Keeping Families Together: The Montreal SPCA launches a campaign against no-pet clauses in residential leases
June 27th, 2012 – Every summer, around moving day, thousands of Quebec residents are forced to make the gut-wrenching decision to part with a beloved pet, which they consider a member of their family, in order to secure affordable rental housing. Currently, the law allows landlords to penalize all pet owners who are looking for affordable rental housing, regardless of how their animals actually behave. This disproportionately affects low-income families with pets, who have more limited opportunities for housing
In order to address this situation, the Montreal SPCA is launching a campaign against no-pet clauses in residential leases.
“No pet clauses are a significant contributor to the situation of pet abandonment during the moving day period. The situation is devastating, not only to the families who find themselves unable to keep their pets, but for the animals themselves” said Alanna Devine, Director of Animal Advocacy at the Montreal SPCA. “We realize that this is an issue that needs to be addressed by the Provincial government for the well-being of families and their pets in this Province”.
Faced with a similar problem, the Ontario government responded by enacting legislation invalidating no-pet clauses in leases in the 1990’s. The Montreal SPCA believes it is time for Quebec to follow suit. The Montreal SPCA is asking the public to support their campaign by visiting against no-pet clauses in residential leases by visiting the SPCA’s website by signing the petition and sending a letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy as well as sharing their own personal story with respect to no pet clauses in residential leases.
Please click Here to go to the online petition: Sign the petition!
(Press Release by Montreal SPCA)