Bill Allowing Pets for Condo, Mobile Home Residents Is OKd

The state Senate voted Tuesday to allow owners of condominiums and mobile homes to keep at least one cat, dog, bird, fish or other appropriate pet at their residences.

The bill by Assemblywoman Helen Thomson (D-Davis) would apply to lease and condominium agreements signed, changed or renewed effective Jan. 1.

On a 25-9 vote, the bill, AB 860, was passed and returned to the Assembly for approval of Senate amendments.

Similar versions have been vetoed in the past. They were inspired by a 1994 decision of the state Supreme Court, which upheld a restrictive covenant of a condominium community that prohibited all pets, except fish and domesticated birds.

Supporters of the bill said studies show that senior citizens who keep pets live longer, are healthier and have a brighter outlook than those who do not have pets. Many seniors are condo or mobile home owners.

But Sen. Ray Haynes (R-Riverside) objected to the bill, noting that pet owners can choose to live elsewhere if their animals are prohibited.

“Government has absolutely no business getting involved,” he said, asserting that it is up to individuals to deal with “whatever dogs do on your front porch.”