While organizations such as the ASPCA, HSUS and Best Friend Animal Society are making great strides in preventing and ending breed-discrimination and pet-restrictions in “pet-friendly” housing, it is equally important for owners to understand their rights and know how to best advocate their furry family members.
Homeowners, for instance, may be surprised to know that insurance companies AllState, MetLife, Progressive and Farmer’s have breed-discriminatory policies while home insurance companies State Farm, Geico and USAA insurance companies are among those who do not have breed restrictions in their policies. Homeowners in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Maryland may be especially glad to know state law makes it illegal to not offer insurance due to breed of dog(s) owned although higher insurance premiums may exist based on breed of dog(s) owned.
Renters and homeowners with HOA responsibilities face especially problematic breed-discrimination and pet-restrictions through “pet-friendly” housing. If you’re facing breed-discrimination or pet-restrictions, make every effort to educate their leasing or housing company on how pet-friendly landlords increase profitability, why breed-specific legislation is ineffective and how “dangerous dog” bans impact public safety. You might also:
Need more resources? Visit our comprehensive and topic-driven Directory of Resources which offers resources for humans and their pets alike! For those seeking Temporary Care – otherwise known as crisis fostering – for their pet, please view our Temporary Care page for further resources and support.