A Pasadena, N.L., man is speaking out after losing his home in a fire earlier this year, saying he and his son can’t access emergency shelter options because of his son’s dog.
James Osmond and his teenage son, Logan Payne, lost the majority of their belongings in an apartment fire in January. The apartment wasn’t insured.
The duo have been searching for a place of their own while living with family. But Osmond said that when he called the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation’s emergency line seeking temporary shelter, Payne’s dog, Bebe, was a deal-breaker.
“When I told them we had a pet, they told me I’d either have to drop my son’s dog off at a shelter or give her to somebody. Other than that, they couldn’t help us,” Osmond said.
“I’m not letting my dog go. It’s not an option. That’s his other half.”
Bebe, who Osmond said has been with Payne since he was a year old, serves as his companion. Payne has ADHD and severe anxiety, and said he would be lost without his 13-year-old dog.
Payne said he’s eager for his own space to call home, but nothing would be home without Bebe.
“Pets are just additions to the family. They’re not something that you can just get rid of,” he said.
Osmond said he chose to speak with CBC News after feeling all his options had been exhausted. He’s applied for a Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation unit, but has been told it could take several months to as long as two years.
A fire destroyed their home. Now they can’t get emergency housing because they have a dog
“I tried around everywhere, and it’s just stonewall everywhere you call,” he said. “It’s kind of backwards. So they got to step up and do something. We’re not the only ones in this situation.”
In an emailed statement to CBC News on Wednesday, a representative of the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation said they couldn’t speak directly to Osmond’s case, but that bringing animals to shelters isn’t always possible — even if Bebe was a registered service dog.
“Accepting animals into emergency shelters is not straightforward. While some people need them, others have allergies to them or fear them, and animals without proper training can be disruptive … it is not always possible,” the statement said.
The email also said the provincial government is committed to new social housing in western Newfoundland, citing six units already under construction and an awarded tender for 20 more in Corner Brook.
Jade Kearley, a Corner Brook-based housing advocate and interagency co-ordinator with the Community Mental Health Initiative, said Osmond’s case shows the impact a lack of housing stock is having on the region.
“With the low supply, it means that there’s high rental rates. And so it’s becoming really unaffordable for many families,” Kearley said.
“[My] first thoughts are very sad. And, you know, it’s not uncommon.”
Osmond said his search for a place to live will continue, noting that it would be hard to leave Pasadena given his son’s connection to the community.
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