Editorial: Good news for pet owners

Por Alan Pentico

PAGSet and pet lovers rejoice! California is quickly becoming a haven for families that have furry four-legged members.

In 2012, Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1229 into law. This law makes it illegal for landlords to force their tenants to declaw their cats or debark their dogs in an attempt to alleviate property damage or noise.

The law was sponsored by the Paw Project, a pet-protection organization dedicated to creating awareness of the crippling effects of declawing.

The bill also protects pet owners who are looking for housing by clearly stating that landlords cannot turn down tenants who refuse to have their pets undergo these surgeries or advertise for their properties in a way that discourages pet owners from applying. The legislation also makes landlords liable for civil fines of up to $1,000 for each pet if the restrictions are violated.

Pet lovers no longer have to choose between securing housing for their families and subjecting their pets to expensive, unnecessary surgeries.

Landlords, of course, may still enforce “no pets” regulations or use additional deposits to offset the cost of any damage caused by animals owned by renters. For example, some buildings may require an additional non-refundable deposit and an additional monthly “pet rent” fee.

The San Diego County Apartment Association provides a pet addendum form to members to use when accepting residents with pets. Such forms help new renters understand their rights and responsibilities when renting with a pet.

A mutual understanding of pet owners’ rights and responsibilities will make for a safe and peaceful environment for families with furry little friends.

—Alan Pentico is executive director of the San Diego County Apartment Association.

LETRAS

Overwhelmed by Civita’s West Park apartments

In this day and age of thoughtlessness and profit, our city has a glaring example of this policy. Who allowed the construction of those overwhelming architectural horrors at Friars Road and Mission Center Road?

I thought the Carmel Pacific Ridge edifice on Linda Vista was ugly and deserved an “onion” from the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s Orchids & Onions awards. But this deserves acres and acres of “onions.”

It appears to me the population impact on Friars Road will be astronomical, and the quality of such a massive structure will not be top of the line. I also can see the future of those apartments being disproportionately empty and will be on the road to 100 percent HUD housing. I am a proponent of HUD housing, but this will not be true to the concept.

Who gave permission to giving this construction the go-ahead? Do we have another scandal on our hands? Or is the plan to empty out San Diego, have everyone live in this compound and then build a big wall around us? It makes no sense.

Isn’t anyone else complaining? Every time I pass the overwhelming massive ugliness I fear for the beauty and future of our city. I have been to many large cities here and abroad and I have never seen the likes of this.

—Virginia Wentzel, Mission Valley