Target: Pinnacle Management Company of the United States
Goal: Stop banning certain dog breeds from apartment homes
There is a trend that is becoming hard to avoid when an individual is renting an apartment home: dog breed restriction policies. Unmanageable, aggressive, or a annoying behavior is not caused by a dog’s breed, it is the result of mistreatment. Property management companies should not be allowed to restrict dog owners to breeds that do not have an unsound reputation. Dogs that fall within the “restricted lists” are shunned and forced to wait out their lives in shelters, or are euthanized because people are not allowed to have them living in their current apartment homes.
While many companies feel they are protecting their tenants from “aggressive” breeds, their concerns and rulings to ban certain dog breeds from the complex are not based in fact and are simply unfair to the breeds, and the breed owners, that they target. These restrictive policies apply to breeds that are typically discriminated against: pit bulls, Boxers and Rottweiler; the restrictions also encompass breeds that typically do not have an unfair reputation: Huskies, American Staffordshire terriers, Alaskan Malamutes and Dalmatians. As any individual that has owned a “bully breed”, with no trouble from the dog, knows: responsible guardianship creates loving, family-oriented and loyal companion animals. An aggressive dog is the result of abuse, neglect or unfair treatment, no matter the breed.
There are many property management companies that have extensive breed restriction lists. While pit bull dogs sometimes find stable homes with caring individuals, the breed is all too often not given a chance because of an unfair stigma of aggression. While Huskies may not have an aggressive label, property managers will imply that the breed does not thrive in a community environment. Whatever the breed, whatever the reason, property managers should not be allowed to discriminate against dog breeds. Whether or not a dog is allowed in an apartment home should be a case-by-case decision, based on the merits of the individual dog, not based on the breed.
Urge Pinnacle Property Managers, the largest third-party manager of multi-family real estate in the United States, to stop their multi-family communities from discriminating against dog breeds. These managers should not have a say in what breed is allowed a good home within their complex. Encourage Pinnacle Property Managers to set an important example of acceptance by signing this petition.
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PETITION LETTER
Dear Pinnacle Management,
There are many dog breeds that are not given a fair chance in a stable apartment home, simply because of the breeds reputation. There are apartment communities within your jurisdiction that have extensive breed restriction lists. The restricted breeds on these lists are victims of unfair and untrue stereotypes; these restrictions are a large reason there are so many misunderstood breeds kept in shelters, or euthanized, every year.
Some of the breeds restricted in your multi-family properties have a reputation for aggression: pit bulls, Doberman Pinschers, and Rottweiler, to name a few. Other breeds are restricted because the complex believes the breed does not thrive in a community environment: Alaskan Malamutes, Mastiffs and Dalmatians fit this category. Whatever the reason, any breed restriction is unfair discrimination.
Dog breed stereotypes are not based in fact. An aggressive dog becomes this way due to neglect, abuse or general ill-treatment. Responsible guardianship creates loyal, gentle and family-oriented dogs, no matter the breed. Encourage acceptance of all breeds. By encouraging acceptance, your Management Company could provide a safe and loving home for a misunderstood breed.
As the largest third-party manager of multi-family real estate in the United States, you have an important voice in this discrimination. I urge you to speak out against dog breed discrimination in your multi-family communities. Please be a positive change in the movement to stop breed discrimination.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Mikkel Rask via flickr