Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to include new rights for pet owners in her new Housing Bill.
The First Minister announced that the new bill would be coming in the months ahead to provide 'new and strengthened rights for tenants. She also announced a rent freeze in the public and private sectors to help people struggling to bill their bills as a result of the wider cost of living increases.
Dogs Trust is calling for Ms Sturgeon to ensure the rights of pet owners are included in the new bill to make it easier for tenants to have pets in their rented homes.
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The charity has said that 'record numbers' of people are having to give up their dogs with many due to being unable to find dog-friendly accommodation.
Claire Calder, Head of Public Affairs at Dogs Trust, said: "We welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to a rent freeze in both the public and private housing sector to help protect tenants. But, with the number of people privately renting increasing year on year, and dog ownership at an all-time high, we would like to see the new Housing Bill include proposals to make it easier for tenants to have much-loved pets in their rented homes.
"We are currently experiencing record numbers of people needing to hand their dogs over to us. One of the reasons people are making this heart-breaking decision is that, as that rent and energy bills have increased, people are being forced to move home to reduce their bills but are finding it incredibly difficult to find dog-friendly accommodation.
“For most dog owners, being separated from their dog is no different from being separated from a family member, so the addition of pet-friendly policies in the Housing Bill will help ensure that fewer owners are forced to make the heartbreaking decision to give up their beloved pets."
The charity has also said that for those experiencing homelessness or in a housing crisis, having pet-friendly housing available is vital to getting people back into secure accommodation.
Ms Calder added: "Dogs Trust has been providing advice and resources to pet owners, landlords and letting agencies for more than a decade through our Lets with Pets scheme. We welcome the opportunity to work alongside the Scottish Government and other animal welfare organisations on the details of the Housing Bill to ensure it will effect real change in helping keep people and their pets together.”
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