Building the Pipeline of Future Wins: Ongoing Projects Paving the Way for Market Growth!

Your APPA membership is a vital force, driving strategic advocacy that lays the groundwork for significant policy shifts and future market expansion for your business. As we continue to work with the industry and local, state and federal governments to find solutions to increasing pet ownership, we have partnered with the amazing team at the Animal Policy Group (APG) to help support our united efforts in this mission. 

In our previous blog article, Inside APPA's Advocacy: Translating Pet-Inclusive Housing Policy Wins into Industry Growth, we looked at some of the successes that have been achieved in D.C., Oregon, and Texas. However, success doesn’t stop there and we continue to invest in projects across the country that remove housing barriers and ensure a stable, growing customer base for the pet industry.

Here is a look at your membership is creating a pipeline of future success for the pet industry.

Current Advocacy Projects Fueling Pet-Inclusive Housing

Here’s a look at the projects currently in the pipeline, demonstrating how APPA is working to create more pet-friendly communities:

• Portland, OR: We are moving forward on an ordinance with coalition partners. This proposed law aims to cap pet rent and deposits, prohibit breed, weight, and size restrictions, and require transparency in housing advertisements regarding pet policies. The ordinance language has been drafted, and the next step is engaging the Housing Committee for support.
• Dallas & Houston, TX: Our focus in Texas is on Transparency in Advertising and/or Affordable Housing Reform. We are building key coalitions in both cities, including the Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN). The plan is to finalize language for Dallas in November, with a joint strategy for both cities coming in 2026.
• Denver, CO: Following the successful model in San Antonio, a new pilot program has been launched by the City of Denver's District 11, APG, and the University of Denver’s IHAC. This program aims to assist up to 100 individuals with pet deposits and is a data-driven effort. The University of Denver’s IHAC will gather survey results to evaluate and improve the program model. This program is expected to launch in January 2026, pending final budget sign-off.
• Massachusetts: We are actively supporting bills H 1559/S 1022. These bills are designed to reduce housing barriers by eliminating breed, weight, and size discrimination, curbing excessive fees by setting a cap on pet rent, and restricting evictions solely based on the presence of a pet. APG provided expert testimony, and floor movement is expected in 2026.

In addition, to some of these local initiatives, we are actively building and scaling our success with a clear forward-looking agenda: 

• QAP Replication: Building on the template established in Ohio, we are now prioritizing the next round of states where we can successfully replicate the LIHTC/QAP credit model, aiming to make pet-inclusive housing an industry standard across the country.
• Targeting Subsidized Housing: In New York, we have confirmed that a major legislative push is being developed for 2026 focused on requiring pet-inclusive policies in all state-subsidized housing.
• Federal Engagement: We are lending industry weight to the bipartisan Providing for Unhoused People and Pets (PUPP) Act of 2025, which provides funding for homeless shelters to retrofit facilities to better accommodate pets. We are currently circulating an industry letter of support to ensure its passage.

Ultimately, these policy victories and ongoing efforts are direct market multipliers for your business. By reducing regulatory and financial hurdles, APPA is actively expanding the number of households that can become, or remain, pet owners.

Every time we secure a win, whether it’s a new pet-inclusive housing unit or a reduced financial barrier like a deposit cap, it translates into more pet-owning households. This directly increases demand for all our members' products and services, from food and supplies to veterinary care and technology. Your ongoing membership powers this strategic work, ensuring the health and future growth of the entire pet industry.