Latest news with #OwenSharp
Scotsman
4 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
Paws in the door: Dogs Trust backs pet-friendly proposals – but says 'more must be done'
Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog welfare charity, believes the Housing (Scotland) Bill is a step in the right direction for renters with pets. However, the charity is urging the Scottish Government to go further to ensure people with dogs are properly supported in the rental market. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Currently, many renters across Scotland face significant barriers when trying to secure pet-friendly accommodation. Alarmingly, around 15% of handover enquiries received by Dogs Trust cite accommodation issues as the reason for needing to rehome their dog. Dogs Trust, which rehomed more than 600 dogs across Scotland last year, has welcomed the inclusion of pet-friendly provisions in the Bill, which completed Stage 2 in the Scottish Parliament last week. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Crucially, this will give tenants in both the private and social rented sectors the right to request to keep a pet in their property without fear of the request being unreasonably refused by their landlord or housing provider. The Bill also includes a time limit within which a landlord must respond to a tenant's request to keep a pet. Dogs Trust Backs Pet-Friendly Proposals to the Housing (Scotland) Bill but says "more must be done" The charity is particularly pleased that the Scottish legislation has gone further in extending these rights to those in social housing than the Renters' Rights Bill – which is currently progressing through Westminster. However, Dogs Trust believes stronger protections and clear guidance are needed to ensure no one has to choose between a place to live and their much-loved pet. Dogs Trust is now calling on dog owners and supporters across Scotland to write to their MSPs asking them to support amendments to the Bill that will better safeguard the rights of renters with pets. These amendments include: A reduction in the number of days in which a landlord should respond to a tenant's request to keep a pet. A protection that if a landlord fails to respond to a tenant's request to keep a pet within the response period, it can be treated as unreasonable refusal, which would allow a tenant to make an appeal. The inclusion of pet ownership as a provision under a written tenancy agreement once consent to keep a pet has been granted. To write to your MSP, visit: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, says: "The Housing (Scotland) Bill is a huge step forward in addressing the need for greater availability of pet-friendly accommodation in Scotland. Sadly, the struggle to find suitable accommodation is still very real for many dog owners. Too often, people face the heartbreaking decision to give up their beloved pet simply because they can't find a home that allows dogs. 'We hope MSPs will support amendments to strengthen the Bill and that once passed, the Bill will mark the start of a culture shift in attitudes towards renting with pets, meaning no one is denied the joys of dog ownership simply because they rent a home.' Dogs Trust has also welcomed the decision by the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee that guidance must be developed alongside the Bill and hopes that this will provide greater clarity for tenants and landlords around definitions in the Bill. This includes what is 'reasonable' grounds for a landlord to deny a tenant's request to keep a pet and what are 'reasonable' conditions for a tenant to be able to keep a pet.
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
At-risk Newbury dog rehoming centre to become foster hub
A dog rehoming centre has avoided a planned closure under a major restructuring at the UK's biggest dog welfare Trust, which employs 1,765 staff across the UK and cares for more than 11,000 dogs every year, announced its proposals in March, putting an estimated 300 jobs at rehoming centre in Newbury, Berkshire, would have been shut as part of the plans but will now be turned into a dedicated foster charity said there would also be "at least 290 redeployment opportunities" nationwide, minimising redundancies. The announcement came after a 45-day collective consultation with staff about the proposed Trust confirmed 307 roles would be at risk of redundancy now, adding: "However, to achieve the new strategic ambitions, there will be at least 290 redeployment opportunities, which will minimise redundancies."Rehoming centres at Bridgend in Wales and Ilfracombe, Devon, would also become fostering charity said it would also stop puppy and adolescent dog school classes, instead providing support through an "integrated digital and in-person behaviour service".The service means it could help 57,000 dogs a year by 2026, it new strategy would also enable Dogs Trust to help 27% more dogs by 2027, said the charity, by reducing the time dogs spend in its care and expanding its foster care and homestay Sharp, Dogs Trust CEO, said it had listened "carefully" to staff and volunteers and was "ready to move to the next stage".He said: "Dogs Trust needs to evolve its operations to meet the challenges of the current environment and to increase our impact. "These changes will enable Dogs Trust to help even more dogs in the UK and around the world, while ensuring our financial sustainability in the long term." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
