PETS IN RENTAL HOUSING

About the Department

MISSION & VISION STATEMENT To Promote and Protect the Health, Safety and Welfare of Animals and People in the City of Los Angeles. We envision the day when every pet born has a good home and is cared for all its life and no person is ever endangered by any animal.

Department Divisions

We have six Animal Shelters in the City: West Valley Shelter: 20655 Plummer Street - 91311 North Central Shelter: 3201 Lacy Street - 90031 East Valley Shelter: 14409 Vanowen Street - 91406 West Los Angeles Shelter: 11361 W Pico Blvd 90064 Harbor Shelter: 957 N Gaffey Street - 90731 Chesterfield Square Shelter: 1850 W 60 th Street 90018

FIELD SERVICES: Service Calls for stray, owned, wild, exotic & livestock: at large, sick, injured, in distress,, attacking people or other animals, fighting each other, in traffic, on freeway Assist: other agencies with animal issues Conduct Investigations: animal neglect, abuse, cruelty, hoarding, fighting, permits, distance, dangerous animals, licensing

SPECIALIZED OPERATIONS TEAMS: Licensing Canvassing Permits Wildlife ACTF (Animal Cruelty Task Force) Training Division Emergency Management Division Event / Outreach Division SMART (Specialized Mobile Animal Rescue Team) VEERT (Volunteer Equine Emergency Response Team)

SHELTER SERVICES: Shelter Division Intake & care of various domestic, wild and exotic animals Stray and Owner Surrenders Adoptions New Hope Program: 200 + nonprofits partner with LAAS to find homes for shelter pets Foster Program Mobile Pet Adoptions Volunteer Program: applications, orientation, training Clerical Staff: process of adoptions, owner surrenders, licensing and permit fees

SHELTER SERVICES: Medical Division Veterinarian and Registered Veterinarian Technicians at all shelters Intake: exams, vaccinations, flea/tick prevention Micro-Chips & Spay/Neuter Medical Treatment, Surgeries if necessary Cruelty Exams / Necropsies

ADMIN SERVICES: Licensing / Breeders Permits Public Relations Commission Meetings Website / Social Media Marketing Fundraising Grants Hearings Division Barking Dog & Dangerous Animal Administrative Hearings Animal Neglect / Cruelty: Pre-, Post-Seizure Hearings

Pets in Rental Housing

WHAT ARE PETS? Pets are companion animals kept primarily for a person s company or protection. Many are considered a member of the family.

During the economic downturn when so many families were losing housing or downsizing (which included having to give up a companion animal), it was said that this was the most difficult sacrifice the family had to make. It was demonstrated that children were able to accept a lot of changes if they had the security of their dependable and loving pet.

BENEFITS OF ANIMALS TO HUMANS

BENEFITS OF ANIMALS TO HUMANS Companionship: elderly adults who otherwise have no social interactions Emotional: provide support and unconditional love Health: lower blood pressure and decreased stress

BENEFITS OF ANIMALS TO HUMANS Children exposed to pets are less likely to develop allergies Children raised with animals tend to develop a stronger immune system Improved Social Skills: people like to talk about their pets if they are too shy to talk about anything else

BENEFITS OF ANIMALS TO HUMANS Heart Attack Patients with pets tend to have better recovery rates Dogs can be your personal trainer: walking your dog increases losing or maintaining a healthy weight Pets provide a sense of purpose for the elderly who care for them and also offer exercise opportunities

BENEFITS OF ANIMALS TO HUMANS Pets boost overall mood and bring feelings of joy and happiness Children learn responsibility and compassion

BENEFITS TO LANDLORDS ALLOWING PETS

BENEFITS TO LANDLORD ALLOWING PETS Tenants in pet-friendly housing stayed average of 46 month / 18mo Vacancy Rate is lower Renters are willing to pay a premium to cover any extra costs Increased demand due to shortage of petfriendly rentals

BENEFITS TO LANDLORD ALLOWING PETS Responsible Pet Owners make more responsible tenants as they are less likely to do anything that could jeopardize their tenancy Extra Income from pet fees Non-refundable deposits to offset costs for cleaning when tenant moves

BENEFITS TO LANDLORD ALLOWING PETS Get more response to advertising if pet friendly Pet owners usually spend more time at home and contribute to increased security in your area Pets with good manners / grooming usually have responsible owners who care about their surrounding and take care of their living environment

