First National Real Estate has received strong praise from well-respected animal welfare organization, Animal Welfare League, for its innovative Pet Friendly Search feature.

According to National Communications Manager, Stewart Bunn, the network introduced the unique search feature to its member websites in an effort to help families with pets who are searching for rental properties, as well as to reduce the increasing number of animals being surrendered each year due to the lack of available pet friendly accommodation.

“The Pet Friendly Search feature has already attracted thousands of hits and with more than 4,000 cats and dogs being surrendered to AWL in South East Queensland alone last year, the AWL’s Queensland chapter were keen to recognise our efforts,” Mr Bunn said.

“With appropriate screening, tenants with good rental histories who have pets with references often take great care of their rental properties. So we believe we can help keep families and their pets together while also serving the best interests of property investors.

“Of the animals that are abandoned yearly, 23 per cent of cats and 30 per cent of dogs were surrendered due to accommodation issues, largely as a result of the lack of pet friendly accommodation.

“So, AWL was very impressed with our commitment to work towards a solution for this major community problem.”

The President of peak body, Australian Companion Animal Council (ACAC) had also congratulated First National on its proactive initiative, after animal welfare groups called on landlords and real estate agents to relax their “no pet” policies for rental properties and enable people to keep their pets.

“As our social demographics change and increased high density living and changing lifestyles are becoming the norm, a lack of understanding by landlords is creating an environment in which pet ownership is becoming increasingly more difficult,” Dr Kersti Seksel, President, ACAC said.

“Pets are wonderful companions and provide significant psychological and physiological benefits to owners.

“Australia has one of the highest levels of pet ownership per capita in the world with almost two thirds of Australian households currently owning at least one pet. With pets being treated more like ‘one of the family’ than ever before, First National is to be congratulated for making it easier for people and pets to find a home together.”
 
The Australian Veterinary Association President, Dr Mark Lawrie, echoed Dr Seksel, saying, ”We’ve fallen behind the United States and Europe in respect to the pet-friendliness of our living situations, although there are clear signs that is changing. We do need to see more inclusion of pets in our daily lives such as in cafes and on public transport as well as in our residential situations.

“It’s great to see First National taking the lead in Australia and having the vision to realise this search feature as a progressive pathway to take. We highly commend them for supporting those who value pets in their lives.”

First National have more than 100 ‘Pet Friendly’ property matches listed nationally on its national website www.firstnational.com.au