A generic photo of a dog A nation of animal lovers? I think not...

MY wife, daughter and I have been living in rented accommodation for nearly seven years now.

We have never had an issue or any complaints.

We have four dogs, several of them rescue dogs that were badly treated and in a very bad way. We nursed them, and got them better. They are part of the family.

However, we’ve been given notice on our current property because our landlord is selling up. Straight away, we started looking for somewhere else.

Every estate agent we spoke to was very accommodating - until we mentioned our dogs. We pointed out that we’d never had a problem and they’ve never caused any damage.

We even offered double deposits and higher rent just because we were desperate not to be homeless.

We even offered anyone to come and look at our current property and dogs to see how well behaved they are and how well we’d keep their property.

99% of estate agents contacted flatly said ‘No’ and would not even let us speak to the property owners to let us put our case forward. Most of the houses we enquired about are still available.

Now, as animal lovers who have rehomed dogs in dire need, I am absolutely disgusted by this attitude.

People advertise ‘family homes’ but won’t have dogs or, in some cases, children.

We were even advised to ‘get rid’ of our dogs. I’d have rather have slept in a tent.

Luckily, we have now found a home that will take us and our dogs but as for Britain being a nation of animal lovers, my faith has really been trampled over.

It’s discriminatory in my opinion.

Name and address supplied