Current Projects

Fluffy's Law - Rental Act Amendment

Dee’s is just beginning to explore how we can help responsible pet owners that are renters have cats. Thousands of cats are left homeless each year because their people are not able to keep them in their rental home/apartment. All too often we meet responsible persons who wish to give a cat a good home but cannot, as they do not yet own their own place. With the cost of housing ever increasing, Victoria is becoming one of the most pet unfriendly cities in Canada.

Ever heard of Fluffy’s Law? It is an amendment to the Landlord and Tenant Act in Ontario, and it ensures that renters can keep their beloved pets. Dee’s Orphan Kitten Fund would like to see a similar amendment to our Residential Tenancy Act. Unfortunately, too many people are forced to choose between a place to live and their pet. Thousands of pets are left homeless in BC each year, when responsible persons who will provide love and care are available, but denied because they have not yet purchased a home.

As a quick summary::

The Residential Tenancies Act states that any clause in a lease that prohibits pets is void. This means that once a person becomes a tenant, if they have a pet even though the lease says pets are not allowed, the landlord cannot evict the tenant just for having the pet.

A landlord may evict a tenant for keeping an animal if it:

  • caused undue damage
  • caused a serious allergic reaction in another person or the landlord
  • interfered with the normal enjoyment of the property by another tenant or the landlord, for example, causing undue noise
  • acted aggressively to others - thus affecting their safety, or
  • is a species or breed of animal that is inherently dangerous

The amendment is reasonable, and will allow responsible pet owners to have a place to live. Please write to your MLA, and to the BC Minister of Housing and Social Development and let them know you support a change to the residential tenancy act to allow responsible renters to own pets.

For more information see these links:

Also, act now with your vote! In 2002, Rob Fleming and Jenny Kwan of the New Democratic Party supported revisions to the tenancy act. Please read the attached Hansard (Hansard March 25 2002) (Nov 7 2002) of the discussions with Rich Colemen, the Minister of Housing and Development. Unfortunately, Mr. Coleman, and his government have made it more difficult for tenants to own pets.

Are you a landlord? If so, please help the animals of Victoria by allowing your tenant to have a pet. As a landlord, you are permitted to request ½ of the rent as a pet deposit. You are also permitted to set the rules of number, size etc. Why not consider allowing a pet, so that the responsible pet owners and hopeful pet owners can have a place to live. You could state the pet has to be spayed/neutered, and been to the vet recently. You can require waste pick up if the pet goes in the yard. With a little bit of understanding, you can make a difference to the thousands of pets that have no home in Victoria. It doesn't take much; just the realization that responsible, dependable people would like to share their lives with animals too.