All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrievalsystem, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writingfrom Dogs Trust or as expressly permitted by law. Enquiries concerning reproduction of theabove should be sent to the Legal Department, Dogs Trust, 17 Wakley Street, London EC1V 7RQ.
The information in this booklet has been endorsed by the following organisations:
Welcoming Dogs 1
ContentsAcknowledgments and Foreword 2
Why accept dogs? The benefits to clients 4
Why accept dogs? The benefits to projects 6
Dealing with dogs: health and safety 8
Dealing with dogs: hygiene and behaviour 10
Dealing with dogs: some practical issues 12
Dealing with dogs: getting advice, help and support 14
Dealing with dogs: move-on 16
Model dog policy for homelessness services 18
Contact information 20
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st Dogs Trust is the largest dog welfarecharity in the UK and is committed toworking towards the day when all dogscan enjoy a happy life, free from thethreat of unnecessary destruction.
The Hope Project is part of Dogs Trustand helps dogs whose owners arehomeless or in housing crisis. Since1994, the Hope Project has beenworking hard to help these dogs bygiving advice to their owners andenabling the dogs themselves to getregular veterinary healthcare. The HopeProject also works to encouragehomelessness projects to accept clientswith dogs.
For many homeless people, their dog istheir only friend; the only living creaturethey can really trust. It’s incrediblyimportant that we don’t take this awayfrom them. But far too many homelesspeople are denied the help they sodesperately need simply because theyhave a dog. In fact, across Britain, almostthree in four homelessness projectsregularly turn homeless people withdogs away.
To find out why, the Hope Project carriedout an extensive survey of homelessnessprojects. They discovered a real demandfor more information on key issues, suchas health and safety, insurance andhygiene – the very reasons that manyprojects give for refusing to take in dogs.
As a result, the Hope Project hasproduced this booklet to provide thisinformation and explain why projectsshould accept dogs. As you wouldexpect, we believe strongly in thebenefits of having a loyal, loving dog asa companion. We know how incrediblyimportant dogs are to their homelessowners. Homeless people and their petsdeserve the same access to housing andother services as anybody else.
We know from our own experience thatopening your doors to dogs does notmean a lot of extra work. To illustratethis, Hope Project staff spoke tomanagers working in dog-friendlyhostels and shelters across Britain to findout what they think and to pass on theirexperiences. We hope that this booklet,as well as the views and experiences ofthese project managers, will persuademore projects to accept dogs, givingmore homeless people the chances theyneed and more of their dogs the qualityof life that they deserve.
The Hope Project team would like to thank all those who gave their time to be interviewed for this report:
Jonathan Boodle, St Mungo’s Endsleigh Gardens hostel, London
Liz Campbell, Equinox Brook Drive detox centre, London
Stuart Cummings, Providence Row HA – Hackney Road hostel, London
Sean Hickey, Providence Row HA – Hackney Road hostel, London
Richard Howlett, Jimmy’s Night Shelter, Cambridge
Julie Jarrett, St Mungo’s Endsleigh Gardens hostel, London
Mandy Mansfield, St Mungo’s Mare Street hostel, London
Martin McNaughton, The City of Edinburgh Council – Castlecliff, Edinburgh
Rob Minchin, Wallich Clifford Community, Cardiff
Doug Montgomery, St Anne’s Hostel, Birmingham
Eileen Speight, St Mungo’s Health and Safety Advisor
Thank you to all the residents and their dogs at St Mungo’s Endsleigh Gardens andProvidence Row HA – Hackney Road hostel, who kindly gave up their time to bephotographed for this booklet.
This booklet draws on the following research into the benefits of dogownership:
Prof S Ahmedzai, ‘Companion animals in health and social care institutions’, The SCAS Journal, 2001
Blue Cross, ‘A dog’s life: Homeless people and their pets’, 2001
Dr AB Charnaud, ‘Dogs as transitional objects in the treatment of patients with drugdependency’, The SCAS Journal, 2000
W Connelly and BD MacDonald, ‘Pet therapy programs for the elderly’, 1992
AH Kidd and RM Kidd, ‘Benefits and liabilities of pets for the homeless’, Psychological Reports 74, 1994
People and Animals Together in Health, ‘Pets and homeless people in Nottingham –the issues’, 1998
SCAS, ‘Older people and pets’, 2005
RS Singer, LA Hart & RL Zasloff, ‘Dilemmas associated with rehousing homeless peoplewho have companion animals’, 1995
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2 Welcoming Dogs
Anybody working with homelesspeople knows the cost this lifestylebrings. Homeless people can oftensuffer from drug or alcohol addiction,mental health problems, depressionor stress. They all badly need the helpoffered by front-line services, such ashostels, shelters and detox clinics.
