Written by Tracy McQuarrie, Managing Director of Barking Mad
Imagine being forced to choose between the roof over your head and the loyal companion who’s stood by you through life’s toughest storms. This is the devastating reality faced by countless South Africans when housing complexes, retirement villages, or landlords impose no-pet policies. Families are torn apart. Elderly people lose the very reason they get up in the morning. And beloved dogs and cats, who already have homes and love, end up behind shelter gates, bewildered, heartbroken, and stressed.
At BarkingMad, we launched the Not Without My Dog initiative because no one should ever be forced to give up their pet in order to keep a home. We believe housing policies should reflect both compassion and science, and the science is clear: pets aren’t just animals, they’re family.
The emotional bond backed by science
Research in human-animal interaction repeatedly shows that pets reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and combat loneliness. For the elderly, studies prove that living with a pet can delay cognitive decline, boost mobility, and provide vital social connection. For families, children with pets often show higher empathy and resilience.
When corporate bodies or retirement facilities enforce “no-pet” rules, they aren’t just separating people from animals. They’re severing a scientifically proven lifeline of well-being.
The hidden cost: shelters flooded with pets that already have families
Every time a family is forced to surrender a pet due to housing restrictions, it adds another dog or cat to already overcrowded shelters. These are not strays; they’re deeply loved animals with people willing to care for them. But suddenly, those pets find themselves in kennels surrounded by unfamiliar smells and sounds.
No matter how wonderful a shelter is – and we know shelters work tirelessly – science tells us that animals experience stress in these environments. Cortisol levels rise, anxiety increases, and behaviours often deteriorate. Dogs that once thrived in a family home begin to shut down, pacing endlessly or barking in distress. The trauma of separation is real.
And for the people left behind? The grief is immense. Studies compare the forced loss of a pet to bereavement. Families live with guilt and sorrow, knowing their beloved companion is behind bars simply because of outdated or inflexible housing policies.
Keeping families together is a community issue
Our Not Without My Dog campaign is about more than compassion, it’s about practical, evidence-based change. We bring together scientific studies, case research, and global best practice to show corporate bodies, housing complexes, and retirement villages that pet-inclusive policies don’t lead to chaos.
In fact, they lead to happier residents, healthier communities, and less pressure on animal shelters.
We work hand in hand with housing developers, trustees, and managers to develop frameworks that balance community needs with the undeniable truth: people and pets belong together.
We believe in keeping families together wherever possible. That’s why alongside policy advocacy, BarkingMad runs the Home-to-Home programme. This initiative helps families rehome pets directly to other loving homes when life circumstances change, ensuring fewer animals enter shelters at all. It’s compassionate, efficient, and far kinder for the animal. www.barkingmadinc.org
We cannot do this alone. Every voice, every share, every supporter matters. By standing with us, you are saying:
No family should be torn apart because of housing rules.
No elderly person should lose their only companion in their final years.
No shelter should be filled with pets who already have loving homes.
How you can help
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Take the Survey: Add your voice to our Not Without My Dog Housing Survey. The more stories and data we collect, the stronger our case to present to housing complexes and retirement bodies.
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Give Monthly: Reliable monthly donations give us the stability to continue advocating, educating, and running programmes like Home-to-Home. Every R50 ensures more families stay together and fewer pets suffer in shelters.
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Share Your Story: If you’ve ever been affected by “no pet” rules, your story matters. Help us show the real human cost.
Your support allows us to continue advocating with housing bodies, running awareness campaigns, and presenting science-backed evidence that drives real change. Together, we can create a South Africa where “No Pets Allowed” becomes a thing of the past. Because when families say Not Without My Dog, what they really mean is Not Without My Family.
Contact:
info@notwithoutmydog.co.za
www.notwithoutmydog.co.za
We’re Better Together
Pet and Shelter Support
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