This is a concerning trend as pets are an important source of emotional support and companionship for their owners. The stress of losing their homes and being forced to give up their beloved pets as well can take a significant toll on people’s mental health. Moreover, the animals themselves can experience negative effects, such as anxiety and depression, when they are surrendered to animal shelters and separated from their owners.
In response to this issue, some animal shelters in Perth are calling for WA to reform rental laws to make it easier for tenants to keep their pets. These laws would provide more options for pet owners to find suitable rental properties and help prevent the unnecessary surrender of pets to animal shelters.