But many homeless people with dogs findit almost impossible to access the servicesthey need. In a Hope Project surveycarried out in 2005, 73% of respondinghomelessness projects said they did notaccept dogs. That means a lot ofhomeless people are not being helped –just because they have a dog.
An intense emotional bondThe emotional bond between dog andowner is a strong one but never more sothan with homeless people: “These petsare their family”, said Liz Campbell ofEquinox Brook Drive detox centre inLondon. Martin McNaughton, Managerof Castlecliff in Edinburgh agreed: “Theirdog is an important part of their life.” Asa result, when forced to choose betweentheir dog and a bed, many will stay withtheir dog.
American research into the bondbetween owner and dog confirmed thestrength of this attachment: “Pets providesolace and emotional support, helpreduce loneliness for emotionally andphysically isolated people, and giveunconditional love and acceptance… petsprovide these same benefits several-foldto their homeless owners, who often lackhuman relationships.”
Plus more practical benefits Research carried out over the last decadein both America and the UK has alsoproved that owning a dog brings anumber of real, material benefits. Dogsreduce stress and blood pressure, provideemotional support, reduce loneliness andenhance their owner’s quality of life andself-esteem. What’s more, caring for a petalso encourages owners to look afterthemselves.
These advantages are backed up by DogsTrust Canine Charter for Human Health,which provides further evidence of thehealth benefits that come from owning adog.
“Overall, the dogs aresmashing; they’re lovely;sometimes they are theirowner’s only friend andcompanion.”Julie Jarrett, St Mungo’s Endsleigh Gardens hostel, London
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Safety, stability and love Research by the Blue Cross suggests thathomeless people with dogs are less likelyto abuse drugs or alcohol. Dogs are alsonatural conversation points, helping theirhomeless owners to initiate conversationwith others, thereby giving them moresocial contact and helping them to learnvaluable social skills. It stated: “Owninga pet, even when in a situation whichbrings most people to the depths ofdespair, can and does alleviate thedesperation… it not only helps somepeople hold themselves together whileon the streets… it helps them reintegrateinto the mainstream.”
The same research suggests that, forover 50% of homeless dog owners, theirpet provides their only real relationshipwith a living being. Dogs can providehomeless people with a vital companionin life: one that they can talk to andtrust; one that offers unconditional love;and one that is often their only source ofsafety and stability.
Research into homeless dog owners inNottingham concluded: “A companionanimal is then far more than a mere pet– it is a lifeline. It may be one of themost important things in the homelessperson’s life.”
“I thought it would be a real headache but I was wrong. It’s opened my eyes to theimportance of that relationship, how theydepend on each other and the value that residents put on their pet. I wish I’d known how straightforward it would be.”Martin McNaughton, Castlecliff, Edinburgh
Welcoming Dogs 5
Telling thetruth aboutdogs MYTH 1: If we let onedog in, everyone willwant one
This will not happen. Only a minority ofhomeless people owndogs and you can set alimit on the number ofdogs you accept at anyone time. You should alsostipulate in your policythat current residentscannot get a dog oncethey have moved intoyour project.
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Although accepting dogs is clearlygood for the animals and theirowners, it can bring additionaladvantages. Many project managershave told us that welcoming dogsalso benefits their project and theother residents.
Extending inclusion Allowing dogs makes a project accessibleto people usually excluded from front-line services. To Mandy Mansfield at StMungo’s, the end result is that “byaccepting dogs there are fewer peoplesleeping rough.” Martin McNaughtonagreed: “This issue is keeping people onthe streets. We have to change – toexclude people just because of theirdogs makes no sense at all.”
Wallich Clifford in Cardiff has alsodecided to let in dogs. Rob Minchin is aproject worker at the hostel; he believesthat this decision has meant that “we’vehad at least a dozen residents in the lasttwo years who had access to the hostelwhere before they would not have beenable to get in.”
It is very clear that there is a realdemand for front-line services fromhomeless people with dogs. DougMontgomery, of St Anne’s hostel inBirmingham, said; “It’s disappointingthat there aren’t more hostels around.We’re based in Birmingham and weoffer just short term, emergencyaccommodation… but we find peoplecoming from all over, like Brighton, tostay just because we take dogs.”
The Department for Communities andLocal Government (DCLG) alsorecognises the importance of this issue.In its guidance notes for the HostelCapital Improvement Programme (HCIP),it gives a number of best practicesuggestions for dealing with dogs. Thesesuggestions – made in consultation withthe Hope Project – offer common-sensesolutions to ease the transition to a dog-friendly project.
