six month update: my experiences with housing discrimination as a black queer pit bull service animal handler
In June 2024, I wrote an article discussing my experiences with discrimination after applying for a rental home. In the article, I explained that, upon applying, I observed several covert actions from the landlord and his realtor that indicated I was experiencing discrimination. However, upon disclosing that I use an American Staffordshire Terrier as my service dog in accordance with HUD’s guidelines, I began experiencing more explicit examples of discriminatory behavior from my landlord and his realtor. Some examples of the discriminatory behaviors included: my personal medical information being forwarded to third parties, being questioned far beyond the legally permitted questions about my service animal, and receiving threats of eviction from a lawyer unless I purchase dan excessive pet liability insurance policy for my service animal who is not classified as a pet.
It has since been six months since the incident. Below I provide an update on how I handled the situation and where we stand currently:
1. I was not required to purchase a $300,000 pet liability insurance policy.
In my original article, I described the wave of emotions I felt upon receiving an email from an attorney stating that “to maintain my lease” I must purchase a $300,000 pet liability insurance policy because of my service animal’s breed to cover and “bites”. I was confident that, not only did my service animal have zero potential for aggression, she would be exempt from any potential requirements for a pet liability insurance policy because she wasn’t a pet and breed restrictions don’t apply to service animals. Furthermore, I also knew that the only way I could be evicted was if I violated the lease and request reasonable accommodations for my service animal did not constitute a lease violation. I confirmed with a lawyer that the landlord would need to provide proof of his claimed potential loss of insurance coverage. My landlord was unable to prove the financial hardship or undue financial burden indicating no legal reason for me to secure a pet liability policy for my service animal.
2. I Sent My Landlord a Legal Notice Re-Asserting My Rights
Although I had asserted my rights numerous times myself via email to the landlord, his realtor, and his lawyer respectively, it quickly became clear to me that my landlord wasn’t going to back down until I also had a lawyer respond for me. Unfortunately, this requires access to resources such as an attorney or other advocacy that many cannot easily access. Thankfully, I was able to connect with a public service law firm who worked to send my landlord a legal notice informing him of the violations that had occurred. In legal terms, they explained the following:
Upon receiving documentation of my reasonable accommodations request, the landlord was obligated to grant the request
My medical information should have never been forwarded to a third party
the landlord must provide proof of his potential loss of mortgage insurance to enforce any insurance requirements. Even if he provided the proof, his insurance company could be investigated for discrimination considering my service animal’s status as a service animal and not a pet.
3. I Filed a Formal Complaint with the State Real Estate Commission
Accountability is important in situations like this. I felt the landlord and his realtor took things a bit too far and their actions revealed a lot about their intentions. Beyond my commitment to justice for myself, I always want to ensure that this doesn’t happen to anyone else who may or may not have the ability to advocate for themselves. Given the number of fair housing and disabilities rights violations I observed from the realtor, landlord, and lawyer, and the importance for real estate professionals to know fair housing laws, it appeared to me that this realtor was committed to her prejudices and using her power to harm others. I filed a formal complaint because this one incident indicated that this realtor had likely done this before, and would do it again if given the opportunity. To her, that may mean she’s committed to ensuring her clients secure strong renter’s in their homes. For me, it indicates that many people who otherwise qualify would be prevented from access fair housing and that is unfair and problematic. It also indicated that she likely is not the only real estate professional in the area who may require training on fair housing laws.
I filed a formal complaint with the State Real Estate Commission in July, which results in a formal investigation. First, I filed a written complaint and attached documentation. The written complaint is sent to myself and the broker listed in the complaint. Next, the commission conducted a phone interview with me where they heard my complaint verbally and asked follow up questions. Then, they also conduct an interview with the person or broker listed in the complaint. After both parties have been heard, the investigator sends the documentation to an attorney who determines whether the broker had committed any wrongdoing and what consequences if any would apply.
As of this writing, October 25, 2024, I’m still waiting to hear a final decision from the Commission. However, in the process of completing my interview, the investigator made comments that indicated that she also wasn’t knowledgeable about disabilities rights for people who use service animals and held problematic beliefs about pit bulls as service animals. This indicates a need for widespread education, training, and accountability for the entire Real Estate Commission, in addition to this one realtor. As such, I’m not optimistic that the Commission will do the right thing, but I’m hopeful that since the documentation gets forwarded to an attorney, someone who knows the law will be introduced into a case.
What’s Next for Me
I must say, to this point, the home itself has presented very few problems. However, the fact remains because of discriminatory systems and people, I was not able to enjoy my living space the same way another person would and that deeply saddens me and truly bothers me. Still, I believe it’s important for people like me to continue to fight for their right to exist and their right to access fair and equitable housing. My goal is to equip other people with the same tools to assert their rights in the face of discrimination and mistreatment.
I have established The Pit Bull Doctor to provide housing discrimination advocacy to people experiencing difficult and training to companies, including, but not limited to real estate firms who require education on fair housing laws, disabilities rights and the American with Disabilities Act, the truth about pit bulls and pit bull behavior, among other topics.
Consultations for People Experiencing Housing Discrimination:
The Pit Bull Doctor offers free consultations for people who feel they’re experiencing discrimination from their landlord, property management company, mortgage company, home insurance company, or HOA. During the consultation, I listen to the situation and provide expert advice for next steps for handling the situation
Landlord and HOA Letters for People Experiencing Housing Discrimination:
For people who are struggling with a discriminatory landlord, HOA, or property management company who is violating their rights, The Pit Bull Doctor offers free letters that seek to assert your rights, make the company aware of the hefty consequences that accompany housing discrimination and disabilities discrimination, and to restore your access to peace and right to access fair and equitable housing.
Expert Client Witness:
My goal is for housing discrimination to end before legal services are required. However, for situations beyond repair that result in legal action, The Pit Bull Doctor offers expert client witness services drawing upon my knowledge of Animal Law, Pit Bull Dog Behavior, Federal Fair Housing Laws and Rights, Disabilities Rights, and Discrimination Laws. My services are available to counsel and individuals seeking to assert their rights pro se.
Consultations for Corporations, Businesses, and Organizations
More often than not, disabilities rights and service animal violations occur for two major reasons. On one hand, staff and in some cases, organizational leadership are not well-versed in the laws and are going off their personal biases and beliefs when handling customers with disabilities and their service animals. When given even small amounts of power, people tend to abuse their power to make decisions about who they feel is deserving of certain resources. In this case, fair and equitable housing.
To address issues of education and power within corporations, businesses, and organizations that are obligated to local, state, and federal laws, The Pit Bull Doctor offers training through consultations, half and full-day workshops, and multi-day seminars for businesses, corporations, and organizations. Avoid hefty discrimination lawsuits by contacting The Pit Bull Doctor for your organization’s needs.
