Jersey City Ward E Councilwoman Eleana Little said that downtown developers will waive pet fess for Jersey City animal shelter developers at a press conference on Friday afternoon.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The new initiative is a partnership with several major downtown Jersey City developers, the mayor’s office, and Jersey City Animal Care and Control.
“This program is about making adoption more accessible to renters while helping animals find loving homes,” Little said in a statement.
“Pet fees can be a real barrier for tenants who want to adopt, and I’m pleased to bring together downtown developers and the administration to support Jersey City residents adopting locally. I call on more developers and landlords, both in Ward E and citywide, to join this initiative and waive pet fees for our shelter pets.”
Participating developers currently include Brookfield Properties and G&S Investors, the developers behind the VYV and Everton buildings in downtown Jersey City; LeFrak, the developer of the Newport neighborhood; and Silverman, which owns and manages a wide range of residential properties throughout Downtown and the Hamilton Park neighborhood.
“When we remove barriers to adoption, we help animals find homes and help residents build their lives in Jersey City,” added Mayor James Solomon.
“I’m grateful to Councilwoman Little for driving this initiative, and to the developers who stepped up to make it real. This is exactly the kind of public-private partnership that makes our city stronger.”
Through this initiative, residents living at the VYV and Everton buildings as well as all LeFrak buildings will have the standard $50 monthly pet fee waived for all animals adopted from the Jersey City Animal Shelter.
Residents living in Silverman properties will have both the standard $500 nonrefundable pet deposit and the $75 monthly pet fee waived for shelter-adopted pets for the first year, with 50% discounted monthly fees in subsequent years.
This initiative will also apply to animals fostered from the Jersey City Animal Shelter.
“By recognizing the value of adoption and supporting families who choose to rescue a pet, these partnerships strengthen both animal welfare efforts and the broader community,” noted Animal Care and Control Director Mark Byrnes.
“We appreciate organizations that work alongside the shelter to create pet-friendly housing opportunities and help give homeless animals a second chance.”
Residents interested in adopting a pet can learn more through the Jersey City Animal Shelter website.
So all these developers get millions $$$ in public subsidies via tax abatements, and somehow each found a way to charge monthly “pet fee”.
Does that include a fee for my favorite pet mouse?