Pets and council homes
Craig has been working on this story that went out on the radio station here in the UK this morning
It is about a man called Steve who has a bad back and now has to consider moving into a council home, however the council will not allow his dog Lionel to come with him.
Please listen to http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p024tpjn … at 00:21:00 then 01:20:00 and again 02:23:48.
Iain Lee is the presenter from 06:00 to 09:00am incase you have trouble viewing interview. Click on the large image towards left of his face to listen.
I have had a quick chat on Facebook with Rumpy’s owner in the USA and Bev – Fozzie mum in Australia on Archie Lewis page, so would love to know your thoughts?
Posted on 28/08/2014, in Uncategorized and tagged BBC3C, council, Lionel, pets, Steve. Bookmark the permalink. 20 Comments.
My Three Moggies 
Clicked on link but wasn’t sure where to go from there?! It sounds like a sad situation and both owner and dog will be suffering in the end…..it’s just so wrong (although again I didn’t hear the story!).
Pam
Pam I should be clear Tut tut to me the interview is under the Iain Lee presenter
Click on the large image towards left of his face to listen.
Oh thanks! We’ll go listen!
My volume is not working ..again…but I understand the premise of the story…here in Australia I think it is dependant on the type of housing whether a pet is allowed or not..any years ago we lived in council housing..and we were allowed to have our dog and cats..and I think they make for a happier and more settled tenant…our house was never dirty and there was never an issue…also the shelter I was a volunteer at called VAAT Victorian Animal Aid Trust developed a program called Pets in Peril..this program was designed to address the issue of victims of domestic violence and their fear of leaving these situations because of worry for their pets…these people could bring their pets to the shelter free of charge and have them boarded in safety until such time as they could all be reunited safely..all proper measures were taken to maintain privacy and nobody could just turn up looking to take their partners pets..this had a great flow on effect and many other shelters have similar programs now..to see these women and how stressed they already were was heart breaking…the same applies to public housing..more often than not all some people have is their animal companion..and to deny them housing is grossly unfair…this winter in Ballarat a homeless couple and their dog perished when they were sleeping in their car together using a gas heater for warmth….had they been denied housing due to their dog? I do not know..but this issue needs addressing….sorry for being so wordy my sweet. Bev
Bev this is what I want to know. How other countries treat this situation.
I am sure you will find very different ways of dealing..or NOT dealing with it…Bev
I wonder if Lionel could be classified as a service dog knowing that the owner has a bad back? It’s a shot. XOXO – Bacon
Bacon this is interesting to know xx
Hopefully that can work. There have been situations here in the States that have fallen under this category. 🙂 Keep me posted. XOXO – Bacon
We just moved my mother-in-law into an ‘expensive’ senior living community, she is 89, that allows up to 2 animals of any size (she has her cat). This is a rare situation here in the US however and only affordable by those who can pay for it. Most senior living situations do not allow animals and our shelters are sadly full to the brim with senior dogs and cats who don’t understand why after 10 or 15 or even more years have been abandoned by their humans. Funny how the nursing homes and hospitals are all for therapy dogs visiting, but no one wants to take the responsibility for any greater care. I do understand that caring for the infirm or elder is hard already, but separating humans from their best fur friends, and sometimes their only friend, makes little sense to me. If I had the money I would start an shelter just for all those animals that can’t come with their loved ones, and then have volunteers bring them to visit often. I like what PigLove said, maybe you can get him classified as a back support. Best of Luck – Lorian of DogDaz Zoo
Could not agree more Lorian x
It’s different here, mostly pets are allowed, it’s more a case of “Ubi non accusator, ibi non iudex”, but we had a really hard case in 2009 as a friend became homeless( broken relationship) and she couldn’t find a home because of her deerhound and a small pup she owned. She refused to stay with us or other neighbors and decided to stay in a trailer, without water or a toilet. Fortunately we found a small house ( 3 rooms) for a cheap price and we all donated some furnitures and household stuff for a new start. the social assistant office did nothing than to suggest her to “remove the dogs”, there was no help no assistance and even no housing allowance, because the house we found wasn’t a council home. we decided to pool our money and paid the 150 bucks for her till she was on her own. I’m still peeved when I remember that time… vive la france… not :o(
Easy surprised on this after what Elizabeth said in 1975 it was made a human’s right to be able to keep a pet with you. You guys are wonderful to have helped this woman out x
the problem is, that even when you have this right, you mostly haven’t the money and the power to fight for it :o(
the worst was, that she lost her home in november, think that was the shittiest christmas she ever had. even when we invited her and tried to make the best of this bad sitjuation :o(
I just listened to Stephen’s story. It’s incredibly sad to know that the very thing that is keeping him healthy is the one thing he’s told he’s not supposed to have because of his infirmity. Here in the US, we do a good job of blaming people for their vulnerability. We blame the poor for being poor, the old for being old, and victims of abuse or neglect for being victims. Then we take from them the one creature that loves them unconditionally, no holds barred.
Surely, this cruelty is one of the greatest we inflict on any creature, and we do it to ourselves.
Oh that is just so sad 😦
I thought theat the UK did let people have at least one pet with them. I have a friend who lives in a council house in the country & she had 2 dogs, 2 cats & 2 rats. So how did she get to have 6 pets & this poor man cannot keep his dog???
My friend now has only 3 cats & she does not get grief from Council….
As for Canada, I do not know about other provinces however in Ontario we are allowed 1 pet of reasonable size.
As you may remember there was a tenant who brought a 70 lb German Shepherd in here & then snuck in another 60 lb dog of Rhodeisan Ridgeback/Pit Bull background…the tenant fought Landlord & Tenant & By-Law Officers said the ‘city’ limit is 2 dogs per household so the man won is case. (He was later evicted because of drugs…)
We have had a handful of people in here with anywhere between 2-6 pets…
At least we can have 1…. 😉
I hope the man is allowed his 4 legged…I would not move w/out Nylablue!
Sherri-Ellen & Nylablue x0x0x0
Thanks everyone who responded it is interested how different countries act upon this. We will keep you posted on Steve and Lionel’s situation as Craig’s radio station is going to follow up xx
Very interested in all feedback. This is a very serious issue affecting human health & animal welfare. I am the veterinarian from the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS) interviewed on the BBC programme. I have been involved in trying to resolve such issues for 30 years. The best protection for everyone would be national legislation which has worked in other countries.
Please check the Pets for Life campaign on the SCAS website http://www.scas.org.uk