“If we’re dealing withstreet homeless people,then we really have todeal with dogs as well.”Richard Howlett, Manager, Jimmy’s Night Shelter, Cambridge
Social benefits to projectsSome project managers we interviewedspoke of the social benefits of acceptingdogs. In particular, they felt that dogshelp lighten the atmosphere. DougMontgomery said: “The pluses of havingdogs outweigh the minuses quiteconsiderably – it’s more homely havingdogs around.” At Providence Row inHackney, Sean Hickey agreed; “I thinkpets are a wonderful addition to a socialproject where residents have anopportunity to commune. They help theatmosphere – I mean, dogs are never ina bad mood, are they?”
Several hostel managers told us that petsacted as social ice-breakers: MartinMcNaughton said; “Dogs can be a goodpoint of contact between staff andresidents: right now we have a beautifulbig husky and people pat it and talk toit.” Dogs can also give other residentssomething to focus on: quite oftenhostels have found that clients who hadbeen withdrawn came out of their shellto talk to dogs and their owners.
Therapeutic benefits Research suggests that including thepatient’s dog in their treatment for drugdependency has great therapeuticbenefits. The research said that it is“impossible to treat the patient withoutthe dog; in fact by talking to the patientabout their dog and welcoming theirdog we are often able then to makecontact with patients who are extremelysuspicious of people… Certainly we findthat once a patient has made anattachment to a dog, then this is thebeginning of their rehabilitation.”
Liz Campbell, Assistant Manager ofEquinox Brook Drive detox centre, has agreat deal of experience in this area. Shesaid: “A lot of people with addiction canbe quite isolated and for those withpets, these are their family. If you’ve gota drug user or a drinker with a pet, youcan’t use that as a reason not to helpthem.”
She continued: “If clients have to giveup their pet, get it put down, put intokennels, or looked after by someoneelse, it’s really distressing and it’s notgood to go into a therapeuticprogramme like ours when you haveother distractions – we don’t want togive them something else to worryabout. If their pet is here with them thenthey’re happier and that’s good. You’vegot to be flexible.”
“We’ve got a hugedog in now and it’s socalm, the other clientsreally like it and wantto take it for walks.”Liz Campbell, Equinox Brook Drive detox centre,London
The simple truth is thatsome homeless peopledo have dogs. Mosthomeless dog ownersare widely accepted tobe loving and caringand their dogs areusually very healthy andsocialise well with bothpeople and other dogs.
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Health and safety (H&S) is oftenmentioned as a reason why projectsdon’t accept dogs and many peoplesay they want more information onthis issue.
What you must do The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974states that all employers have a duty ofcare to make their workplace safe andhealthy for their employees and thepublic.
Organisations employing five or morepeople must also conduct a riskassessment to highlight potential H&Shazards. They must record what theassessment finds and what steps theyhave taken to deal with any risks.
These organisations must also have aformal H&S policy that outlines thearrangements made to protect theiremployees and any third party (such ascontractors, visitors or residents).
Therefore any project – whether or not itaccepts dogs – should already be familiarwith risk assessments and the record-keeping this requires. All you need to dois update your risk assessment to takeaccount of the presence of dogs.
Risk assessments To complete a risk assessment, you justneed to consider the environment yourstaff and residents are living andworking in, then analyse the hazardsand determine the risks (a risk beingdefined as the combination of thelikelihood and consequence of thathazard).
For example, you might considerwhether somebody will be bitten overthe course of the year. While it isimpossible to say this will never happen,in our experience it is extremely unlikely.This could therefore reasonably bedetermined as a medium risk. You couldreduce the risk further by insisting thatdogs showing signs of aggression wearmuzzles when they are in communalareas.
Dog policies Once you have completed the riskassessment and have decided how bestto avert or mitigate any possiblesituations, just put these measures into adogs policy. All projects accepting petsshould draw up an agreed policy.Projects without one are likely to findthat residents are unaware of theirobligations; what’s more, different staffmembers may give out conflictinginformation. It is a good idea to extendthe policy for staff and include a set ofsimple procedures for staff to followshould a complaint or issue arise.
A dogs policy needs to recognise that itis illegal to let dogs into foodpreparation areas. It also makes sense toinsist that dogs are kept on leads whenthey are in communal areas, such ascorridors or common rooms. In addition,you should limit the number of dogs andnot allow residents to get a dog oncethey have moved in.
“Dogs have to be on alead when they’re in thecommon areas but theyare allowed everywherebar the kitchen.”
Stuart Cummings, Providence Row HA, London
“Risk assessments arecrucial if you’re going toaccept dogs, but they’revery straightforward –they really aren’t an issueat all.”
Julie Jarrett, St Mungo’s EndsleighGardens hostel, London
All dog owners coming into your projectshould read, understand and sign yourdogs policy. By signing it, dog ownersagree to abide by the rules and acceptresponsibility for their dog’s welfare andbehaviour. Doug Montgomery describesthe procedure at St Anne’s hostel inBirmingham: “We have a licenceagreement and dog owners have anadditional agreement that they sign upfor. This is quite important because itmeans that they are aware of theirresponsibilities of having a dog here.”
