Players paw-some support keeping pets and owners together

A new project to support and help keep pets and their owners together in social housing has been launched, thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

The pilot in Edinburgh is designed to improve the experience of anyone accessing housing with a pet, or those wishing to add a pet to their family home. It is hoped it will positively impact all tenants, not just those who share their homes with a pet.   

Over the next few months, charity Dogs Trust will be working with Manor Estates Housing Association in Edinburgh, reviewing its existing policies and implementing changes to make these more pet inclusive.  

The project, made possible thanks to money raised by Postcode Lottery players, comes at a time when Dogs Trust is receiving a record number of enquiries from people being forced to rehome their dogs. 

In July, 15% of people contacting Dogs Trust cited issues with housing as the reason. 

Further to this, research by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection, revealed that only 46% of private landlords allowed pets. However, the number of dogs actually permitted is much lower, with just 30% of tenants saying their private landlord would allow a dog.    

Through the partnership, a Pet Friendly Housing Toolkit will be developed, to help address and remove barriers that prevent tenants from having pets and demonstrate to other landlords that pet friendly policies are beneficial to all.   

Jennifer Leonard, from Dogs Trust’s Pet-Friendly Housing Team, said: “Over the last few years, we have seen an increase in the number of owners contacting us to relinquish their dog. Sadly, one of the most common reasons we see dogs handed in to our rehoming centres is a change in the owner’s living circumstances and a lack of available pet-friendly accommodation.    

“For most owners, being separated from their pet is no different from being separated from a family member, so we are delighted to join forces with Manor Estates, with support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, to pilot pet friendly policies which can be adapted and used by other landlords in the future, helping to keep more dogs and owners together.”  

Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised more than £24 million for Dogs Trust since 2013.