{
  "abstract": "Background People experiencing homelessness have a profound bond with their pet. Pets can reduce loneliness, depression, criminal activity, substance misuse, and even self-harm in this population. In the UK, very few temporary homelessnessaccommodation providers accept pets. Faced with the decision to accept shelter or surrender their pet, most people choose to refuse shelter. Remaining homeless is linked to worsening physical, mental, and social health. There is little research exploring stakeholders’ experiences of having pets in housing, including how barriers and challenges to this can be managed in practice. This study aimed to explore the implementation of pet-friendly policies in UK temporary accommodation services to inform pet-policy guidance.Methods We conducted a qualitative study, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Participants were recruited through our practice partners’ networks and were sampled on accommodation pet-acceptance status (accommodation staff), pet-ownership status (accommodation residents), accommodation type and geographical location. Interviews with residents were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Interviews with professionals were analysed using Framework analysis. First, interviews were coded inductively, and then deductively by mapping codes onto the Theoretical Domains Framework (domains in paratheses in Results).Results We conducted interviews with 34 participants from across the UK (13 residents, 19 staff members, one homelessness housing commissioner and one staff member from a housing association). Residents and staff rarely encountered issues related to the presence of pets in housing. Pet owners who accessed pet-friendly housing found the pet-policies to be fair and acceptable. Staff recognised that providing care to residents encompassed supporting their relationship with their pet (Professional role and identity). They believed that enabling people to access housing with their pets ultimately helped with their transition from homelessness (Beliefs about consequences). Having pets in housing was perceived to add negligible time and burden to staff workload. One main barrier to pet-acceptance was insufficient space and inappropriate building infrastructure (Environmental context and resources). Professionals described approaches taken to manage challenges of pet-acceptance including having residents/staff fearful of, or allergic to, animals and poor animal welfare (Knowledge and Skills).Conclusion The risks and costs of housing pets in temporary homelessness accommodation are minimal and are outweighed by the benefits to residents. With the appropriate measures, space and infrastructure, accommodation services can be pet-friendly in a way that respects the needs and wellbeing of residents, staff and animals. Pet-acceptance can be enhanced by providing accommodation providers with support to develop and implement pet-policies.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Applied Research Collaboration (North East and North Cumbria), National Institute for Health and Care Research, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK",
        "Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Mackenzie Fong"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "VetPartners Ltd, VetPartners Ltd, York, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Jenny Stavisky"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Street Paws, Street Paws, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Michelle Southern"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Street Paws, Street Paws, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Penny Delaney"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "StreetVet, StreetVet, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Zoe Abbotts"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Steven Brown"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Letitia Sermin-Reed"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Ryc Aquino"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Together Through Homelessness, Dogs Trust, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Harriet Page"
    }
  ],
  "title": "OP20 ‘My dog is my home’: enhancing pet-acceptance in temporary homelessness accommodation services in the UK",
  "uid": "338c0c58-13bb-5357-8dd3-2266cdc2d93b"
}