More pets being given up as housing arrangements change in Southland
Friday, 13 December 2019
Robyn Eade recalls the devastating feeling when she had to re-home a few of her animals as some rental properties in Southland don't allow pets.
The SPCA is bracing itself for another busy holiday season with unwanted animals, and among some of the reasons animals are being given up is because rental properties don't allow animals.
Eade, of Gorge Road, had two dogs, a cat and a rabbit in her first rental property but in February, 2018, the landlord needed the home back and Eade had to go house hunting again.
She inquired about 50 properties and some landlords said no to her having pets.
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She had two months to find a new home and it took virtually all that time to locate one.
The new landlord initially said no to the four pets but relented slightly to allow one dog, the cat and rabbit.
Eade re-homed her huntaway cross and kept her border collie.
'It was hard to do … wasn't nice at all [to part with him],' Eade said.
Southland Property Investors Association president Irene Leonard said landlords were not anti-pets.
'Some [landlords] are adamant about no pets and others don't mind them,' Leonard said.
'It's an individual's choice.'
A lot factors had to be considered when potential tenants asked Landlords about having pets. They included the breed of animal, the animal's nature and is the property's fencing suitable for animals,
SPCA Invercargill manager Tamsyn Flint, who arrived from the Isle of Wight three months ago, was told by staff to expect an influx of animals in the next month.
Animals were taken to the SPCA for many reasons, Flint said.
Some reasons could be that people were unable to pay veterinary bills, had money worries, lifestyle changes and landlords not wanting pets. Unwanted pets for Christmas presents was also a concern, she added.
Anyone thinking of giving an animal as a Christmas present should make sure the recipient is in a position to provide long-term care for the animal, she said.