Rental crisis hitting pets

PET owners have become the latest victims of the Gladstone region rental crisis.

An increasing number of cats and dogs are being surrendered to the pound, given away or left behind as residents move house – unable to take their pets with them.

The crisis has been brought to the attention of The Observer this week with Friends of RSPCA Gladstone revealing the plight of some pet owners who are being left with no other option as they try to keep a roof over their heads.

In one day last week Friends of RSPCA Gladstone dog foster care co-ordinator Nicole Allison fielded five calls from people wanting to surrender their dogs to the group.

Ms Allison said upon asking why every single case was that they couldn’t find rental accommodation in Gladstone that lets them have dogs.

“So they’re giving them up,” Ms Allison said.

The dogs needing to be surrendered included a pure-bred shih tzu and beagle, both with papers, a pedigree maltese terrier and two staffordshire terriers.

But the group is unable to take private surrenders and must refer the caller to the pound.

Animals surrendered to the pound are euthanised that day unless a new owner can be found or if it is able to be taken into foster care with Friends of RSPCA Gladstone.

Further compounding the problem has been the recent return of dogs which had been adopted out last year by Friends of RSPCA Gladstone, however their owners were no longer able to keep them.

Two dogs had been brought back into the care of the group in the past fortnight.

Ms Allison fears this problem is only going to get worse as the housing crisis continues.

She is urging prospective tenants to speak with real estate agents in a bid to negotiate allowing pets at the rental property.

“I’ve got a friend moving over from Biloela with a husky and the only place he could find that will let him have animals is $400 a week,” Ms Allison said.

“Real estates are strongly suggesting to landlords to not allow pets.”

Friends of RSPCA Gladstone cat foster care co-ordinator Anita Coad said it is the same situation with cats.

Speaking with The Observer recently, Mrs Coad said she regularly received phone calls from people no longer able to look after their cats or reporting ones that have been left abandoned.

The cat foster carer said there were people in the community who just moved on and left their animals at their old residence.

“Last year we had a couple in Gladstone who moved out of their home and left their dog and cat there with no food or water,” Ms Coad said.

“The real estate rang the police who called on the inspector (an RSPCA regional inspector) to come rescue them.

“They both ended up finding new homes.”