Is it fair to ask a homeless person to give up their pet to get a home? Half of Brits say no
The prime minister's promise of a route off the street for all rough sleepers by Christmas will be undermined by the fact only one in 10 hostels are pet-friendly, a Big Issue survey finds
Big Issue vendor Alfie Brew on his pitch at Co-op, St Thomas, Exeter. Image: Exposure Photo Agency
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A lack of pet-friendly accommodation is a major barrier for rough sleepers accepting temporary and emergency housing, a new poll for Big Issue has found.
Ahead of World Homeless Day (Saturday 10 October), Big Issue is raising awareness of the fact that there is a chronic shortage in housing for rough sleepers with pets.
Only one in ten (10%) of shelters allow people to bring animals with them, despite the fact that 77% of homeless accommodation providers report regularly receiving requests from prospective residents asking to bring animals with them.
New insights from Big Issue and the pollster Konfidant show that the public agrees this is an unfair choice for people experiencing homelessness.
Half of Brits (50.1%) said it was “never fair” to ask someone experiencing homelessness to give up a pet to get housed. Only just over one in five (21.3%) pet owners would willingly surrender their pet to secure a bed for the night.
Big Issue vendor James Allerton, who sells in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, declined an offer of supported accommodation after being told he couldn’t bring his dog with him. “I said I can’t unless it allows me to take my dog… I said to the nurses at the hospital I’d never give up that dog for nothing. That dog is like a son to me.”
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James Allerton with his dog, Harlow, at Wilko, Ilkeston
Alfie Brew, who sells the magazine in Exeter, found he was not allowed to take his dog with him when he was offered temporary accommodation. “When I was offered a place in temporary accommodation, I was told straight away no dogs allowed,” he told the Big Issue. “My dog is part of my family, but I had no choice. I had to send my dog away to be looked after and go without them.
“Being apart from my dog when I was already going through such a difficult time was heart breaking. They’re the ones that was always there for me and suddenly we were separated.”
Speaking to Big Issue at a visit to a charity that provides supported accommodation for people who’ve experienced homelessness last week, Angela Rayner, housing secretary, agreed with the need for more pet-friendly accommodation for homeless people.
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Prime minister Andy Burnham meets former rough sleepers at Independence Initiative alongside Lord John Bird, John Healey and Angela Rayner. Image: Labour
Rayner told Big Issue: “One of the barriers that often has been is rough sleepers who have pets and making sure there’s provision for them as well because you know that’s their best mate, that’s their own lifeline. We’re just making sure that we’re getting that wraparound support and that there’s different options.”
Rhianon Steeds, campaigns and public affairs manager for Big Issue, said: “We see first-hand how detrimental the lack of pet-friendly emergency housing provision is to our vendors. It prevents many from taking that first step to escaping the homelessness trap, or forces a separation which can greatly harm their mental health.
“A beloved pet for someone experiencing homelessness is likely their main companion, source of comfort and the reason they keep going. We’re calling on the government to bring temporary and emergency housing in line with the private rented sector and make it pet-friendly by default.”
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Big Issue is inviting the public to sign its petition, which calls on the government to make all temporary and social housing pet-friendly by law.
The Renters’ Rights Act, which came into force for private rented housing in May 2026, gives tenants the right to request a pet and means landlords cannot unreasonably refuse consent. But this statutory protection does not currently extend to social housing or all temporary accommodation.
