April is National Pet Month in the UK and each week SCAS will present a topic related to companion animal welfare, well-being, and the important role they play in the lives of humans. This week Dr Elizabeth Ormerod provides an update on one of SCAS’s priorities, namely Pets in Housing.
Continue readingA new online tool funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Reasonable Accommodation Requests for Assistance Animals in Housing, has recently been released. This interactive tool will provide persons with disabilities with information about their fair housing rights related to requests for assistance animals.
Pets in Housing is a SCAS priority, and Trustees Dr Elizabeth Ormerod and Dr Sandra McCune will be leading a Workshop on Pets in Housing at the ISAZ 2023 conference in Edinburgh:
Hope to see you there!
#Petinhousing
Spearheaded by the national campaign UK SAYS NO MORE, No More Week (5-10 March, 2023) is a week to raise awareness of domestic abuse and sexual violence in the United Kingdom and in the US and the World.
There is a strong link between violence to animals and violence towards people, and an abused or neglected pet can be an indicator of domestic violence, spousal or child abuse, or neglect.
Continue readingScott Patterson from the podcast ‘Amenitize or Die’ talks with Judy Bellack of Michelson Found Animals Foundation. In this episode, Judy breaks down why pet inclusivity is valuable to renters and owners, misconceptions about pet ownership, and what Michelson Found Animals Foundation is doing to help.
The International HAB Day is a joint effort between the Human Animal Bond Association in the United States and the Society of Companion Animal Studies in the United Kingdom.
The Human Animal Bond Association (HABA) is a group of like-minded people who care for other animals. HABA’s mission is to advocate, celebrate and educate about our connection with the natural world including our companion animals and why that’s important to all of us.
Listen to Dr Elizabeth Ormerod talk about the human-animal bond in her introduction to the SCAS2022 conference:
Continue readingPets and people belong together – no matter where they live! This is a sentiment shared by SCAS, for whom Pets in Housing remains a priority and was the topic of this year’s conference.
The Pet-Inclusive Housing Report, published by the Michelson Found Animals Foundation, is a valuable new resource that provides data and market-based solutions for renters, landlords, and others seeking to help keep pets and people together.
Download the Pet-Inclusive Housing Report.
Many people are suffering needlessly when forced to choose between finding rental housing and keeping their companion animal. SCAS has supported its partner, Battersea, by signing their pledge to help show that renters want and deserve to experience the joys of pet ownership.
We encourage all SCAS members to also sign this pledge as individuals – you can do so here: https://bit.ly/3B9fJpz.
An article has been published in the recent issue of Vettimes about the annual SCAS conference on Pets in Housing. Written by John Bonner, the article summarises some of the key points from the event and highlights the importance of keeping pets and people together. You can read the article here:
If you missed the conference, a recording can be purchased by contacting scasinbox@gmail.com
The UK Government is seeking responses to its White Paper on Reforming the Private Rented Sector. This is part of the levelling up reform agenda and includes a more permissive approach to pets in housing:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-fairer-private-rented-sector
The deadline is 23 August, but you can request an extension (email: luhccom@parliament.uk).
Respondents don’t need to respond to every question – just those of relevance to their interest. Submission to Parliament re White Paper on Reforming the Private Rented Sector is via this link: https://committees.parliament.uk/submission/#/evidence/2700/preamble
#PetsInHousing
SCAS Chairperson Dr. Elizabeth Ormerod has written an article for Vet Times on the Challenges of no pets accommodation.
In the first of a three-part series, this first article will provide an overview of pets in housing issues, discuss progressive legislative developments and explain why addressing pets in housing issues is the current priority for the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS).
Pets in Housing is the focus of this year’s annual SCAS conference, ‘Pet Friendly Housing: How can we keep people and pets together?’ (Register here).