To my CT Peeps - Action is needed. Legislation is finally coming up about support animal abuses. Write the judiciary committee before Monday:

Help Create a "Workable" Policy in CT

The Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on "Service Animals" this Monday 3/26 at 10:00AM and your input is needed. We are seeking to help Connecticut curb the abuses now occurring due to a lack of established guidelines for "Companion Pets / Emotional Support Animals."

Support Animals and Service Animals are not the same! A Service Animal is trained, licensed and prescribed by a licensed medical professional to help a person overcome a disability; support animals are not.

Lately many tenants are claiming they need a support animal and for a small fee are able to buy a certificate online stating they do need a support animal and their animal is registered....This is being done only to overcome a "No Pet Policy" in written leases and these animals are just pets and fulfill no medical criteria.

CTPOA recognizes the need for legitimate support animals but would like to see Connecticut add requirements to demonstrate the need, some of the suggested requirements are;

Limit the amount of animals to 1 or 2 - currently no limits

Create a standard for what is a Support Animal - currently, sheep, horses, mules, etc. can all be termed "support animals"

Have a licensed medical professional prescribe the need for such animal - not a note from an advocate as-is currently

Come to terms with an insurance companies list of restricted breeds - currently these animals are allowed creating hardship for owners with increased insurance costs, or cancellation

Click here to view the proposal bill - RB #5566

If you have relevant stories or suggestins to share with the Judiciary Committee, please submit them by email on or before 10AM on 3/26/2018 to: judtestimony@cga.ct.gov

Also, if you know any of the Judiciary Committee members personally, please reach out and talk with them and share your thoughts, most legislators are not landlords and have no idea what you go through; here is the Judiciary Committee member list

Encourage them to make the requirements similar to the Air Carrier Access Act - which means the letter has to be written from a licensed mental health professional and must be less than a year old, renewed every year. Suggest the mental health professional must state that the individual needs the animal for assistance for a diagnosis listed in the DSM V, as part of the treatment plan. Also, that the mental health professional must state they are actively treating the individual for this diagnosis, and that the professional is within the state confines or within 100 miles of the town in which the residence is located.

For an actual Service Dog, the dog must be trained to perform specific tasks, and if the disability is not evident, that a letter of medical necessity may be required by a medical or mental health provider.