To ensure fairness and transparency forboth dog owner and hostel, the dogspolicy should be mentioned in thelicence or tenancy agreement. Thismeans that, if the dog owner breaks orcontravenes the policy, they will also bein breach of their licence or tenancyagreement.
Once you have completed a riskassessment and have a dogs policy andcontract in place, you are compliant withH&S regulations.
There is a sample dogs policy at theback of this booklet which containsthese and other points. You canadapt the policy as necessary to suitthe specific needs of your project.
Insurance Once again, this is very simple. Youshould already have public liabilityinsurance cover in case of accidents onyour premises. Most public liabilityinsurance already covers dogs but tomake absolutely sure, just contact yourinsurer and:
■ tell them that you will be allowingdogs on the premises
■ tell them how many you plan toaccept
■ ask them whether you need anyextra clauses in your insurancepolicy.
It’s as easy as that!
“We got a lot of helpfrom the Hope Project –their dogs policy basicallydid most of the work for us.”
Mandy Mansfield, St Mungo’s Mare Street hostel, London
Telling thetruth aboutdogs MYTH 3: Dogsmight fightamongst each other
Hostel managers weinterviewed had neverexperienced this. Thetruth is that dogs don’tlike fighting any morethan we do. Left alone,they generally prefer towalk away.
“I really wouldn’t classdogs as a high H&S risk –after all, people havethem in their homes…”
Julie Jarrett, St Mungo’s EndsleighGardens hostel, London
“We treat a dog in thesame way as a visitor –if a visitor isthreatening, it’s up tothe resident to keepthem in control so weuse the samedisciplinary process inrespect of dogs.”
Rob Minchin, Wallich Clifford, Cardiff
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Many people have two centralconcerns about dogs: behaviour andhygiene. Martin McNaughton atCastlecliff in Edinburgh had the sameworries: “I’m not a dog lover and Iwas very reluctant to have dogs inthe hostel: I was worried they’d bemessing everywhere and bitingpeople – I thought there would bereal problems.”
The reality is far more mundane. As Martin himself admits; “I’vecompletely changed my mind on this.Most of the dogs we get here arelarge dogs – we’ve had a Staffie anda German Shepherd, for example –but they’ve not been aggressive.We’ve never had any dogs biteanyone and only once in three yearshave I seen dog mess in ourcourtyard: I’m very pleased andgenuinely surprised.”
Behaviour Of course, dogs will sometimes chew,scratch and bark. Dogs often barkbecause they are excited, bored orfrustrated. This can usually be stoppedeasily by giving the dog more attentionor exercise, although sometimes it mayneed further investigation by abehaviourist. Try to make sure that dogsare not left alone for more than three orfour hours and, if possible, don’t putdogs in adjacent rooms. This shouldminimise any noise: the projectmanagers we interviewed describedbarking as only an occasional problem.
Chewing and scratching are often signsof boredom or anxiety at being leftalone. Again, if a dog is chewing orscratching then it’s worth checkingwhether he is being stimulated andexercised enough and that he is notbeing left alone for long periods of time.The owner should encourage their dogto play with toys, rather than chewingitems. In some cases an indoor kennelcould be used in the client’s room whilethe owner is out for short periods oftime.
There’s a very small chance that dogsmay fight with one another. This isextremely rare: none of the managerswe interviewed had ever seen thishappen. Richard Howlett of Jimmy’sNight Shelter in Cambridge said: “Acouple of dogs have been a bit snappy,but we’ve just insisted that they wear amuzzle in the shelter – end of problem.”
In truth, most dogs have had sometraining and are reasonably wellbehaved, as Doug Montgomerydescribes: “My experience of homelesspeople with dogs is that their dogs arevery good tempered – we’ve had noexperience of any vicious dogs and it’salso a plus because of the interestgenerated from other residents.”
You can also accept only those dogs thatappear to be sociable and well-natured.As a result, you are highly unlikely tohave any serious problems. If a fightdoes occur, owners should try andresolve it by walking away and usingloud noise as a distraction.
Hygiene issues As most dogs are toilet-trained aspuppies, fouling is rarely a majorproblem. Project managers agreed:Mandy Mansfield said: “The residentsknow it’s their responsibility and theyclear it up straightaway.” Rob Minchinsaid that his colleagues “were worriedthe dogs would be peeing everywhere,but it’s just not happened.”
You can further reduce the risk of dogsmessing by:
■ reminding owners that it is theirlegal responsibility to clean up aftertheir dogs
■ ensuring your dogs contract requiresdog owners to clean up their dog’smess
■ penalising repeat offences, to theextent of asking the owner and dogto leave
■ telling dog owners where thenearest toileting areas are
■ supplying suitable plastic bags tohelp owners clean up after theirdogs: these are often provided freeby local authorities and can just bedropped in a dustbin or adesignated dog bin once they havebeen used.
