In some of the most positive news we’ve heard emanating from the Ohio State legislature in a while, State Rep. Juanita O. Brent, a democrat representing a swath of Cuyahoga County’s southeastern suburbs and Sharon Ray, a Republican from Wadsworth, held a press conference Tuesday September 19 at the Cleveland APL to announce the introduction of Pet Friendly Rental Act in the Ohio House of Representatives.
The act will provide a tax credit for landlords who allow renters to have cats and dogs without breed or size restrictions or a non-refundable fee or rental surcharge. Landlords won’t be forced to accept pets; they just won’t qualify for the tax credit.
They said that while more landlords seem to be becoming pet-friendly, many people already struggling financially, including senior citizens, are often faced moves that force them to surrender their pets to shelters..
“So far this year, nearly 100 pets have been surrendered to the Cleveland APL alone because their owners were facing challenges with landlords or had lost their homes and couldn’t take their pets; nearly 150 more were surrendered because their owners were ‘moving’,” says Cleveland APL President & CEO Sharon Harvey.
Animal lovers, contact your state representative and tell them to support it! Find the member directory here.
13 Responses to “Ohio State Representatives Introduce Bill to Help Renter Pet Owners”
Mary Ann Lynn
Please allow pets.
Juanita Trimble
Please pass this bill
Debra Tumbleson
I`m all for people having pets, but there should be a limit on how many.
Mark Wagner
I really think that maybe two dogs or three dogs would be tops and a small dwelling if you lived out in the woods or out in the country there should not be a limit as long as you can take care of them and feed them give them love and understanding that goes for cats I really don’t know I’m not a cat person however they are creatures my concern is simple there really shouldn’t be any limits on pets because if you’re renting and you have a large family there’s no limit on that is there to me I don’t have kids don’t want them nothing I have animals they’re much more trustworthy reliable they cost the same you just don’t have to put them through college and they’re much more companionship than any other I don’t want to offend anybody but that’s my feeling
Carla Battle
I want to be able to keep my pets
Lundie Godwin
I think the landlord needs to be able to see how clean the ppl lived prior or contact prior landlord before saying no from go ….cuz it’s the ppl that trash the place an don’t take care of the animal that makes it so that the responsible pet owner can’t have a pet !!!
Barbara C
Renters should not be permitted to have pit or pit mixes. My son’s neighbor has 3 pit mixes…one got out and attacked my grandson and tore 75% of the Achilles tendon from the bone. There was no provocation, he wa skateboarding. The landlord won’t take any responsibility and neither will the renter.
The other dog attempted to bite my son over the top of the fence while he was mowing his yard. Now they have added 7 puppies. Enough is enough.
Carla Law
My husband has rentals. I totally understand him not wanting pets in his rentals. He has let some have pets at one time. But when they move its not a pretty site to clean. Feces in floor vents. Leading to have to change pipes to the furnace. Mold from urine on floors. Carpets needing changed. When it was brand new when they moved in. Wood floors being ruined. Not cleaning up after pets inside and outside. Sneaking more pets in the rental. Or a rental that says no pets. But sneaks them in anyway. Pet owners who rent have ruined it for themselves. Don’t blame the landlord because he doesn’t want that headache. And we love animals. We have pets. But there are people out there that could care less what happens to a rental.
Rose Clevenger
Advocating for pets that are on euthanasia list has been a nightmare. Most do not get out. A bill to help responsible pet owners would be a blessing.
Limit on amount.. yes. Breed specific no. Too many working breeds are being euthanized for fear, space..
Samantha Williams
Please pass this bill.
Sonja J Heffner
Sensible pet owners should be allowed to have pets. My suggestion is for the prospective land lord to vist the rentee’s current home prior to renting to them. Cats destroy more property than dogs however, it is the owner & their trainning that should be considered as well as the pet.
Sheila Larimore
Please pass this bill.
Joanne Ritschel
I’m a landlord and a pet owner. I would really like to allow my tenants to have pets . However, my experience with tenants and pets has been very costly. Most recently, I had to replace all the flooring due to a dog that was left alone too long and he urinated everywhere. I also had a situation where a dog chewed all the kitchen cabinets along the bottom . Another experience was a cat that sprayed all along the wooden baseboards. I have spent thousands of dollars repairing damage due to pets and I will not allow pets ever again. I’m sorry to have to take this position but I cannot afford it.