Not allowing my dog

Take then home. You can visit the dog day as you say and havi mg your own place is so vital.

Louella12

I'd live in a tent on the beach if my dogs weren't able to live with me.

I would never leave them

I doubt you'd be allowed!

That's not really a fair thing to say to an older woman who is homeless.

If I was in Scarlettsnan's position I would accept the almshouse even though I dearly love my dog. It is more important that she has a secure roof over her head for the rest of her life. It does sound as though her daughter will keep the dog at her own home and she will be able to see her frequently.

If your DD is willing to look after your dog you should count your blessings. You have the offer of a nice home and you won’t really be giving up your dog.

Win Win!

I'd be homeless then, Callistemon

I do have experience of this, many many minds ago.

I would never leave my dogs. I wouldn't be able to live

Honestly, unless you have experienced that, you cannot say for certain what you would do.

Louella12

I'd be homeless then, Callistemon

I do have experience of this, many many minds ago.

I would never leave my dogs. I wouldn't be able to live

I do have experience of this, many many minds ago

I'm sorry if you were living on the streets, it must be worse for a woman too.

The almshouse sounds great. I think you should accept it. You’ve said yourself you can visit your dog every day and she is happy with your daughter. Maybe one or two nights a week you could stay over to get your evening cuddles.

Well, in this instance, it’s not about you Louella12, though I do empathise with you. However, it was me and my two very young children when I became homeless. Scarlettsnan, I hope you take advice from GSM and others here, and approach your landlord and/or local councillor to see if you could keep your little, inoffensive dog with you.

They can’t make one rule for one and not another though
It is either a rule or not a rule Patsy I think if your daughter will keep her and you are close enough that’s your answer You can take her out for walks and be with her most of the day I understand evenings won’t be the same but ……

And she can stay over at her daughters too I would imagine. As long as the daughter is happy to keep the dog it’s the best of both worlds. I think a heart to heart with the daughter is called for: how happy is she to keep the dog there, how does she feel about her mum living with her indefinitely if she turns the alms house accommodation down etc etc.

I think the first thing is to have a chat with your daughter and if she is willing to have the dog then I think you should definitely take the almshouse. It will take some getting used to but having a lovely home of your own will help and you will see your little dog everyday. I wouldn’t try to bend the rules, not fair on your neighbours who may have had similar issues to face. It would be so difficult to leave my cat but my DD loves him and I know he’d be happy with her. Please come back and tell us how it goes.

louella Same. They are my life

nanny2507

louella Same. They are my life

Are you homeless too, nanny2507?

I always feel sorry for dogs I see living on the streets with their owners.

Does the DD want to continue to house her mother and/or the dog? Scarlettsnan may need to move out of her DD’s house with or without the dog.

I would definitely take the property as you need to think in the long term. I would be broken to have to leave my dog but if it is the only chance you have of having your own home you may need to think this way. It is not going to be easy for you but if you can see your dog every day and still walk and care for it the parting may not be as painful. As already said if you pass up this opportunity and something was to happen to your dog you would be homeless and without your dog. I wish you well with whatever decision it is you make and send a big hug as I feel it for you.

Take the home, it looks lovely. You can visit the dog and the dog can visit you, so it’s not like you will, ever see her again. Don’t try and bend the rules, it will get your neighbours backs up. A pet dog isn’t the same as a trained assistance dog for a specified condition e.g. a guide dog, so the managers do not have any legal requirement to allow pet dogs in their properties.

I agree with those saying you should take the house. Shelter is a primary need. If I had had to give up a dog to get a house I would be very resentful if a neighbour brought hers, and any suggestion that this is ok because she ‘just couldn’t leave the dog’ or that the bond was greater than that between me and mine would make it worse. I think you’d be guaranteed to have problems if you break a rule like that.

It’s lovely that your daughter can take him, and that you can visit regularly. You have an option there that many don’t, and I would take it. To be blunt, an eight year old dog is unlikely to outlive you, and you could have decades ahead to enjoy your lovely home.

What luck to be offered a home so close to your daughter . It could have been miles away. You can ask but if
the no pets rule was broken for you then everyone else woukd expect the same or resent you fir having a pet when they can’t.
You could have been offered somewhere miles away with much less opportunity to see your dog. but you can see yours every day. I think you have been very lucky. Enjoy your new home.

I agree with Silverlining. This is a golden opportunity for you. Your dog will be nearby and you can see them every day.

In almshouses you have a licence to occupy. With fewer rights than tenants.
Do not put it at risk by breaking the rules.

The sensible solution would be to dog share if your daughter is up for it. So long as the dog isn’t actually ‘living there’ you might get away with it. You have your little Bichon during the day and your daughter at night?

Then if the new law comes into force you should be ok.

Congratulations on being offered a place at an almshouse but please don't try to challenge or bend the rules. Not only would that be likely to antagonise the other residents but is unfair on them too. There will be others who have made difficult decisions about pets and there could be people with allergies. Not everyone wants to live in close proximity with dogs or cats. and almshouses are more communal than most sheltered housing. It seems to me that you have a perfect solution with easy access to your much loved pet and your dog having the stability of staying in a place she knows and having he company of other pets while seeing you regularly. Your new home looks lovely!

You can understand the ruling about dogs - they have to take the comfort of all the residents into account - and it is not uncommon for an elderly resident to gradually become less able to meet the dog's needs, and then you have a frustrated cooped up dog barking. I was a social worker and dealing with people's pets could be a problem. They were defaecating on small communal garden areas.

Go for the housing if it suits your needs. They are being very good allowing the dog to visit. Sounds like a very good compromise.

UPDATE
After much soul-searching and lots of tears, I have decided to take the house.
My dog is very happy here we have been here two years She is surrogate mum to my daughters Little cava poo and I think it may distress them more if they’re separated.
I see my daughter every day because I provide childcare for her. The only difference would be overnight. I would be on my own in my own house.
I love my dog dearly, but I’m also practical and sensible enough to know that this opportunity will never come my way again
Thank you so much for all your replies. You have given me the courage to move forward and make this decision.

Well done Scarlettsnan I wish you health and happiness in your new home!