Health issuesMany dogs will suffer from a fleainfestation at some point in their lives.However, dogs that receive regularpreventative healthcare rarely get fleas.As fleas live in the environment and notprimarily on dogs, it is a good idea tohave residential and communal areastreated for fleas periodically.
All dogs will have worms from time totime. Untreated, this can causeproblems. Dog owners need to wormtheir dogs regularly – twice a year foradults and every two to four weeks forpuppies. As anybody with a dog or catwill know, worming them is a normalpart of owning a pet.
Dogs Trust Hope Project’s veterinaryentitlement card scheme provides freevaccinations, microchipping, neutering,worming and flea treatment. Moredetails on this scheme are provided laterin this booklet. For further informationplease email the Hope Project team [email protected]
Dogs Trust also provides free fact sheetson most aspects of dog ownership, so ifyou or any of your clients need furtheradvice you can visit our website atwww.dogstrust.org.uk
“I don’t even likeanimals but it’s not aproblem for me.”
Telling thetruth aboutdogs MYTH 4: Dogs willcreate much morework for staff
Not true. A dogscontract should putresponsibility for theanimal on its owner. All members of staffshould be aware of thecontract and enforce itwhere necessary.
“We very occasionally geta dog messing in the carpark but it’s covered byCCTV so we can checkwhich dog messed thereand get the owners toclear it up.”
Stuart Cummings, Providence Row HA,London
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Many dog-related issues havecommon, practical solutions. So, ifyou decide to start accepting dogsinto your project, here are somesimple ways to make the transition as easy as possible.
New arrivals When first accepting dogs into yourproject, start with small numbers. Thiswill make it easy to identify any dogowners that may be causing difficultiesand resolve any issues that you hadn’tpreviously considered. The number ofdogs can then be reviewed after acouple of months. Some projects makethe mistake of accepting too many dogsfrom the outset: this can cause problemsand can deter staff and other residentsfrom dogs in the future.
When new clients arrive with dogs,check the animals to make sure thatthey are healthy and sociable, and seewhether the owners appear responsibleand caring. Dogs are naturally good-natured animals and it is usually easy toidentify ones that will not fit in. You canalso ask the owner a few simplequestions to find out how healthy andsociable their dogs are.
■ How long have they had their dog?
■ How often do they feed their dog?
■ Is the dog house-trained?
■ How well does it get on with otheranimals and people?
St Mungo’s also tells new employees andresidents that they take dogs. If aresident has a problem, the staff canmake sure they are given a room as faraway from any dogs as possible.
Where should you put clientswith dogs? Clients with dogs should ideally live onthe ground floor so that they can easilytake their dogs outside to toilet and toget sufficient exercise. However, manyprojects use this floor for staff officesand communal areas so rooms on otherfloors can also be used. If you do this,bear in mind that puppies or elderlydogs should be kept on the lowest floorpossible. It is a good idea to have nomore than two dogs on each floor andto put the dog rooms at the ends of thecorridor – this will keep the dogsseparated and will minimise barking.
When considering where to room clientswith dogs, it is also a good idea toensure that the room has enough spacefor the dog to lie out fully stretched so itcan sleep/rest.
Some projects think that dogs need togo in special rooms with no furnitureand basic flooring. As long as a dogspolicy is enforced, there should be noreason for making dog rooms anydifferent from other rooms in theproject.
Most hostels provide clients with theirown rooms, so dogs should not disturbother residents. However, some projectshave dormitory style or self-cateringshared accommodation. In these cases,other residents need to be informed thatdogs are being accepted and any issuescan then be dealt with on an individualbasis.
Most projects allow residents to leavetheir dogs in their rooms duringmealtimes and while they use the otherfacilities in the project. If this is notpossible – for example in day centres ordormitory style accommodation – thenwe recommend providing indoorkennels. These can be set up easily andcan be placed somewhere that allowsthe dog to see its owner.
We find from experience that dogsbelonging to homeless people copebadly when they are kept in outdoorkennels. They are likely to bark, howland try to escape because they are usedto close human contact on a regularbasis. It is much easier to make the fewchanges outlined in this booklet in orderto accept dogs into your hostel than it isto build and maintain outdoor kennels.
“We have dormitory stylerooms with five to eightpeople in each room, sothe dogs sleep in, on orunder their owner’s bed.”
Richard Howlett, Jimmy’s Night Shelter, Cambridge
Access for dogs If you have double doors to your frontentrance, try to keep the inner doorsshut so that dogs cannot easily run out.If you don’t have double doors, a self-closer will make sure that the door shutsautomatically.
