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Multiple Companion Animals Under Disabilities Act

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  • 03-14-2010, 08:56 PM
    rhondaks
    Multiple Companion Animals Under Disabilities Act
    My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Iowa

    Is there a specific law that protects your right to have more than one companion animal?

    My situation is that I have a dog and my youngest daughter has a cat. We both have mental illness and both have presented the landlord with letters from our psychiatrists. No problems.

    Now my oldest daughter who doesn't live with me is moving to a new place that doesn't allow pets. She took my cat in after my divorce before I moved to my current HUD-funded apartment. Now I'm trying to find out if there is a way I can keep both my dog AND cat with legal protection. I have paperwork showing I have been the owner of this cat since 2003...I didn't move into the apartments until 2008.

    I know another neighbor who the landlord gave a hard time because she and her son each had a cat despite them being companion animals. I was able to help them get the proper documentation to get the landlord to back off.

    But, I am very stressed out because I brought my cat here tonight and I am not a rule breaker at all. It makes me nervous to break rules and have the owner find out I have my cat here without permission.
  • 03-16-2010, 11:28 AM
    Mr. Knowitall
    Re: Multiple Companion Animals Under Disabilities Act
    What difference does it make that your youngest daughter's new place to live "doesn't allow pets" if it's her support animal necessitated by her mental illness? The ADA and fair housing laws permit support animals even in housing that does not allow pets - as you already know.

    There's no law that states how many animals may be classified as "support animals" for a single person, nor is there any law that says you can have more than one (although I understand that some people do).

    If the cat doesn't live with you, even though you "own" it, it may be a hard sell that the cat is in any way an emotional support animal to you - other that the cat's needing a different home, you've not indicated that your needs have changed.
  • 03-18-2010, 08:23 PM
    rhondaks
    Re: Multiple Companion Animals Under Disabilities Act
    I may have not been clear as far as my daughter's. I apologize.

    My oldest daughter, who does not have mental health issues, is who my cat was living with. When I first moved to my apartment I was in the process of a divorce and needed a place to live so badly that I was afraid to push the envelope by fighting for my cat and my dog. My oldest daughter could take the cat in at that time so we went with that.

    My youngest daughter, who has mental health issues, lives with me and she has her cat.

    My mental health has worsened considerably over the past year. I will be applying for disability insurance myself with the Social Security Administration now. I didn't foresee that being the case when we moved to this apartment in May 2008.

    My psychiatrist is on board with writing me a letter stating I need the cat too. I would just feel better if I had a law, or some other situations where two companion animals were considered acceptable for one person.

    I hope the additional information helps. Thanks.
  • 03-18-2010, 08:30 PM
    Mr. Knowitall
    Re: Multiple Companion Animals Under Disabilities Act
    Again, there's no law that states how many animals may be classified as "support animals" for a single person, nor is there any law that says you can have more than one (although I understand that some people do).
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