I became a landlord last year with the purchase of a rental home. It doesn't have a fenced yard so we didn't allow dogs but do allow cats. Our tenant has two kitties and I know it would have been a deal-breaker if we didn't allow them and he has been a great tenant.

On the other hand, I once lived in a duplex that allowed cats but not dogs and the people in the unit next to me got a dog. This dog just trashed the place. I wish now that I had reported them imediately to the owners.

I hope the bill in Hawaii is struck down. Just thinking about my own property, I think I should be able to reserve the right to have or to not have pets in my house. At least with the way it now, the renters with pets are the more truely dedicated ones because they have to work harder to find a place to live. I think this kind of law could backfire as the more flakey types out there (not any PT members of course ) would get a pet on a whim and then just leave it when they moved.