Big Issue vendors and their dogs take housing fight to parliament: ‘I’d be lost without her’

We meet Brighton vendor Andy Sanguy and Bath vendor Ian Duff in Parliament Square. The sun is just beginning to set, and we have to shield our eyes as we are introduced to their dogs.

Andy has brought along Lucky Charm, an almost-two-year-old Staffie-Porto Mastiff cross. “She’s my partner in crime,” he says. They’ve been together for just over a year. “One of my friends was leaving the country, so I adopted her, and I’d be lost without her.”

Ian is accompanied by Trigger, a four-year-old Macedonian rescue who he’s had for three years. Trigger isn’t sure what to make of Lucky Charm – he can tolerate her presence for a few photos but is not keen to make friends.

They’re willing to put their differences aside, though, because they’ve joined their owners in London on a special mission: to assist Street Paws in persuading the government to end no-pet policies in temporary accommodation.

“Fortunately, I was housed when I got my dog,” Andy says, “but it’s a subject that’s really close to my heart, because a lot of people I know who have dogs struggle to get accommodation, because they’re saying, ‘We’ll accommodate you, but get rid of your dog.’ If you’re married with kids and you got kicked out into the street, would you toss your kids in the bin to get a house? No, you wouldn’t, so why would we?

“Charm’s a dog, but she’s not just a dog to me. She’s my best mate, my emotional support animal, my work colleague. She’s there for me when times are hard, and you’re not going to give that up. If that means staying homeless, then 90% of the boys will end up staying homeless.”

Ian concurs. “When I was first put on the council [housing] list and started to go and see properties, the first two properties I went to said ‘no animals’. 

“I didn’t understand why they were getting me to look at them, because they knew I had an animal. He’s like my son, you know? And I’m not giving away my son. So it was quite stressful, and that happens a lot.”

We walk across Westminster Bridge for a few more photos, during which the dogs attract numerous admirers – and Andy thwarts Charm’s attempts to take a dip in the Thames. Then we meet up with fellow vendor Kelvin Gregory (whose dog Libby Bell is a little shy for the political scene) and head to the Houses of Parliament.

Read more:

• Renters’ Rights Act: Labour’s landmark rental reforms receive royal assent and finally become law
• No one should face homelessness alone: How Dogs Trust keeps homeless people and their dogs together
• Meet the very good dogs saving lives by donating blood: ‘Dogs are so special, they give us so much’

It takes some time to get through security, not least because Charm and Trigger cannot go through the usual human entrance, but we eventually make it to the House of Lords terrace, with an incredible view over the Thames, which we are told is not usually open to visitors. Charm and Trigger clearly make all the difference though – they are not only welcomed but surreptitiously given free bowls of freshly cooked sausage by the canteen staff.

Human and canines fed, we’re escorted to the room where, for two hours, Michelle Southern OBE, founder and chief executive of Street Paws, will be joined by a range of guests, from Bafta-winning actor Peter Egan to our very own Andy, Ian and Kelvin, to make the case for an end to blanket bans on pets in temporary accommodation.

“I started Street Paws in 2016 with the aim to provide basic preventative treatments to people who are homeless,” Southern explains. “When I started the charity, I had no idea of the barriers for people who’ve got pets to accommodation. In 2018, in the middle of the Beast from the East, I was in Manchester, and there were people we were supporting telling me that they couldn’t access SWEP provision because their dog wasn’t allowed inside.”

Through their Pet Champion Scheme, Street Paws provide everything from practical solutions like kennels, to training, support and advice to help temporary accommodation providers to welcome pets. They also work hard to combat misconceptions, including that people experiencing homelessness are unfit pet owners.

“These dogs are some of the best-socialised, best-fed and most loved dogs,” Southern says of the pets that she and her colleagues support. “Is it any worse than somebody going out to work for 10 hours a day and leaving a pet at home? Pets on the streets are with their owners 24/7, and loved. The bond between the people and these animals is incredible, and we have to start recognising that and stop trying to break that bond.

“If somebody’s lost their home, their relationship, their family members, their income, this animal might be the only thing they have left that gives them some sense of normality, some sense of structure in their lives, because they have a responsibility to that animal. And then for them to ask for help, to take that brave step and say, ‘I’m in this position and I need help,’ and for someone to say, ‘We can help you if you give up your dog’ – it’s just cruel.”

