Homeless pets facing a cold winter
Pets across Gloucestershire could face homelessness this winter.
This is due to homeless hostels refusing shelter to those who have pets.
One in four people experiencing homelessness in the UK have animals, but less than 10% of shelters are pet friendly.
When an owner refuses to give up their animal for a room they’re labelled as voluntarily homeless. This makes it harder for people to seek help.
Research from tails.com found 44% of people surveyed would prefer to sleep rough than give up their pets.
The majority of respondents (64%) also said they believe homeless hostels should allow those with pets into their care.
The animal charity StreetVet have launched their Big Give Christmas Challenge to help the cause. They provide free veterinary care and support to help homeless hostels take in pets.
The appeal will run until Tuesday (5/12), and donations collected will be doubled.
Tim Sandys, Team Lead at Gloucester Street Vet, explained how important pets are to people who are experiencing homelessness.
He said: “It is their absolute lifeline, one of the key things is it provides companionship and unconditional love.
“It’s often the only thing that links them to their previous life because they’ve lost everything else.
“The bond between the person and their pet is incredibly strong and unbreakable, and we do everything we can to protect that bond.”
Tim also reflected on the increased number of individuals relying on StreetVet’s services.
He said: “We are seeing a massive increase in demand, so 5 years ago I was probably registering, in Gloucester, one person and their pet every 3 or 4 weeks, it’s now every day or roughly every few days.”