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Pets

Coco-starSenior Contributor24 Apr 2026, 4:47 pm AEST

Pets

Hey everyone

just needing some opinion - I’ve been living on my own the last 6 months

and single. I have had a bit of a destabilising last 5 years and struggling with Audhd cptsd burnout and agoraphobic tendencies. My nervous system doesn’t feel safe when low energy to go walk about on my own and I really would benefit from a small dog. Or even a cat at home to spend time with as I don’t have any local friends or family in nsw. I am a really responsible pet owner but have been in unstable housing for so long and it’s hard renting with pets. My realestate have said “no pets approved” on my contract but in nsw you can still apply and get a response from the landlord in 21 days and they can’t say no to assistance animals. I don’t want to piss my realestate off because they hate doing anything related to this property due to a split strata agreement between my neighbour and landlord.

I just want to be able to get out and walk because I’m putting on weight and becoming a bit recluse again.

Even my support co Ordinator admitted she had a secret kitten 🐱 and rents. I just don’t want to risk losing housing either.

I want to own my own land one day so I don’t have to get anyone’s approval

4 replies

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In response to: Pets

DogMan79Senior Contributor24 Apr 2026, 5:20 pm AEST

Re: Pets

Hi @Coco-star

Stable housing is certainly beneficial as far as pets are concerned

I have had unstable housing/homelessness and lost pets that way

In response to: Re: Pets

Coco-starSenior Contributor24 Apr 2026, 6:18 pm AEST

Re: Pets

@DogMan79 Im sorry to hear that, I don’t know if this is true but it feels like no one actually understands fully unless they go through homelessness too and how it affects people and mental health long term. I was in my car on and off for 6 months so nothing too terrible but definitely not by choice. And I am lucky I had my car and a good friend. I am very lucky now but very alone. I like my company but too an extent it gets a bit dull without my cat or dog

In response to: Pets

MoonGalSenior Contributor24 Apr 2026, 8:05 pm AEST

Re: Pets

Hi @Coco-star,

Wondering if you might be able to help out a senior person by walking their doggit. There might be a connection via a local vet. Just trying to think outside the box about regular time with a doggit.

As hard as it is not having a fur family, having stable accomodation without the stress of landlord hassles has to be weighed in the balance too.

🐶🐱 Moongal 🌙

In response to: Re: Pets

Coco-starSenior Contributor24 Apr 2026, 8:31 pm AEST

Re: Pets

Hey @MoonGal

Thats a good idea, I actually am already volunteering at a cattery/ dog shelter but only take care of the cats. It’s good for now but I get emotional and then come home to empty house kind of makes the empty home more pronounced. But I get to spend some time with them. I start back again in a week. Thank you for brain storming with me. It’s definitely important to weigh in landlord/ realestate decision and stability balance I agree

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