Synopsis

Australia is a nation of pet owners with over 60 per cent of households including a companion animal. Cats and dogs are amongst the most popular pets. Since the 1950s the ways that people live with these animals has changed. They are now more likely to be kept inside the home and to be considered as members of the family.

Housing and urban policy has not always kept pace with these changing cultures, with implications for people and their pets. For example, it can be difficult to find pet friendly housing with restrictions in condominium and strata schemes; many renters also report challenges finding pet-friendly rentals. Within communities pets can play an important role in building social connections. At the same time there can be conflicts about the rights and responsibilities of pet ownership and the place of pets within public places. This program of research investigates the housing and urban policy implications of pet ownership, and the experiences of pet owners.

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