Finding a rental can be tough at the best of times. For Calgarians with pets, it’s even more challenging. More than half of Calgarians own a pet but only 10% of low-costmarket rentals allow them—forcing some residents to make impossible choices between housing and keeping their pet.

The impacts reach beyond individual households. When pet owners are unable to find pet-friendly housing, animals can be surrendered to shelters through no fault of their own, placing additional strain on animal welfare organizations and disrupting the bond between people and their pets.

To help close the gap, The City of Calgary and Calgary Humane Society have partnered to advocate for more pet-friendly rentals. In this episode, The City of Calgary’s ChiefHousing Officer, Reid Hendry, and Carrie Fritz, Executive Director at Calgary Humane Society, discuss what’s driving this housing gap, how pet-friendly housing benefits both landlords and tenants, and what resources are availableto address common concerns. They also explore how expanding pet-friendly housing can help keep families together, reduce preventable pet surrenders, andbuild stronger, more connected communities.

Additional Resources:

• Pet Inclusive Housing
• Landlordand Tenant Toolkit