Montreal SPCA petition against no-pet clauses in residential leases

The Montreal SPCA is calling on the provincial government to abolish no-pet clauses in residential leases and make rental units more animal friendly. They’ve launched a petition.

According to a Leger survey conducted in November 2021, more than half of Québec households, 52 per cent, have a dog or cat.

That means more than 3.25 million companion animals.

Yet only 4.2 per cent of landlords allow dogs, despite the fact that 25 per cent of Québec households have one.

That, says the SPCA, leads to one animal abandoned per day – with devastating effects for both the families who find themselves unable to keep their animal, and the animals themselves.

Lack of affordable housing making things worse

Finding affordable housing in the city is already a challenge, with the average rent increase hovering around 3.7 per cent.

Every year, countless of Quebec residents are forced to make the difficult decision to part with their beloved animal, whom they consider a member of their family, in order to secure affordable rental housing.

No-pet clauses disproportionately affect low-income families, who have more limited housing opportunities. The current rental market is exacerbating this already difficult situation.

Time is right for petition

“Given that we are in an election year, the time is right to urge the government to declare no-pet clauses in residential leases null and without effect, as has been done elsewhere in the world,” explains Sophie Gaillard, Director of Animal Advocacy and Legal Affairs at the Montreal SPCA.

Those interested in signing the petition on the National Assembly website, can do so here.