Housing rules forcing dog owners to choose between their homes and their pets

Strict housing rules are making it almost impossible for renters to keep dogs with some having to make the heartbreaking choice of giving up their beloved pets to keep a roof over their heads. It has emerged that an increasing number of people are having to say goodbye to their dogs when they move to a new home, where pets are not allowed. According to Dogs Trust , 7% of Daft.

ie rental listings in April allowed pets and the charity claims the situation is getting worse. The organisation has now launched a petition to change the law to create fairer rules for renters who want to keep pets when they move. The charity said many renters are being forced to make the heartbreaking choice between losing their dog or losing their home because of a lack of dog friendly rentals.



To tackle the issue, Dogs Trust has launched a petition to urge the government to change the law to prevent blanket bans on pets in tenancy agreements. The charity disclosed that one of the main reasons people contact them about giving up their dog is because they can’t find a place that allows dogs. In 2024, the charity had more than one call or email a day on average from people needing to give up their dog because their move did not allow dogs, representing a 112% increase in five years.

Around one in three homes in Ireland have a dog and a recent survey conducted by Dogs Trust found that just over 80% of those asked said that dog owners should have the right to have a pet in rental accommodation. Celia Madrid Delgado, who works as a canine carer at the Dogs Trust rehoming centre in Dublin , said she had to apply to 300 properties before she found a place that would allow her to keep her dog Kai. She said: “My husband and I applied for more than 300 rentals over six months and all of them refused us.

“If we didn’t have Kai, we’d have been sorted with somewhere to live in a couple of weeks. Giving up Kai was never going to be an option for me. I was lucky and eventually found a home where we’re all happy.

” ● Those wishing to sign the petition can do so at www.dogstrust.ie/petition.

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