More and more dogs, cats and caged pets are ending up in shelters because their owners are moving into apartments or townhouses where pets are not allowed.
Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard is trying to get a bill passed. This bill is similar to the "Fluffy Law" that was passed in Ontario in 1998 which prohibits landlords from discriminating against pet owners simply because they own a pet.
On December 8, 2009, we introduced Bill 218,
The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act (Protecting Tenants Who Own Pets) in first reading in the Manitoba legislature.
If this bill were passed, landlords would not be allowed to prevent tenants from keeping pets in their apartments. The bill further protects landlords by allowing them to establish reasonable house rules concerning the cleanliness and control of pets in rental complexes.
If landlord and tenant have a disagreement concerning the presence of a pet in a complex arises, either party may apply to the residential tenancy board for a decision. In reaching a decision, the board may consider:
- whether the behavior of the pet interfered with the reasonable enjoyment of the complex;
- whether the pet has caused the landlord or another tenant to suffer a serious allergic reaction; and
- whether the pet is inherently dangerous to tenants.
It is our view that Manitobans will benefit from this bill that promotes the keeping of pets in apartments.
Tenants will benefit as studies show that pet owners are less depressed and healthier than non-pet-owners. In addition, landlords will benefit from having guidelines and rules about reasonable pet control and behavior.
