The Scottish SPCA welcomes today’s passing of the Housing (Scotland) Bill. This is a landmark step which means no one in Scotland should ever again have to make the heart-breaking choice between keeping a roof over their head and keeping the pet they love.
In just the first six months of this year, calls to our helpline from people seeking to give up their pets rose by 19.5%. Housing was one of the main reasons, alongside financial pressures and behavioural issues. Every one of those calls represents someone facing an impossible decision and an animal losing the home it knows.
We know animals transform lives. Simple routines like feeding or walking a pet, or simply having them nearby, bring structure, stability and companionship. They improve both mental and physical health and, for many people, pets are family. When someone is forced to give up their pet, that animal is also torn from everything it knows and often placed in a rescue centre. However dedicated our teams are, a centre is noisy and unfamiliar. It can never compare to being at home with the people, routines and comforts animals love and thrive on.
Our research with the University of Edinburgh, involving school children aged 7–12, highlighted just how strong these bonds are. 76% of children told us their pet was their best friend. 62% said they would be lonely without their pet, and more than half said their pet knew when they were upset and tried to comfort them.
Through our Pets and Tenants Together campaign, launched in 2021, we also heard directly from people affected. Seven in 10 tenants told us they would risk becoming homeless if they could no longer keep their pet in their accommodation. More than a third said they had already had to make that choice between their pet and a roof over their head.
By passing the Housing (Scotland) Bill, Parliament has recognised pets are family and sent a powerful message about the value of animals in our society. This is a victory not only for people but for the animals who mean so much to them.
