Australians love their fur-babies. So much so, that more than two thirds of Australian homes have pets – the highest incidence of pet-ownership per household of any country in the world!
Despite this, every year in our country 20,000 cats and dogs are euthanased due to renters being unable to take their pets with them to a new rental property. ‘No pet’ clauses have forced many Australians to part with beloved members of their family.
Last year the RSPCA reported that 15 per cent of the dogs and cats turned in to them were surrendered because the owners were moving and could not take their pets, over the two years prior.
Even in some instances of home ownership (strata accommodation) you can be restricted from keeping a pet!
There are existing provisions in renting laws that ensure that tenants are liable for any damage that pets, children, or guests cause to the property, so adding in a ‘no pets’ clause is completely unnecessary. Furthermore, pet owners’ studies have found that pet friendly houses have longer tenancy length, 4% lower vacancy rate, had more applicants and needed only 50% of the advertising spending and marketing of non-friendly houses! Strata Data offers strata management services in Adelaide to help you manage your rental buildings.
With more Australians renting than ever before – around 30.9 per cent of the population, it is time our rental laws changed to support the large number of fur-families in rental accommodation.
Victoria has been the first state to make progress on the issue. With recent rental reforms, property owners will only be able to refuse pets in certain circumstances. Approval will still be required, however, renters can contest the decision and appeal through VCAT or the courts.
Other states are lagging behind.
“It’s devastating to realise how many animals are being sacrificed because of ‘no pets’ clauses,” says Anneke van den Broek, founder and CEO of pet care brand Rufus & Coco.
“Rufus & Coco have partnered with the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation (APWF) to donate a percentage of sales to support their efforts in reducing unnecessary euthanasia to zero percent in Australian pounds.”
“I’ve owned more than 40 pets in my life, from turtle to Siamese cats, and wouldn’t be the same without them!”
The health benefits of pet ownership have been proven time and again – just the presence of our pets can lift our spirits and help us relax.
Research has shown that owning a pet can have a number of physical health benefits, including increased cardiovascular health (lower blood pressure, lower triglycerides and in men, lower cholesterol), increased physical activity and fewer visits to the doctor. One study even found that Australian ownership of cats and dogs saved approximately $3.86 billion in health expenditure over one year.
Other psychological benefits include increased empathy in children who own pets, higher self-esteem, less reported depression and enhanced social connectedness. Pets are a great conversation starter.
“It is time we took into consideration the significant positive impact pets have on our lives, and make sure we are accommodating them,” says Ms. van den Broek.
“Pets should be welcome in homes around Australia.”
To learn more about the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation, visit www.petwelfare.org.au and for toys that support this great cause, visit www.rufusandcoco.com.au