Pets in senior, disabled, and multifamily public housing

The AVMA recognizes the value of mutually beneficial relationships between people and animals, particularly for seniors and individuals with disabilities or other support needs. Long-standing amendments to the United States Housing Act of 1937 provide for ownership of pets in public housing for persons who are elderly or have disabilities or who live in multifamily public housing.

The AVMA supports these amendments ensuring these persons’ access to companion animals:

1. Public and assisted housing for the elderly and disabled families (The Housing and Rural Recovery Act of 1983 [Public Law 98-181]) with regulations codified under Pet Ownership for the Elderly or Persons with Disabilities [24 CFR 5, Subpart C]
2. Multifamily public housing other than that for the elderly and disabled families (The Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 [Public Law 105-276]) with regulations codified under Pet Ownership in Public Housing [24 CFR 960, Subpart G]