GEORGE NEWS - For pet owners in George and the greater Garden Route, finding a place to live can feel near impossible.
Despite the region’s love for animals, many rental properties and housing complexes still enforce strict “no pets” policies, leaving families with heartbreaking choices.
And should you stumble across the rare exception, you need at least three salaries to cover the monthly rental and living costs.
Too often, this forces people to choose between a roof over their head and keeping their beloved companion. Animal welfare organisations warn that this reality is adding to South Africa’s pet surrender crisis.
BarkingMad, one of the country’s largest animal welfare networking platforms, has launched a campaign called Not Without My Dog to challenge restrictive housing policies and give pet owners a voice. Central to the campaign is a nationwide survey aimed at understanding just how widespread the problem is.
“No family deserves to be torn apart,” says BarkingMad founder Tracy McQuarrie.
“No one should ever have to say goodbye to their pet because of circumstances beyond their control.”
The campaign seeks to find lasting solutions, from improving access to pet-friendly housing to providing temporary care for pets during tough times to offering training support for owners dealing with behavioural issues.
Every surrender avoided means one less animal in an overcrowded shelter and one more family kept together.
“A home without a pet isn’t the same,” McQuarrie adds.
BarkingMad is calling on the public to take part in its nationwide survey, which will guide policy recommendations, raise awareness and push for more pet-inclusive housing.
Take the survey here: www.notwithoutmydog.co.za/survey
George Herald news editor Kristy Kolberg, herself an avid animal lover, is investigating why there is such a shortage of pet-friendly accommodation in our area and whether there are ways to overcome it.
Keep an eye on our website and socials for more.
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