Save Animals, Help Seniors

Intro. No. 751, 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. The bill does not apply to animals who create nuisances. 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. 751.
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

CONTACT INFORMATION
Please urge these councilmembers to support Intro. No. 751 and to ensure that a hearing is held soon.
It may be easier to mail or fax your letter, but if you want to e-mail it, here are the directions. The councilmembers get so many e-mails that they have made it more difficult to e-mail them directly.
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 QuinnPhone: 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 CommitteePhone: 212- 788-7284Fax: 212-227-5636
Councilmember Maria del Carmen Arroyo the bill’s sponsor and Chair of the Aging Committee.
Please thank her for her sponsorship and urge her to get a hearing on this humane legislation.
Phone: 718-402-6130, 212-788-7384Fax: 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
Thank you