June 4, 2015
The NY Assembly Housing Committee has approved a bill that would prohibit a person from being denied or evicted from public housing based solely on the breed of dog they own. The bill would also prohibit housing leases (including apartments, tenements, and mobile home parks) from restricting a tenant’s ability to own a specific breed of dog.
The AKC supports Assembly Bill 2065, which would prevent a tenant from being discriminated against based solely on the breed or appearance of the dog they choose to own. The bill still allows for the regulation of dogs deemed to be dangerous under state law. A. 2065 also complements current state law, which already recognizes that breed-specific laws are ineffective and prohibits local governments from passing regulations based solely on a dog’s breed.
Assembly Bill 2065 would protect the rights of tenants to own the dog of their choice, so long as the dog is well-behaved and does not pose a problem or risk for other residents or the community. It will also prevent tenants from making the difficult choice of keeping their pet or seeking a different option for housing.
Visit AKC’s Breed-Specific/Dangerous Dog Laws key issue page in the new Legislative Action Center to view talking points on this issue.
The bill is pending in the Assembly Rules Committee and will likely be considered by the full Assembly soon.
NY residents are encouraged to contact their State Assemblymember in support of this legislation. Visit AKC’s Legislative Action Center and type in your address to get the name and contact information for your State Assemblymember.
The NY Assembly Housing Committee has approved a bill that would prohibit a person from being denied or evicted from public housing based solely on the breed of dog they own. The bill would also prohibit housing leases (including apartments, tenements, and mobile home parks) from restricting a tenants ability to own a specific breed of dog. NY residents are encouraged to contact their State Assemblymember in support of this legislation.