Lack of animal-friendly rentals sees Cork families in tears over surrendering family pets

Less than 1% (1 out of 104) of rental properties in Cork allowed pets on one of the biggest rental search platforms, Daft.ie, Dog’s Trust have said, as a Cork DAWG spokesperson says they have seen people “bawling crying” giving up their pets but saying that “it’s homelessness or the dog”.

Dog’s Trust says the number of surrender requests they have received because owners cannot find pet-friendly accommodation has increased by 112% in the past five years nationally.

It has launched a petition to urge the Government to change the law and stop allowing blanket bans on pets in tenancy agreements, and is appealing for more signatures as it is set to close on Friday.

Máire O’Sullivan, a spokesperson for Dog Action Welfare Group (DAWG) in Cork, said increasing problem: “We have a lot of people who say: ‘I love my dog, I don’t want to part with my dog; however it’s homelessness or the dog’.

“We’ve seen people living in their car because they’ve refused to give up their dogs, and we’ve seen people saying they can’t survive this housing crisis anymore so they’re going abroad and they have to give up their dog. 

"These are much beloved pets who should have a home, and it’s devastating for a family who might have been living in a house for 15 years having to tell their kids they’re moving and one member of the family isn’t going with them.”

Ms O’Sullivan said the situation is hard for everyone: “The amazing thing about dogs is how adaptable they are, they live in the moment.

"I’ve had rescues in my own home who have come from very bad circumstances but now live happy lives. 

"Dogs make the best of every situation and will fall in love with their new owner as well, so it’s probably harder for the people.”

She explained that there is “a huge overpopulation” of dogs in the country in general at the moment.

“If you have a little bichon, they’re very easy to be rehomed, so it’s the collie or lurcher or alsatian that doesn’t get to come out of the pound who is most affected. 

"We’re overwhelmed with puppies at the moment, so this is just another pressure on rescue dogs.”

Ms O’Sullivan explained that if adopting from DAWG, they ask for a signed letter of permission from landlords to help avoid this occurring, but it doesn’t prevent the problems arising when someone has to leave their rental home and find a new one.

She said: “We had a lot of post-pandemic rehoming that probably hid the eviction ban wave, but we definitely see a steady flow of this issue.

“It’s one thing somebody dumping a dog, but it’s another thing when somebody is bawling crying — it’s really upsetting and you feel like a monster taking the dog away, but you’re cleaning up the pieces of a broken system.

“More and more people in the Irish economy are renting, so the rental market needs to become more attuned to long-term family homes, and dogs are part of that.”

Sarah Lynch, the policy, compliance and research manager at Dogs Trust, said: “The current rental laws don’t provide enough protection for tenants who are dog owners… Families are being forced to make an impossible choice, and find a new home for the dog they consider part of the family.”

Visit dogstrust.ie/petition for further information and to sign the petition.