BC SPCA urges voters to advocate for pet-friendly housing when casting their ballots

The BC SPCA is asking British Columbian voters to use their vote to advocate for pet-friendly housing in the upcoming provincial election. 

A recent poll revealed that concerns on housing are one of the top three issues to BC residents heading into the election. 

The BC SPCA’s position is that housing matters directly impact both humans and their pets. 

For this reason, the organization is now urging voters across the province to speak up for pet owners who are desperately looking for a home that accommodates animals by using their vote to advocate for pet-friendly housing.

“The provincial election is a critical time to advance animal welfare and human well-being,” says Sarah Herring, senior officer, government relations with the BC SPCA. 

“Pets are family, and it’s time for BC’s housing legislation to recognize it.”

The BC SPCA is calling on all political parties and independent candidates to recognize the importance of pets as part of people’s families by committing to updating housing legislation so families of renters with pets have equal access to housing. 

Under current legislation in the Residential Tenancy Act, landlords are legally allowed to ban pets or restrict their size, type and number in a tenancy agreement. 

Furthermore, landlords can charge a one-time pet damage deposit of up to half of one month’s rent, regardless of how many pets are allowed, which is separate from the standard security deposit and can be costly to tenants. 

The BC SPCA noted that a lack of pet-friendly housing is a primary reason the organization sees surrender requests for healthy adult animals. 

“It is the saddest thing to see an animal come into our care because their family cannot find a place for them to live together,” said Herring. 

“They are wanted, loved and well-cared for pets who suddenly find themselves in a shelter, alone, away from their families.” 

According to the organization, since 2014, more than 13,000 pets have come into the BC SPCA’s care for housing reasons.

During the 2024 campaign trail, the BC NDP promised to end pet bias and eliminate “no-pet” clauses in purpose-built rental apartment buildings. This platform promise did not come to fruition. The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs has since stated it is “exploring options.”

The BC Green Party have recently pledged to protect renters by ending pet bans and removing restrictions on companion animals in housing as part of their official platform. 

Meanwhile, the Conservative Party of BC have not spoken on provincial pet-friendly housing mandates during this campaign. 

The BC SPCA encourages all British Columbians to talk to and email their candidates about the matter of pet-friendly housing and vote for the candidates and parties that share a commitment to this issue on Saturday, October 24th.