No person who has been adjudged to be legally blind or who is a severely physically handicapped person or who is a mute shall be denied occupancy in a dwelling in any project or be subjected to eviction from any such dwelling on the sole ground that such person owns a dog or cat which will or does reside with such person therein, provided, however, that if after occupancy a health hazard results on account of such dog or cat, the public health officer having jurisdiction may take such corrective measures as are appropriate.
New York Legal Code