rebeccalando:

Basically, the NYC Dept of Public Housing has put a ban on public housing tenants owning pure-bred or mixed breed pit bulls, dobermans, and rottweilers, and a required permit for any dog over 25 lbs. Dogs over 40 lbs, regardless of breed, are not eligible for permits, and are banned from public housing as well.

This is sick and wrong. The dept is making people choose between their pets - which are, more often than not, well-behaved and innocent - and their homes.

Humphrey is a basset hound. He weighs 45 lbs. If we lived in public housing, we would not be able to get a permit for him. We’d either have to give him up - meaning he could end up being euthanized - or move out. It’s easy to say, well, obviously, we’d move out of public housing, but most people in public housing are there because they can’t afford anything else. For a lot of people, there is no choice; they must simply relinquish their beloved dog to a shelter, knowing that it’s more than likely their dog will be killed.

There are so many better ways for the DPH to handle this. Instead of banning dogs over 40 lbs or of certain breeds from public housing, simply require them to be registered with the DPH. Require that ALL dogs in public housing be neutered. Make it mandatory for every owner of a large or ‘dangerous-breed’ dog to complete a basic behavior & training course. Even enforce a one-strike warning system whereby, if a dog attacks a person or another pet unprovoked, the owner must relinquish the dog. Curbing the possibility of aggressive behavior and reducing the potential of attacks by dogs in public housing is a much better approach than an outright ban.