RENTERS IN DOG HOUSE
Pet-friendly accommodation crisis
CATS and dogs are being surrendered as owners struggle to find pet-friendly rental properties on the Gold Coast.
Animal Welfare League spokeswoman Brooke Whitney said so far this year, 63 pets had been handed in to the Gold Coast shelter by owners failing to find accommodation allowing four-legged-friends.
“People treat their animals as part of the families – sometimes the ‘children before the children’,” Ms Whitney said.
“Having to part with their furry family members not only is incredibly heartbreaking and stressful to the family but also to the animals who, through no fault of their own find, themselves at a shelter, homeless.”
Varsity Lakes woman Aimi Lock spent six months searching for a rental property that would allow her cats Axle and Kloud.
“I think the only reason I got the place I’m in now is because my friend’s dad owns it,” she said.
“I think I would still be looking otherwise.
“I had to stay with friends while I was looking as there was no way I was not taking my animals with me.”
Pet owners are even preparing pet report cards to give to prospective landlords.
“Quite often we get asked to write a testimonial and provide comments about the nature or the size of the dog,” said Gold Coast Vet Surgery owner Dr Kevin Cruickshank.
A search by the Bulletin on realestate.com.au found one in eight rental properties permitted pets on the Gold Coast. More than a third of Australians own a pet, according to the Australian Companion Animal Council.
Ray White Broadbeach leasing manager Peter Gallagher said almost every rental property he listed received inquiries from pet owners.
“Obviously, some places just don’t have the yard space for them. And then, there is the other side, where a lot of people who own pets are not responsible,’’ he said.
“But if we meet people and they’re responsible pet owners, we will actually go to the owners and say these people have good references and we’ll try to help them.”