If you have more than one entrance,such as a back or side door, you coulduse the second entrance for dogs tominimise the amount of time they spendin the lobby and corridors.
If you decide to allow dogs intocommunal areas, such as TV rooms, it’s agood idea to put signs up to let otherresidents know that there may be dogsinside. You could also do the same withresidents’ rooms. If you have more thanone communal room, for example a TVroom and a common room, then youcould make one of them a dog-freezone. If you do this, try to make surethat both rooms are similar enough sothat dog owners don’t feel like second-class citizens.
It will help if you have a garden oroutdoor space, such as a courtyard orcar park, where the dog owners cantake their pets. It also makes sense toestablish a working relationship withyour local dog warden: they will be ableto tell you where the nearest dog-friendly parks are located.
“Dog owners generallyare a breed apart – theycause us very fewproblems, they just geton with their lives, theydon’t hang around,they’re in and out, eitherin parks, or in their flatsor rooms.”
Sean Hickey, Providence Row HA,London
Telling thetruth aboutdogs MYTH 5: Dogs aredirty
As Liz Campbell,Assistant Manager ofEquinox Brook Drivedetox centre in London,said; ”Dogs may need abath when they arrivebut it’s nothing youcan’t get over.” Clientsshould be encouragedto keep their dogs cleanand groomed and toaccess free veterinaryservices where available.
Registration and microchips The law says that dogs must wear acollar and tag with the owner’s nameand address on, so this should beincluded in your policy. It is worth askingthe local council’s dog warden if theyrun a voluntary registration scheme.
It is also a good idea to encourageclients to get their dogs microchipped asit is a way of permanently identifyingtheir dog. Dogs Trust Hope Projectmicrochips all dogs registered on ourveterinary entitlement card scheme.Other animal welfare charities, the localdog warden and the police may alsooperate subsidised microchippingschemes.
AllergiesSome people can develop allergies todogs. In almost all cases these allergiesare mild and can be reduced further by:
■ ensuring furniture is cleanedregularly
■ ensuring rooms are regularly aired
■ asking the pet owner to keep theirdog clean and brush it regularly(outside)
■ ensuring that people with allergieshave minimal contact with animalsand wash their hands afterwards.
Other organisations There are many other animal welfarecharities that can give helpful advice andsupport. Please see the contact details atthe end of this booklet for furtherinformation.
It’s a good idea to give responsibility fordogs to a specific person on your staff,so that they can begin to make usefulcontacts. A good starting point is theenvironmental services department ofyour local council.
Getting started Some hostels find it useful to provide astarter pack for dog owners arriving attheir project. This might include itemslike dog biscuits, leads, chews, blanketsand toys. These will help your clients andwill also help keep the dog occupied,making it less likely to bark, pine orchew other things.
You can probably get most, if not all, ofthese items for free. Try asking your localnewspaper to appeal for new or second-hand equipment, or ask to put a posterand a collection bin in your localsupermarket.
Telling thetruth aboutdogs MYTH 6: Dogs willupset the otherresidents
Very few people activelydislike dogs and thosethat do can be roomedwell away from anydogs. Very often thosewith initial worries soonchange their mindsonce dogs have beenaccepted. In fact, manyhostel managers saythat they and theirresidents enjoy havingdogs around.
“We haven’t really hadproblems, just issues, andthese have all been fairlyeasy to resolve, largelybecause we got help fromthe Hope Project… Oncewe had to ask someone toget a muzzle for his pet –we got in touch with theHope Project and theyhelped us sort it out.”
Mandy Mansfield, St Mungo’s Mare Street hostel, London
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If you decide to open your doors tohomeless people with dogs, it’simportant you realise that there isexpert support and friendly adviceavailable every step of the way.
A good place to start is the HopeProject. We give advice and help tohomeless dog owners andhomelessness services and offer freeand subsidised veterinary treatmentthrough a veterinary entitlementcard scheme.
Visiting homelessness services Hope Project staff regularly visit projectsto answer any questions they may have.We are happy to visit your project andanswer your questions. We can walk youthrough the details of any issues youmay have – such as health and safety,insurance, behaviour and hygiene – andtailor our advice to your specific needs.We can also put you in touch withproject managers who do take dogs soyou can hear what they have to say. Andif you are having difficulties with anydogs in your project, you can ask ourdog behaviour experts for advice.
If you don’t need a visit, but would likehelp with your dog policy or advice onovercoming an issue you may have, feelfree to email us [email protected]
Dogs Trust Hope Project®
veterinary entitlement cardscheme Homeless dog owners can apply for aveterinary entitlement card for their dogthrough homelessness projects, such ashostels and day centres. As part of theirdog policy, many projects insist that theirclients use this service.
To register to apply for cards for yourdog-owning clients, please go towww.dogstrusthopeproject.org.uk or call020 7837 0006 for a registration pack.
