05/19/2021
LES ANIMAUX, VICTIMES DE LA CRISE DU LOGEMENT đ
On a beaucoup parlĂ© de la vague dâadoptions engendrĂ©e par la pandĂ©mie, et nombreux sont celles et ceux qui craignent que des animaux achetĂ©s impulsivement soient bientĂŽt abandonnĂ©s. Mais cette crise apprĂ©hendĂ©e en cache une autre: celle des dĂ©mĂ©nagements et des nombreuses familles incapables de trouver un logement qui accepte leur animal.
Pourtant, un foyer sur deux au QuĂ©bec vit avec un animal. Les personnes les mieux nanties rĂ©ussissent parfois Ă sâen sortir en nĂ©gociant avec leur propriĂ©taire ou en accĂ©dant Ă la propriĂ©tĂ©. Mais ce sont les familles les moins privilĂ©giĂ©es qui sont les plus touchĂ©es en raison du nombre de logements limitĂ©.
Comme dans le cas de bien dâautres problĂšmes de sociĂ©tĂ©, on a tendance Ă pointer du doigt les gestes individuels plutĂŽt que les causes systĂ©miques. Ă traiter de « sans cĆur » les personnes qui sont contraintes de confier leur animal Ă des refuges alors quâelles sont simplement victimes dâinjustice.
ConfrontĂ© Ă un problĂšme semblable, le gouvernement de lâOntario a rĂ©agi en adoptant, dans les annĂ©es 1990, une loi invalidant toute clause interdisant la possession dâanimaux dans les logements locatifs. La SPCA de MontrĂ©al rĂ©pĂšte depuis longtemps que le QuĂ©bec doit suivre cet exemple.
Des solutions permettant de sortir de cette crise existent. Il sâagit simplement de faire preuve de solidaritĂ© et de considĂ©rer les animaux comme des membres de la famille Ă part entiĂšre. Pour en savoir plus : www.spca.com/les-animaux-victimes-de-la-crise-du-logement/
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ANIMALS, VICTIMS OF THE HOUSING CRISIS
Much has been said about the uptick in adoptions sparked by the pandemic, and many fear that these animals, often purchased impulsively, will soon be abandoned. However, this anticipated crisis is eclipsing another: that of moving season, a time of the year when many families who have not found an animal-friendly new home are forced to abandon their companion animal.
Yet, half of Quebec households have an animal. The more fortunate among them are able to come to an agreement with their landlord, while others just buy a home. Unfortunately, not everyone is so privileged: low-income families are most affected by no-pet clauses, given the limited availability of housing options.
As with many other social problems, there is a tendency to point the finger at individual actions rather than to systematic causes. People who are forced to relinquish their animal companions to shelters are treated as heartless, when they are actually the victims of injustice.
Faced with a similar issue in the mid-1990s, the Government of Ontario adopted a law invalidating any clause prohibiting the possession of animals in rental housing. The Montreal SPCA has long advocated for Quebec to follow this example.
Solutions to this crisis do exist. Landlords could simply show solidarity with animal-loving renters and consider their animals to be full-fledged family members. Read more: www.spca.com/en/animals-victims-of-the-housing-crisis/
