Pets day

In April we held a Pet’s in the Park event in Victory Park with organisations such as RSPCA and Cats Protection to promote responsible pet ownership and gather your views on our draft pet policy for council-owned homes.  

It was a hugely successful day with a great turnout and allowed Council staff to talk with and listen to our tenants and leaseholders to discuss how we can make a policy that suits everyone.   

There was strong support from residents for a pet policy that ensures responsible pet ownership. There were also some useful suggestions that we have incorporated and made changes to our draft policy from listening to and talking with tenants. 

55% of respondents were in favour of allowing residents to keep pets in Independent Retirement Living (IRL) schemes. However, many of those who disagreed with this live in IRL and had concerns about mess and noise. It was suggested that a guarantor is required, should a resident fall ill or pass away. To address these concerns, the policy currently only allows house cats as well as sensory and medical dogs within the IRL schemes.

Both pet and non-pet owners suggested that antisocial behaviour could be avoided by ensuring pets are trained. This will now be taken into account when requests for permission to keep a pet are considered. Members of our focus group said that although they supported the policy, they had concerns about how it will be enforced. In response to this, we will conduct an annual check of all arrangements to keep a dog(s) where permission has been granted by the Council.

We do not currently allow pets in temporary accommodation. 60% of respondents agreed the Council should support people to make arrangements for their pets until they move into a new, settled home. We have noted the comments made by respondents about the emotional benefits of pet ownership and we are investigating what financial support we can provide to house a pet while homeless households are in temporary accommodation

You can see the full results of the pets policy 

• Pets Policy results 

For details of how the Pet Policy affects you and to ask permission to keep a pet please contact us on 01932 838383 or email us at Tenancy.Management@runnymede.gov.uk

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