About Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative
History & Background
Dr. Gary Michelson started Found Animals in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Found Animals established the first free microchip registry to help lost pets find their way home. With a commitment to continue keeping people and pets together, he turned to the next scalable solution: increasing the availability of truly pet-inclusive housing.
Teaming up with the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), the Michelson Found Animals Foundation commissions research to better understand pet-related housing issues and find the right solutions to help keep people and pets together.
From this research, Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative develops resources, partnerships, and actionable tools to increase the availability of truly pet-inclusive housing. We are working hard to increase pet-inclusive housing because everyone should have access to the joy of pets. After all, pets help communities grow stronger.
Looking Ahead
Through compelling research and actionable tools, we build a stronger housing industry and a more pet-inclusive world.
SPARK A DIALOGUE
Our survey found that 92% of renters and 93% of rental housing operators agree pets are important members of the family. We use this positive connection with animals to drive the conversation. Further, we work together to help rewrite decades-old policies and find homes that keep people and pets together.
SHARE DATA
83% of property managers say pet-friendly vacancies fill faster. Certainly, there is a clear financial advantage for rental housing operators – and it could lead to millions more pets finding homes.
INFORM
Through relevant research, resources, and actionable tools, we help the housing industry explore pet-inclusive opportunities. At the same time, we support pet owners in being a positive part of their community.
Leadership
Dr. Gary K. Michelson and Alya Michelson
Co-Founders
Michelson Found Animals
Steve Feldman
PresidenT
Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI)
Ross Barker
DIRECTOR
Pet-INCLUSIVE HOUSING INITIATIVE (PIHI)
Pet-Inclusive Housing Report
The Pet-Inclusive Housing Report highlights the benefits of pet-inclusive rental housing by sharing data and market-based solutions that benefit all – so residents, housing providers, and communities win together.
From Our Blog
Read the latest news, trends, and tips in building more pet-inclusive communities.
Why TMG’s Pet Inclusivity Is a Strategic Advantage (Especially Now)
By Judy Bellack, Chief Consultant, Judith Lawrence Associates A conversation with Jamin Harkness In a market where floor plans blur together, concessions escalate, and operators are fighting for attention in increasingly crowded conditions, true differentiation is...
Vacancies, Concessions… and a Waiting List of Pets: Why Now is the Moment to Go Truly Pet-Inclusive
By Judy Bellack, Chief Consultant, Judith Lawrence Associates Across much of the country, rental housing is in a very different place than it was just a couple of years ago. After a historic run-up in demand and rents, vacancies have ticked up, concessions are back in...
Legal Scrutiny of ESAs Is Rising — But the Real Issue Is Pet-Inclusive Housing
By Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative Across the United States, emotional support animals (ESAs) and service animals are receiving heightened legal attention — from federal guidance changes to new state-level laws. Headlines often focus on misrepresentation, cracking...
Pets Are Family—Not Amenities: Why the Rental Housing Industry Must Catch Up
By Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative Reframing Pets in Multifamily Living Across the country, pets are often treated as lifestyle add-ons — conveniences or “amenities” that justify extra fees and restrictions. Yet for roughly two-thirds of U.S. households, pets aren’t...
Breaking the Myth: Liability Insurance and Pet-Inclusive Multifamily Housing
By The Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative Across the country, thousands of renters with dogs are denied housing because of one phrase that looms large for landlords: “Our insurance won’t allow certain breeds.” At the Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative (PIHI), we hear it...