Each card entitles the holder to freepreventative veterinary care, such asvaccinations, microchipping, neutering,worming and flea treatment. The cardalso covers any other essential veterinarytreatment up to a maximum of £250. Inthese cases, the dog owner just needs topay a one-off charge of £10.
The Hope Project hasalways been reallysupportive and helpful.”
“We’ve had success withthe vet scheme so thatthe dogs can go down toget treated – it workswell.”
Rob Minchin, Wallich Clifford, Cardiff
14 Welcoming Dogs
Improving the system Following the results of the survey andthe examples they revealed, HomelessLink (www.homeless.org.uk) included aquestion regarding clients with dogs inits Move-On Plan Protocol (MOPP)project. This work is enabling hostelmanagers and local authorities in anumber of areas across the country towork together to analyse move-onrequirements and make strategic plansto overcome gaps and barriers. It isfunded by the Department forCommunities and Local Government(DCLG).
Although this work is still being carriedout, there are a number of ways inwhich project managers and staff canhelp dog owners find permanentaccommodation.
■ Try to put yourself in the shoes of adog owner when referring them forpermanent housing: what sort ofhome do they and their pet need?
■ Think of any steps you can take tohelp refer a dog owner – forexample, giving the dog a referenceor including copies of its veterinarycertificates.
■ It’s worth gathering evidence toreinforce your client’s case for livingwith their dog: for example, astatement testifying to the role theirdog plays in the client’s continuedstability. In this way, you candemonstrate how important it isthat the dog and its owner are notforced to separate just to findhousing.
■ Are there any other agencieshelping the client, for example,substance abuse clinics or skills andtraining agencies, which couldprovide a reference?
■ Many housing providers are worriedthat the dog will be left aloneduring the day, so it’s a good ideato think about any ways in whichyou can reassure the provider thatthe dog will be looked after whileits owner is at work or on training.
It will take some time to give dogs andtheir owners a truly fair deal when itcomes to housing. However, Dogs Trustis working with housing providers toencourage them to be more flexible withanimals. We are part of a pets andhousing working group called Pathway,which was formed in 1995 to persuadehousing providers to develop positive petpolicies. In particular, Pathway is workingto encourage more housing providers toallow dogs and cats in flats above theground floor so that single dog ownershave more housing choice.
You can download the latest resourcefor housing providers at:www.pathwaypetsandhousing.org.uk
“I know it’s quite a leap,if you’ve not done itbefore, but this issue iskeeping people on thestreets and we have tochange because peoplewho are homeless don’twant to be parted fromtheir pet.”
Martin McNaughton, Castlecliff, Edinburgh
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Given the particularly close bond thathomeless people have with their dogs,this is a serious problem. Dogs Trust isworking to educate housing associationsabout this bond and how the stability,responsibility and companionship thatcomes from looking after a pet is not just essential to their eventualresettlement but can also help make ithappen.
Anybody working in homelessnessservices understands the challenge ofmoving people on from temporaryaccommodation to a morepermanent home.
Reluctant landlordsFor dog owners, the situation is evenworse, particularly in London. It oftentakes much longer to find them asuitable home with a housing providerprepared to accept their dog. Inparticular, many housing providers willonly house tenants with dogs on theground floor, where most flats arereserved for disabled people. In somecases, dog owners cannot find anypermanent accommodation and areforced to stay within the hostel system.
A joint approach Dogs Trust has joined forces withBroadway Housing, St Mungo’s and theGreater London Authority to assess thescale of the problem. The groupsurveyed dog-friendly hostels in Londonand received replies from 23 of them:almost all had had to refer clients withdogs to more than one housingassociation, local authority or clearinghouse.
Responses from the hostels painted apicture of little housing, long waits andno consideration given to the needs ofthe dog. They confirmed that it takeslonger to resettle a dog-owning clientthan one with no animal and that thereare few supported or semi-independenthousing options for people with dogs.
“The only problem withallowing dogs is movingpeople on. Some housingproviders will not acceptdogs and this can limityour options, whichmeans the process cantake longer.”
Jonathan Boodle, St Mungo’s EndsleighStreet hostel, London
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10. Owners must clean up after their dogs. Those who persistently fail to do so maybe evicted. Separate cleaning materials will be made available for dog owners. Ifprofessional cleaning or repair is required for any damage caused by the pet, theowner will be charged accordingly.
11. Owners must not let their animals foul in the vicinity of the building, for example,on the pavement outside. Any accidents must be cleared up immediately.
12. Dog owners must only feed and water their dogs in specified areas using utensilsdesigned for that purpose. Dog owners have sole responsibility for feeding theirdogs and will not be entitled to extra ‘human’ food from the premises to feedtheir dogs.