ADDITIONAL INFO/ CONSIDERATIONS

ADDITIONAL INFO / CONSIDERATIONS Size of the Pet is not an indicator of a pets behavior: large dogs can be couch potatoes, small dogs can be high energy. There is no such thing as a Dangerous Dog Breed - breed is not predictive of an individual dogs behavior, but prevents some great renters living in your community Dogs need to be treated as individuals, they all have their own unique personalities just like humans

ADDITIONAL INFO / CONSIDERATIONS Federal and State Laws recognize the value of the human/animal bond and include legal protections that may apply to some of your pet owning residents Be familiar with laws such as the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and American with Disabilities Act (ADA) (remember a disability does not have to be visually observable), ensure your pet policies are not violating these acts

ADDITIONAL INFO / CONSIDERATIONS Set clear standards of care to avoid misunderstandings with pet owning tenants 63% of pet owners have more than one pet Set Policies that treat pets as part of families - this is how your tenants see them Set standards to encourage responsible pet ownership, such as spay/neuter, proof of updated vaccinations, current licensing

PET OWNERS GET READY FOR YOUR LANDLORD

Provide a RESUME for your dog or cat Spay/Neutered Micro-Chipped Current Vaccination Records Current City of Los Angeles Licensing Photo of Your Pet Detailed Description (Breed, Color, Age, Gender)

Provide a RESUME for your dog or cat Training: Basic Obedience, Crate Trained, K -9 Good Citizen Reference: Previous Landlord, Vets, Groomer, Boarding or Day Care Facility, Neighbor Pet Insurance (if available)

What else can you do? Offer to sign and agree that the landlord can stop by any time without appointment to verify sanitation, etc

LANDLORD Ready to Interview?

LANDLORD INTERVIEW Landlords should meet and interview dogs along with the rest of the family. Observe the dog to see if it is friendly and polite. Chances are that the tenant will be nervous because getting your okay is very important

OTHER PETS

OTHER PETS Pocket Pets Exotics Reptiles

OTHER PETS Other Pet Consideration depend on whether it is a multi-unit dwelling vs. single for some species: - Reptiles: need outside environment - Birds: Depending on Species of Bird, noise level could be an issue with other tenants - Some species require special permits to keep

FAIR HOUSING ACT (FHA)

FAIR HOUSING ACT (FHA) FHA is a federal law that prevents discrimination against tenants in their homes. Under FHA a disability is defined as physical or mental impairment which significantly limits a person s major life activities. Even if the lease says No Pets or Restricted Pets, landlords are required to make what is called reasonable accommodations to allow pets who serve as assistance or emotional needs animals.

SERVICE ANIMAL Service Animals are categorized as animals trained to do a specific task for their owner. The most common is a guide dog. Service Animals are allowed in public places and are either a dog or Miniature horse that has been fully trained by an accredited facility and have special protection laws.

ASSITANCE OR EMOTIONAL NEEDS ANIMAL Can be any type of animal and does not need to be individually trained or certified to perform a service. The emotional and/or physical benefits from the animal living in the home are what qualify the Animals. These are animals that work, assist and or perform tasks and services for the benefit of a person with disability or provide emotional support that improves the symptoms of a disability. A letter from a medical doctor or therapist is all that is need to classify the animal as an assistance or emotional needs animal.

Examples: ASSITANCE OR EMOTIONAL NEEDS ANIMAL Animal can detect a seizure disorder and alerts the owner to get prepared, alleviates a person depression or anxiety, reduces a person stress induced pain, bird who alerts a person with hearing disabilities when some is at the door.

FHA NOTE FHA does include a few restrictions where this act does not apply, check the FHA website for more information. Landlords cannot charge any extra rent or pet deposits or any other fee s due to pet ownership, these types of animals are not considered pets, only security deposit

BASIC LAWS

LOS ANGELES MUNICIPAL CODE (LAMC) 53.06.2(a): Leash Law 53.49: Defecation 53.15.3(a): Licensing 53.15.2(b): Breeders Permit 53.63: Noise Nuisance 53.34: Aggressive Dogs 53.50(a): Dog/Cat Limits-Permit 53.59: Distance Requirements

Q & A