She emphasises that anyone could find themselves in a vulnerable position. “There’s definitely been a change in the demographics of people who are coming forward for support now. That can range from ladies who’ve lived in a flat for 30 years and the landlord has decided to sell and now they’re homeless and they have a dog, and the local authority doesn’t have any accommodation that they can go to, to people fleeing domestic abuse or violence [who] have been offered a way out but can’t take their pet. Homelessness really can affect anybody.”

Due to insufficient data collection there are no reliable figures on how many people experiencing homelessness have pets, but it is believed to be as high as 25%. Southern therefore emphasises that ending housing discrimination against pets is essential to ending homelessness. 

“The government produced a report at the end of last year on ending homelessness and there’s no mention of pets in there at all. Until we can support these vulnerable people and their pets together, then we’re not going to end homelessness.”

Some local authorities have made significant steps towards welcoming pets. This includes Maidstone Borough Council, which in 2018 adopted the John Chadwick Pet Policy following campaigning by Dee Bonnet, whose best friend John Chadwick died by suicide in 2017 after being forced to choose between housing and his beloved cat and dogs. But elsewhere, people experiencing homelessness with pets still face impossible decisions.

“It shouldn’t be a postcode lottery,” Southern says. “It should be a national policy. That’s what we’re trying to implement – change on a national level.”

As the event gets under way, Peter Egan, who is an animal rights activist as well as a stalwart of the British stage and screen, gives a moving address, moved to tears as he recalled a recent encounter with a Ukrainian soldier who referred to the volunteer vets who treated his dog as heroes. 

“Our companion animals are so important to all of us,” he says, “so there should never, ever be a question that anyone should be separated from an important partner. We must, where it is safe to do so, find ways to keep people with their secure social attachments, their companion animals.” 

Andrew Hale from Pet Remedy agrees: “No one should be forced to choose between family and help, and no one should dictate to others what that family consists of.”

Irene Campbell, Labour MP for North Ayrshire and Arran and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Dog Welfare, has to give her speech in two parts after being called away to vote. “We know that homeless pet owners are 50% less likely to secure housing due to these no pet policies, and that really isn’t right,” she says, before encouraging attendees to ask their MP to support Street Paws’ call for change. 

“I always encourage people, email your MP if you’re not happy about something.”

The evidence-based case for change is made compellingly by Dr Mackenzie Fong of Newcastle University, who presented ‘A qualitative study exploring how pet-inclusive policies are viewed, implemented and experienced in UK homelessness accommodation services.’ But by far the most rousing speech is given by Andy, Ian and Kelvin.

As Charm rolls onto her back, smiling for her admirers, and Trigger gazes adoringly at his owner, the three men speak of the value that their pets bring to their lives.

“Recalling his struggle to access housing, Ian says, “They are family, and it made me feel really desperate.”

“Our dogs aren’t just dogs to us,” Andy concurs, stroking Charm’s ears. “They’re your best friends. I have bad days. Then I look at her, she comes up, puts her head on my shoulder, snuggles up or does something – acts like a total doughnut, as you guys have all seen! – and it just puts a smile on my face. It’s like, ‘Alright, let’s go, we’ve got this.’”

“Over Covid, I felt very isolated in the house, and my dog actually gave me the inspiration to go out,” Kelvin adds of his late dog Ralph. “He was with me for 15 years. He was my best buddy, and he really gave me that lift through a difficult time.”

The conversation continues, with tears in more than a few eyes, into the evening.

Jade Statt, co-founder of Street Vet, was inspired to set up the organisation, which provides free veterinary care to pets whose owners are experiencing homelessness, after meeting people who were “labelled ‘voluntarily homeless’ or ‘intentionally homeless’” after they refused accommodation that would require them to give up a beloved pet. 

“They cannot access a hostel, which would then allow them to apply for benefits, which would allow them to apply for jobs – they’re giving up all of that.”

She also wants to see day centres welcome pets. “If [people] could leave their dog in a safe place, knowing that if they have to go to a doctor’s appointment then they don’t even have to consider tying them up, which they wouldn’t do, then their health will be better. Everything will become better.”

Harriet Page, pets and housing manager at Dogs Trust agrees. “If you change the regulation, you’re not just impacting that pet’s life, but also a human’s life, she says. “It doesn’t take much to do it.”

Find out more information about Street Paws’ No One Left Outside campaignto make transitional and social housing pet-friendly by default

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

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