By Bob Katzen
A bill heard by the Housing Committee would reinstate the elderly state-aided housing pet program which was inadvertently eliminated when the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities was established in 2023. The program allows elderly residents of public housing to have pets.
This bill would also expand the pet program to apply to all state-aided housing, without restrictions on a dog’s breed, size, weight or appearance. In addition, it would prevent state-aided public housing facilities from requiring pet declawing in line with Massachusetts law prohibiting this practice, requiring unreasonably expensive pet deposits or evicting a tenant because they own a pet. Another provision would create an advisory group to help develop and effectively implement pet-friendly policies in state-funded housing.
“Elderly residents should not have to choose between access to housing and keeping their pets,” said sponsor Rep. Tackey Chan (D-Quincy). “The provisions outlined in this bill are crucial for ensuring elderly residents in state-aided housing can remain with their pets safely and without unfair restrictions.”