Last updated: 8 Mar, 2023
Published on: 15 Aug, 2022
Roof or Rover? The choice pet owners are being forced to make
It’s as heart-breaking for the people as it is for their pets, with hundreds of Aussies being forced to give up their pets because of the housing affordability crisis and the rising cost of living.
Inquiries to the Home2Home program show that a third of the people rehoming their pets can’t find pet-friendly accommodation. These rehoming reasons include that they can’t find a suitable home or yard, they have to move house, or they’re having problems with a landlord.
There was no indication the pets being rehomed were adopted during the pandemic.
Home2Home supports pet owners in finding a new home for their pets to keep them out of the rescue system and supports pet owners throughout the adoption journey, offering a safe alternative to online markets.
“Having to give up a pet is heart-breaking and distressing for any pet owner,” PetRescue Co-founding Director Vickie Davy says.
“When we drilled deeper, we found many pet owners were moving to smaller apartments for financial reasons, and their new homes were unsuitable for pets. Some were moving because they’d lost work, and others were forced to move back in with family, who already had pets.”
Australia’s rental crisis makes it even harder, with no national laws to protect tenants with pets.
While tenancy laws in Victoria, ACT and the Northern Territory require landlords to consider tenants with pets, the housing shortage means many choose applicants without pets.
There is no legislation to support pet owners in Western Australia.
“Almost three-quarters of Aussie households now have a pet, 69 per cent, but this isn’t reflected in legislation at a national level,” Vickie says.
“We need to start considering pet ownership when designing and building accommodation, especially with apartments and lower-cost housing. Many don’t have any pet-friendly spaces.”
But landlords can make a difference. By choosing a tenant with a pet, they can improve the welfare of both.
“Having to rehome your pet is like losing a family member. We encourage landlords to open their homes and their hearts to people with pets so we can prevent unnecessary pain and keep animals safely at home.”
If you’re a pet owner looking for a pet-friendly rental, we've gathered some helpful resources - read more here.
Image by Tiana, via Pexels.