13. Dog owners must strictly observe the areas that are out of bounds to dogs.
14. Dogs may not be given away or sold within the building.
15. Responsible dog-owning residents will be allowed to replace a dog that has diedwith a suitable (e.g. size, age) substitute.
16. Dog breeding is not permitted on the premises. If a bitch is pregnant then theowner must agree to rehome the puppies after six weeks through an animalcharity and agree to get their dog neutered.
17. All dogs must have an identity tag on their collar showing the name, address, androom number of the owner (if a resident).
18. If a resident/service user abandons their dog, which means leaving it withoutprearranging for someone else in the hostel to look after it, then we reserve theright to hand the dog over to the local dog warden or animal welfare charity.
I have read and understood the above policy and I agree to abide by it and fully co-operate with staff in the implementation of it. I understand that failure to do so willresult in me being asked to leave/termination of my licence agreement.
Resident/Service User’s Signature
Date
Staff Signature
Date
Welcoming Dogs 19
The following are recommendations for a model dog policy, which clientsshould sign to confirm that they have understood it and agree to abide by it.Please feel free to adapt the policy to reflect the needs of your service.
It is also a good idea to put together a procedure document for staff, whichthey can follow should there be a breach of the policy.
If you receive a request for another species of animal and you need advice,please contact the RSPCA or a relevant animal welfare charity (see contacts atthe end of this booklet).
If you require any further advice when putting together your policy andprocedures for clients with dogs, then please [email protected]
1. Dog owners are responsible for feeding and exercising their dogs and for anyhealth needs, including veterinary care.
2. Dogs must be kept on a collar and lead whilst in communal areas and not be leftunattended to wander within the building. Unattended dogs will be returned tothe owner or their room and a verbal warning may be issued. The managementhas the right to evict persistent offenders and their dogs.
3. Owners must not leave their dogs with other residents/service users forunreasonably long periods of time. What constitutes an unreasonable period oftime will be discussed and agreed by both owner and staff when the dog is firstadmitted. Dogs may only be left for longer than this agreed period of time byprior arrangement with the management and with a named person who shall beheld responsible for the animal.
4. Residents are not allowed to obtain a dog after they have moved in. Thisincludes looking after another person’s dog except by arrangement with themanagement.
5. If a dog shows any aggression towards people and/or other animals, it must bekept muzzled whenever it is in any communal area. The aggression may be asymptom of behavioural problems, which will need investigation. If the owner isunwilling to cooperate they may be asked to leave. Owners should be aware thatit is a criminal offence to allow their dogs to frighten or injure a person in apublic place, such as a hostel or day centre.
6. Dog owners must ensure that their dogs cause no nuisance to otherresidents/service users, staff or guests. Any dog owners who allow their dogs todisturb or frighten other residents/service users or staff will be asked to leave.Dog owners who fail to prevent their dogs from biting people or other dogs onthe premises will be evicted.
7. If a dog is excessively noisy, a veterinary surgeon must be consulted for advice.However, this may also be a symptom of behavioural problems, which will alsoneed investigation. Any owner unwilling to cooperate may be asked to leave.
8. If a dog is being neglected or maltreated, the management will discuss thematter with the owner. After consultation, advice concerning appropriate optionswill be given. The management will not tolerate refusal by dog owners to carefor their dogs properly and will take advice from animal welfare organisations. Inclear cases of neglect or maltreatment, the management will contact the RSPCAand the animal may be rehomed.
9. Dog owners should ensure that their dogs are fully vaccinated, regularly wormed,neutered and treated for fleas. (Staff should contact Dogs Trust Hope Project forfurther details of the veterinary entitlement card scheme, which is a freepreventative veterinary service administered through homelessness projects).
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18 Welcoming Dogs
Behaviour Problems
Battersea Dogs Home Behaviour Advice Line Tel: 0905 020 0222
Association of Pet Behaviour CounsellorsPO Box 46WorcesterWR8 9YSTel: 01386 75115www.apbc.org.uk
Pet Bereavement
Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Support ServiceTel: 0800 096 6606Email: [email protected]
Environmental/Health & Safety
Contact the Environmental HealthServices department of your localauthority
Subsidised Veterinary Treatment
See Dogs Trust Hope Project fordetails of our veterinary entitlementcard scheme. Also, check withorganisations listed under AnimalHealth & Assistance to see if theyhave a branch or practice in the area.Each organisation that providessubsidised veterinary care will havetheir own eligibility criteria so it’s bestto check before booking anappointment.
Lost Dogs
Contact your local authority and theAnimal Warden Service(Environmental Health ServicesDepartment)
Lost Dogs & Cats Line: 0901 477 8477 (Within the M25 area)
If you have any questions aboutaccepting dogs into your project orabout our veterinary entitlement cardscheme, please do not hesitate tocontact the Hope Project team at Dogs Trust.
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