SAVE ANIMALS, HELP SENIORS

Intro. No. 96, introduced by Councilmember Maria del Carmen Arroyo, states that no person 62 years of age or older shall be denied occupancy in or be subjected to eviction from a multiple dwelling on the sole ground that such person has pets where such pets are recommended by a health care professional. While the Humane Society of New York supports the right of all humane and responsible people to have companion animals, we understand that legislation is often incremental. Thus, although this bill applies to seniors only, it is a very crucial step in the right direction.

PLEASE contact the legislators listed below in support of

Intro. No. 96.

You may wish to make the following points:

* Numerous studies indicate the health benefits, both physical and emotional, that many people derive from having pets

* More than twenty thousand dogs and cats were killed last year at Animal Care and Control in New York City, many because of no-pet restrictions

* In order to reduce euthanasia, we need to promote the adoption of homeless animals and reduce the number of animals surrendered to animal shelters. No-pet clauses reduce adoptions and increase the surrender of animals

* Congress already recognized the importance of pets to many people by passing legislation giving people who live in public housing the right to have pets (although there are restrictions)

Contact:

CONTACT INFORMATION

Please urge these councilmembers to support Intro. No. 96 and to ensure that a hearing is held soon

To e-mail, please go to the City Council’s website at www.council.nyc.gov, click “councilmembers,” and click the councilmembers’ names listed below. On Speaker Quinn’s page, you need to click “Contact Speaker Quinn” just above her office locations in order to get to her e-mail page. The others say “e-mail address” and when you click that, you can write a message.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn

Phone: 212-788-7210, 212-564-7757

(leave a message at each # if you can)

Fax: 212-788-7207

Councilmember Erik Martin Dilan, Chair of the Housing & Buildings Committee

Phone: 212- 788-7284

Fax: 212-227-5636

Councilmember Maria del Carmen Arroyo, the bill’s sponsor. Please thank her for her sponsorship and urge her to get a hearing on this humane legislation.

Phone: 718-402-6130, 212-788-7384

Fax: 212-788-8920

Your New York City Council Member Find out who your NYC Councilmember is by clicking www.council.nyc.gov and then clicking “Council Members.”

All council members may also be written to at City Hall, New York, NY 10007

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