ISAZ International Society for Anthrozoology Conference June 22-25 2021
“The changing nature of human-animal relationships: Theory, research and practice.”

SCAS are excited to announce that our submission to have a Pets in Housing workshop at this year’s ISAZ Conference has been accepted.  

Workshop title: Pets in Housing: A Global Perspective of Issues, Challenges and Solutions
CoChairs: Dr. Elizabeth Ormerod BVMS CF, Dr. Brinda Jegatheesan PhD, Dr. Christopher Laurence BME QVRM TD BVSc FRCVS, and Dr. Lynette Hart PhD

Renters with pets often experience hardships securing a home. Despite scientific evidence of pet ownership benefits, renters with pets face intense challenges including the tragic  outcome of pet relinquishment. Rental housing experiences of tenants with pets from a global perspective is understudied. This workshop will provide a global perspective about pets in housing to collate relevant resources and produce Workshop Proceedings to facilitate implementing improved regulations.

India introduced national pets in housing legislation in 1960. In the USA, Arizona and California enacted legislation to allow seniors to keep pets in sheltered housing in 1981, and in 1983 the US Federal Pets in Housing Law was passed. In 2007 the IAHAIO Tokyo Declaration 2007 stated “It is a universal, natural and basic human right to benefit from the presence of animals. Acknowledgement of this right has consequences requiring action in various spheres of legislation and regulation. IAHAIO urges all international bodies and national and local governments:

1. To enact housing regulations which allow the keeping of companion animals if they can be housed properly and cared for adequately, while respecting the interests of people not desiring direct contact with such animals
2. To promote access of specially selected and trained, healthy and clean animals to medical care facilities to participate in animal-assisted therapy and/or animal-assisted activities
3. To recognize persons and animals adequately trained in and prepared for, animal-assisted therapy, animal-assisted activity and animal-assisted education
4. To allow the presence of companion animals in care/residential centers for people of any age, who would benefit from that presence
5. To promote the inclusion of companion animals in school curricula, according to the “IAHAIO Rio Declaration on Pets in Schools”

Although good progress has been made regarding points 2, 3, 4 and 5 major challenges remain regarding regulations allowing pets in housing. Some countries and regions offer legislation with limited access to pets in housing; others persist in prohibiting pet keeping. For example, in the UK, the review of the Tenancy Fees Act, removed the opportunity for landlords to request a suitable pet deposit, with the unintended consequence of most private landlords now prohibiting pets. Only 7% of private landlords in the UK offer pet friendly properties. Restrictions on pets in housing in parts of Asia will be discussed. Some countries not only prohibit certain species, but limit the size and breed of dogs that can be kept. Pets in housing rules tend to be applied illogically and inconsistently and can be subject to change without consultation or valid reasoning. Pet keeping restrictions disproportionately affect lower income households and are a form of discrimination. Some members of the legal profession argue that the opportunity to have an animal companion to care for should be a global human right.

The workshop will begin with some case studies. In advance of the workshop, individuals will be selected who can provide brief overviews of pets in housing information in their countries. All delegates will have the opportunity to contribute additional information. Politicians will be participating, describing their current work. Workshop delegates will address the situation in their countries relating to:

• Existing relevant legislation/regulations, current or pending bills, and prior failed attempts to enact legislation
• Examples of good practice
• Case studies about people and their pets who have been impacted by pet bans
• Provision for pet keeping in social care settings pertaining to:
  • Children in care
  • Older and disabled people in supported living settings – residential care, nursing homes, sheltered housing homes
  • Those fleeing domestic violence
  • People who are homeless
  • People living in closed institutions – psychiatric facilities and prisons
  • Emergency shelters following natural disasters
• Information about reversals in policy that have impacted pet owners and pets
• Effects of pet bans on animal welfare including shelter admission and adoption rates
• Details of any pets in housing research
• Relevant published papers
• Written protocols for pets in housing
• Information about campaigns and advocacy strategies to address these issues
• Cultural impacts on pet ownership In the concluding part of the workshop

Delegates will share thoughts on strategies to address pets in housing issues. This will include how to advocate for an individual or for the various groups, as well as for legislation at national and international level.

We welcome everyone who has in interest in this topic and its related issues.  We want to meet affected members of the public, Human-animal interaction practitioners and academics, politicians, civil servants, architects, urban geographers, city/town planners, social housing providers, landlords, estate agents, animal welfare scientists and workers, veterinarians, social workers, clergy, members of the health and social care professions.

The Workshop Proceedings will provide further evidence about the urgent need to address pets in housing issues. The harms caused by no pet policies are far reaching, yet are still poorly understood. The anguish felt by those forced to relinquish pets to an unknown fate results in a deep grief without closure. Some individuals refuse to be separated from their pets and are forced into street homelessness. Tragically, others have been lost to suicide.

Given the importance of this topic, and that pets in housing bans mainly affecting people of low income, we do not wish potential delegates to be precluded from attending. Instead of a set fee, delegates can elect to pay a donation to ISAZ.