Calif. seeks to rein in rental policies on pets

Sacramento, Calif.

-- California lawmakers are focusing on pet welfare once again. This time their sights are set on landlords of rental housing.

Assembly Bill 2743 would prohibit landlords from advertising or enacting rental policies that require tenants with animals to have them devocalized or declawed as a condition of a lease.

If the new state law passes, landlords requiring these practices would face a $1,000 penalty for each violation that does not result in declawing or devocalization and a $2,500 fine for each violation that does. The fine would then be paid to the owner of the animal that was devocalized or declawed.

Charitable organizations would be authorized to enforce the law, according to legislation.

The bill was introduced in February and has been referred to the Assembly’s committee on judiciary.