Ben Brennan: If we insist it’s the RSPCA’s job to look after rejected pets, let’s be honest about our priorities

It’s time for Australians to be honest about what we really think the poor and lonely deserve, writes Ben Brennan.

The gall of some people.

Surely, the residential tenants of Australia realise by this point that they are second-class citizens not entitled to the basic comforts enjoyed by those of us with land.

This week we’ve learnt that the RSPCA is bursting at the seams with surrendered pets, handed over by selfish tenants, selfishly putting their family’s selfish needs for love and companionship above the wellbeing of the landlord’s low-end DIY renos.

Landlords get the final say on whether a tenant gets to keep their pet, and in South Australia’s cutthroat rental market, you won’t get a look in if you’ve got one.

Can you imagine explaining that situation to the kids? Rover has got to go because the guy who comes around every few weeks to critique the cleaning has a right to the quiet enjoyment of his profit.

It’s just the latest reason the hope of pet ownership is evaporating as fast as the dream of home ownership – those not priced out of the game are ruled out by officious rules and regulations.

Pet ownership has long been contingent on vehicle ownership – you won’t get in the door of a taxi or Uber with a pet. And virtually the only dogs allowed on public transport are there to accuse you of drug possession.

So trips to the vet are out unless you’re lucky enough to find a pet-friendly, vet-adjacent townhouse within walking distance of schools and public transport.

And, of course, the price of pet food is exploding along with the rest of the groceries, which is having a terrible effect on tenants’ abilities to fund their landlords’ retirements and property managers’ car loans.

The presence of a pet is akin to mending a motorcycle in the loungeroom to some Australian landlords. Picture: iStock

With the (welcome) decline of puppy farms, even the price of a mongrel on the open market tops $1000 these day too. Even getting a dog can be tough work in 2022.

Perhaps the time has come to admit that the age of the widower and their little Jack Russell has gone the way of the three-quarter block, living wage and holiday loading.

There was never much dignity in renting a house in Australia. The system has always been designed in a way that lets you know it’s not and will never be your home.

You can be kicked out on a whim. You can’t hang a poster with Blu Tack. You can’t drill a hole for a picture hook.

Every three months a base-model Beamer will pull up out the front for your scheduled tut-tutting for daring to leave your ironing on your couch.

But now, not content with blighting the landscape by holding back townhouse development revenue with parklands and open spaces, renters are expecting compassion too.

Victoria and the ACT have put laws on their books that attempt to protect pets and remove some of landlords’ veto powers over members of your family.

Other states are facing calls to follow suit. The Malinauskas government would do well to do likewise.

But if we insist that it’s the job of RSPCA volunteers to look after the pets rejected to minimise landlords’ carpet budgets, the least we can do is be honest about where we stand and admit that these days pets are only for people with healthy credit.

As it stands, profit comes before both pets and their people.