I support this bill. Thank You

I support HB 1614. Renters of limited means that are providing loving homes to their dogs should not have to split up their families. Thank you.

I support HB 1614. Renters of limited means that are providing loving homes to their dogs should not have to split up their families. Thank you.

Please support this important legislation that will promote affordable, accessible housing and keep families together. Too many families are forced to choose between housing options and their pets because of breed and/or size restrictions based on bias. There is no scientific evidence that breed is linked to aggression. However, there is research showing that breed and size restrictions are often based on biased perceptions of who loves certain types of dogs. There should be no room for discriminatory housing restrictions for people and the pets they love. Virginians should not be forced to choose between housing that shelters them or their beloved pet family members. Pets are family.

I support the following bills and would appreciate our representatives giving their support and passing them into law. HB1384 | Fowler | Professional and Occupational Regulation, Department of; licensure by apprenticeship. HB1614 | Williams Graves | Housing authorities; common household pets.

Please support this bill as Shelters in Virginia do not have enough capacity to contain the overwhelming numbers of large dogs and bully breed type dogs that are homeless in this state. We should be doing everything we can to support people wanting to adopt these dogs. There are no bad dogs, only bad dog owners (Cesar Milan). There is no evidence that can indicate a dog's behavior based on their physical characteristics. No person should have to relinquish their beloved pet because of a lack of access to resources - including safe, affordable and pet inclusive housing. Thank you!

Please support this important bill. It is heartbreaking to see local pounds fill up with pets that were taken away from their owners, for no other reason than outdated regulations. Many get euthanized...for what?

Please support 1614. People's pets are part of their families, and no one should have to choose between housing and a beloved family member. Three-quarters of pet owners have experienced difficulty finding housing where their pets were allowed, despite the fact that pet-friendly housing benefits not only tenants, but also owner operators. Tenants remain in pet-friendly housing 21% longer than they do in housing that is not pet-friendly. In addition, 80% of owner operators say it's easier to find tenants for their pet-friendly properties. Animal shelters are already overrun, underfunded, and understaffed. Supporting this bill will allow people and their pets to stay together, and decrease the number of animals surrendered to shelters because they are welcome in the housing their family has found.

I strongly support HB 1614. When I was a young attorney fresh out of law school, I moved to Virginia to take a dream job. My father had recently died and, though I had family in the area, my mother was left alone in a house in New York with a 15-year-old dog she could not care for due to her own health conditions. So I was looking to find housing that would accept me and my beloved 50-pound, 15-year-old mixed hound. I could not find a single housing complex that would accept a 50-pound dog. I started looking at individually owned condominiums. Still, I could not find housing. All required that the animal be 25 or fewer pounds. My dog did need to lose about 15 pounds and I persuaded myself that it was not as bad to say a 35-pound dog was 25 pounds as it was to say a 50-pound dog was 25 pounds. Though I felt actually quite badly about lying, the alternative was to place my otherwise healthy dog in a shelter, where he undoubtedly would not find a home. When I adopted him as a puppy, I made a commitment to care for him for his lifetime. It is important to me to honor commitments generally, and my commitment to care for another was simply a commitment that could not be breached. I ultimately found housing that would accept both of us and my dog did go on a diet to reach 35 pounds. We had many more happy memories romping in the park until he passed away at 16 ½ years old. I am a long-time volunteer at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. I see many individuals come in, often in tears, to give up a companion that they cherish, because they cannot find housing that will accept their pet for one reason or another – weight, number of animals, breed. Among renters, housing insecurity is the number one reason for pet relinquishment. And 72% of renters have pets. This is a lot of heartbreak for low-income individuals who already have enough struggles in their lives. We can allow them the comfort and love that an animal provides, honor that they care for their animals as much as the rest of us, and keep these animals in homes where they are loved and cared for. Please pass this bill.

Please support this bill to allow lower income people to have pets in their homes. This bill is good for lower income people, who love their pets as much as wealthier people, and it is good for the animals, who need homes as well.

Comments Document

Please see the Animal Legal Defense Fund's attached written testimony in support of HB 1614.

Please support this bill. Shelters in Virginia do not have enough capacity to contain the overwhelming numbers of large dogs and bully breed type dogs that are homeless in this state. We should be doing everything we can to support people wanting to adopt these dogs!

PLEASE SUPPORT THIS BILL. The families that are most affected by this bill are low income and elderly. They are the most vulnerable. Allowing them the comfort, companionship and love of pets is critical for mental health and developing responsible social interaction. For many elderly citizens, their only contact with another living being is a pet. Why deny them the chance for a daily bit of happiness by not allowing them to live with their furry friends. They already suffer immeasurable loneliness - they need a reason to look forward to having another pal in their homes.

HB 1635, HB 2045, HB 2082 and HB2153--I support all of these bills. They all move Virginia in the right direction in terms of tenant/landlord relationships and equity for people with disabilities. Please support these bills. Thank you for your time.

HB 1635, HB 2045, HB 2082 and HB2153--I support all of these bills. They all move Virginia in the right direction in terms of tenant/landlord relationships and equity for people with disabilities. Please support these bills. Thank you for your time.

Although in theory, the City of Portsmouth supports the idea, but in practice, we are concerned that in practice, there is no guarantee low income households will be able to afford rents at 10% reduction.

HB 1635, HB 2045, HB 2082 and HB2153--I support all of these bills. They all move Virginia in the right direction in terms of tenant/landlord relationships and equity for people with disabilities. Please support these bills. Thank you for your time.