Compass Housing forces teen to rehome beloved Jack Russell pet

Teenager Max Heffernan is facing Christmas without his best friend Skout after a “social justice” housing commission became the grinch.

Max Heffernan is facing Christmas without his best friend Skout after a “social justice” housing commission became the grinch.

Max, 15, and his mum Scherie Gambin have been told they can’t keep their beloved Jack Russell in their new apartment.

Seven-year-old Skout has been Max’s “rock” and his GP and a psychologist have provided references stating that he needs Skout as a companion animal as he battles complex anxiety and depression.

A neighbour in their new housing complex in Newcastle has complained so Skout has to go - while other tenants can keep their cats.

Teenager Max Heffernan faces Christmas without his beloved dog Scout because his landlord says the Jack Russell has to go. Picture: Supplied

“Skout gives me a reason to get up in the morning, he gets me motivated,” Max, who has been admitted to hospital a number of times, said on Wednesday.

“I have to take care of this thing that loves me. He is part of our family, he is gorgeous.”

Single mum Ms Gambin, 47, and Max had been homeless for six months before being offered the apartment build by Compass Housing. They had to move from their last home when the owner decided to sell and were unable to compete with the 50-plus applications for every unit they saw during the Covid pandemic.

She is terrified of losing her new home but is heartbroken at having to give Skout away to a friend. He is now going to be registered as a companion animal.

“I was ecstatic to have a home. I got all emotional,” the hairdresser said.

Ms Gambin said Skout was quiet, there is a big balcony with their apartment and he is taken for walks regularly. When she asked if Skout could visit her son to keep his mental health balanced, Compass said no.

“Compass offers a counsellor who checks with new tenants and she is a lovely lady. We asked her if we could have a pet and she said it was really a grey area and it’s not yes or no. We took it as a yes,” she said.

Compass campaigns for “social justice” and states on its website that it manages social housing in a similar manner to state government provided social housing. Dogs are allowed in state housing if it is suitable.

Dog owners were celebrating when the Court of Appeal ruled last year that blanket bans on pets in strata housing were in breach of NSW strata laws because such a ban was “harsh, unconscionable or oppressive” after Jo Cooper spent an estimated $200,000 on legal fees fighting to keep her schnauzer Angus in the Horizon tower in Darlinghurst.

But the situation with renters remains unclear and Compass Housing would not comment on whether it would reconsider its policy to save Scout.

A spokeswoman for Compass Housing said the application for a dog was declined due to the unsuitability of the property and there was not any “formal certification” that he is a registered companion animal.

She said that had Ms Gambin mentioned the dog when she applied for tenancy “staff would have discussed other properties that may better suit the family to accommodate their pet”.

The Daily Telegraph is waiting for a reply on why cats are allowed.