ASPCA Commends Nevada Gov. Sisolak for Signing Animal Protection Bills

NEW YORK, NY – The ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) commends Nevada lawmakers and Gov. Steve Sisolak for enacting critical animal protection measures to expand pet-friendly housing opportunities during the 2019 legislative session. The new laws include: A.B. 161, which removes unnecessary and intrusive barriers to pet ownership in Common Interest Developments; and S.B. 367, which requires housing units financed by the state to be pet-friendly.

“No pet owner should be forced to make the impossible decision between keeping a roof over their head or relinquishing their beloved pet to a shelter,” said Susan Riggs, senior director of state legislation for the ASPCA, Western region. “We thank Senator Scheible for recognizing that strong bonds between people and pets make for a stronger community, and we are grateful to Governor Sisolak for signing S.B. 367 to open up much-needed pet-friendly housing opportunities throughout Nevada.”

A national study conducted by the ASPCA revealed that those who rent are more likely to need to rehome their pets for housing issues than for any other reason. The popularity of homeowners associations (HOAs) has grown considerably in recent years, with an estimated 3,200 Common Interest Developments (CIDs) in Nevada, and over 645,000 Nevadans – more than a quarter of all residents of the state – reside in a home regulated by an HOA. At the same time, over 53 percent of Nevadans own pets, and one common complaint of CID residents is the arbitrary prohibitions against pets that many HOAs establish.

“Removing housing barriers for pet owners will allow pets and families to stay together, while also reducing intake pressure on animal shelters and rescues resulting from housing-related relinquishment,” said Riggs. “We thank Governor Sisolak for signing A.B. 161 to ensure Nevadans will not be denied their right to the tangible quality-of-life benefits that pet-ownership provides, and we thank Assemblymember Hansen for her commitment to protecting these rights.”

For more information about the ASPCA or to join the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade, please visit www.aspca.org.