No-pets policies and an extremely tight rental market are forcing some local pet owners to abandon their animals.
Jayne Nelson, executive director of the (LAPS), operator of the Patti Dale animal shelter in 91原创, said it is one of the 鈥渢op reasons鈥� given when owners surrender their pets to the shelter, voluntarily turning them over in hope a home can be found.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a tragedy when people have to give their pet (away) to find a place to rent,鈥� Nelson said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 crummy.鈥�
However, the problem does not appear to be as severe in semi-rural 91原创, compared to the experience of renters in more urban communities like downtown Vancouver, Nelson said.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we see it to the same extent (here),鈥� Nelson said.
鈥淲e just don鈥檛 have the density.鈥�
Nelson was reacting to reported new SPCA stats that show there was an average of five pets turned in every day last year 鈥� over 1,700 in 2017 鈥� by renters forced to make a choice between their animals and accommodation at a time when most Metro Vancouver communities have vacancy rates of less than one per cent.
An notes that pet-friendly housing is considerably limited in British Columbia, where landlords and stratas can choose whether they will permit pets and also restrict the sizes, kinds and number of pets allowed.
The guide estimates that, in B.C., at least 20 per cent of companion animals surrendered by their guardians are for a lack of available pet-friendly housing.
, a grassroots group, is lobbying for changes to provincial laws that would ban 鈥渘o pets鈥� policies
The group has been lobbying the provincial government to change B.C. regulations to follow the Ontario example, where, in 1990 the province amended its Residential Tenancies Act to forbid landlords from imposing 鈥渘o pets鈥� policies on their tenants.
In addition, Pets OK BC would like a law making it illegal to refuse to rent to prospective tenants with pets.
More than 10,000 people have signed a petition to make those changes to the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA), Strata Property Act and Manufactured Home Park Act in B.C.
A form letter that Pets OK BC is asking supporters to fill out and mail to the provincial government says that under the authority of then-provincial-housing Minister Rich Coleman, the B.C. RTA was amended in 2004 to allow an additional 鈥減et deposit鈥� in a bid to encourage more pet-friendly housing.
The policy backfired, the letter states, arguing that 鈥� if anything (it) reinforced the stigma that pets are likely to cause damages.鈥�
Pets OK cites statistics that show among approximately 400,000 rentals in BC, only nine per cent of advertised rental units allow cats, and only three per cent allow dogs.
鈥淔or most people, pets are treasured members of the family, with whom they share a deep emotional connection,鈥� the letter states.
鈥淢any rely on their companion animals for physical and mental health, especially seniors and people living with disabilities.鈥�
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dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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