This bill protects both landlords and their tenants while recognizing that owning a pet has numerous social and health benefits, especially for seniors: Gerrard

Winnipeg – Today Manitoba Liberal Leader, Jon Gerrard introduced Bill 218, The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act (commonly referred to as Fluffy’s Law) which recognizes the health and social benefits that pet ownership provides Manitobans, specifically seniors.

 “Bill 218 or Fluffy’s Law is meant to provide landlords and their tenants with legislation to guide them in dealing with the often controversial topic of pet ownership in rental properties. There are numerous studies that show that owning a pet has measurable health benefits including increased physical fitness and lower incidents of depression. These benefits are especially pronounced in seniors who are most often tenants and frequently live alone,” said Gerrard.

 Gerrard added: “If we can keep our citizens happy and healthier by simply allowing them the option to have a pet in their rental property while protecting the investment of property owners then that is something that government should support. Happy and healthy people will use our health care system less and this will ultimately save taxpayer’s money.”

 Winnipeg Humane Society executive director, Bill McDonald supports the right of renters to own pets: “People renting should be allowed to have pets in apartments. Pet owners who rent deserve greater respect than to have the notion they bring disease and leave damage in their wake. This wreaks havoc on responsible pet owners who happen to rent, and then need to surrender their animal to us. The Winnipeg Humane Society should not pick up the pieces simply because landlords refuse to accept the fact that pet owners statistically take greater care of their property.”

Highlights of the Manitoba Liberal’s Bill 218 or Fluffy’s Law include:

 - allows landlords to establish and enforce house rules on cleanliness and standards of pet behavior in the complex;

- allows the Residential Tenancy Board to consider whether a pet causes serious allergic reactions or if its behavior interferes with the tenant’s enjoyment of the complex;

- prohibits the use of “no pet” clauses in tenancy agreements and house rules.

30-

For more information on how pet ownership supports healthy living in seniors or on Bill 218, please contact:

Michelle Nyhof  – Communications Officer, Manitoba Liberal Caucus

(204) 771-2513 or michelle.nyhof@leg.gov.mb.ca