals. The Act provides greater accessibility and affordability for DC tenants by eliminating non-refundable pet move-in fees and capping both pet rent and security deposits. The Act further promotes equity by prohibiting owners from discriminating against pets on the basis of breed, weight, and size, recognizing that such arbitrarily determined exclusions are based on myths that a dog’s “dangerousness” is a function of its breed or his association with people of different races. color. Finally, the Act provides for at least one pet-friendly shelter for DC’s homeless community, eliminating the choice between a safe place to sleep and staying with your pet. “I am excited about the opportunities this Act provides to eradicate discrimination and keep District families together in safe, affordable housing,” Schaffner said.
The “Pets in Housing Amendment Act of 2024” is a bill drafted to “amend the Rental Housing Act of 1985 to limit the amount of fees a housing provider can charge a prospective tenant associated with pet ownership.” of a pet; and modify XXX to guarantee access to shelters for people with pets.”
The Pet Housing Amendment Act promotes a more humane, equitable, and accessible approach to housing affordability for pet owners in the District of Columbia by: increasing affordability for renters, opening doors for pet owners and eliminate discrimination based on race. The bill limits the refundable security deposit to no more than $300 associated with the residence of common household pets in the rental unit. The bill continues to update the terms “common domestic pet” as a domesticated animal such as a dog, cat, bird, rodent, fish or turtle that is traditionally kept in the home for pleasure and not for commercial purposes.
About the GW Animal Law and Welfare Project (AWP)
GW Law’s Animal Welfare Project (AWP) was established in 2003 by Professor Mary Cheh and Joan Schaffner. It is an independent, pro bono effort between faculty and students at George Washington University Law School. AWP seeks to raise awareness of animal welfare issues and advocate for legislative changes to promote animal welfare and improve the lives of animals in the District of Columbia (DC) and beyond.
Students participate in the project by researching various aspects of animal protection, including existing and proposed laws and regulations across the country, enforcement issues and possibilities for law reform, and drafting responsive legislation or supporting documents for legislation. AWP is a resource for the DC government, local humane organizations, and community groups interested in strengthening animal protection. She also works with other law schools, nonprofit organizations, and the bar on joint animal law projects.
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