WHAT'S NEXT

Stop Maine Legislation That Will Make it Harder to Rent With Pets
  1. Signatures
    953 out of 1,000
    Petitioning
    1. The ME State Senate (+ 1 other)
      Petitioning
      close
      • The ME State Senate
      • The ME State House
  2. Created By
    Ledy VanKavage
    Collinsville, IL
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates
How We Won

Apr 05, 2011

Legislators in Maine were considering a bill that would force landlords to take partial responsibility for damage caused to a third party by their tenants' pets. If passed, few landlords would want to take on the liability of allowing people with pets to rent. Nearly 1,000 Change.org community members spoke out against this bill, since it would result in animals being abandoned by pet owners who can't afford to buy a home. Thanks to public pressure, this bill died in committee, protecting renters with pets.

Americans love their pets. Unfortunately, it's often difficult to find landlords that allow tenants to have dogs or cats.

ME HP 62/ LD 74 is pending in the Maine legislature. This bill would shift the burden of liability for a pet from the tenant to the landlord AND the tenant. The bill provides: "A tenant and that tenant's landlord are jointly and severally liable for damages caused to a 3rd party by that tenant's pet."  In essence, this ill-concieved measure would discourage any landlord from renting to people with pets because their own liability would be too high.

People who can't afford their own home shouldn't be discouraged from caring for a dog or cat. If ME HP 62/LD 74 passes, many pets will be abandoned in shelters. Please sign the petition to stop this inhumane measure.

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Please Oppose HP 62 / LD 74 That Would Prevent Tenants From Having Pets

Greetings,

HP 62 / LD 74 would shift the burden of liability for a pet solely from the tenant to the tenant and the landlord. It provides: "A tenant and the tenant's landlord are jointly and severally liable for damages caused to a 3rd party by the tenant's pet." According to the measure, pet means any domesticated animal normally maintained in or near the household of its owner.

If HP 62/LD 74 passes, landlords in Maine would be reluctant to rent to any tenant that owned a cat or a dog. It would be against their economic interest to rent to anyone who had a pet, resulting in hundreds of cats and dogs being abandoned at Maine animal shelters, and creating a hardship on Maine taxpayers.

Americans love their pets, even if they can't afford to own a home. Tenants should be responsible for any damage -- even proximal damages -- caused by their pets. Landlords should not be discouraged from renting to pet owners; research shows that pet owners tend to stay in their apartments longer.

Please oppose HP 62/ LD 74. Thank you for your consideration in this humane matter.

[Your name]

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