No matter your home or lifestyle, you can help your pets stay happy, healthy and safe.
At RSPCA NSW, we believe that pets are valued members of the family and that the best shelter for an animal is in a safe and healthy home.
We know every home is different, and every family unique, but one thing remains true of every household: with the right knowledge and support, anyone can create an environment where pets can feel safe, healthy, stimulated, socially connected, and free from fear or distress.
Whether you live in a house, an apartment, a home you own, or a rental property, there are several ways to ensure you’re meeting your pet’s physical, emotional, behavioural, and social needs.
We also understand that for many people, accessing stable housing can be a challenge. This is especially true for those renting with pets. In NSW, laws have been changed to support pet guardians living in rental accommodation, meaning more families can continue to benefit from life with their animal companions.
We believe that anyone who can give an animal a safe and healthy home should be able to welcome a pet into their lives. In NSW, laws were changed to support those living in rental accommodation with their pets. This page covers the far-reaching benefits of the human and animal bond, and why it’s so important to keep devoted carers and their companion animals together.
Every animal needs certain things to feel happy, healthy, and safe. Learning what your pet likes and helping them avoid things they find scary or unpleasant can improve their wellbeing and make them safer to live with. Happier animals are easier to live with and safer to be around, both within your household and as part of our wider community.
RSPCA NSW believes that the bond between people and animals is mutually beneficial, which is why we were delighted that NSW laws were changed to support those living in rental accommodation with their pets. This page provides information about how you can can create a home that meets the needs of your pet, your family and your community.
‘Animal sentience’ is the ability of an animal to feel positive and negative emotions and to think, learn, and experience the world around them. Sentience is the reason animals care about what is happening to them and around them. Learn more about why animal sentience matters here.
At RSPCA NSW, we see the daily benefits that animals bring to our lives and as pets increasingly become part of Australian neighbourhoods, it’s natural that they also become part of the everyday sounds of a thriving community. However, we understand that living with or near people who have pets can sometimes be challenging. This page offers advice about navigating these challenges with compassion and kindness.
As a tenant under NSW law, you must apply to your landlord for consent to keep a pet using the standard pet application form and the landlord must respond within 21 days. A landlord can only refuse consent for certain reasons.
You can read more on this process and your rights on the NSW Government website here:
Open communication about your pet with landlords and neighbours is an important step in easing worries and concerns. Explain how you manage behaviours (e.g., training for anxiety or barking), how you’ll ensure your pet doesn’t interfere with peace and quiet, and how you’ll address any issues quickly and respectfully should they arise. Invite them to chat to you if they are concerned in the future.
Learn more about how to navigate challenges that may arise with compassion and kindness here: https://www.rspcansw.org.au/information-and-advice/living-with-pets/pets-as-neighbours/
As an animal carer you are responsible for your animal’s physical and emotional wellbeing, which includes:
You can read about our five domains of animal welfare to ensure the wellbeing of our animal companions below:
Five Domains – RSPCA New South Wales
For more information and advice, including caring for animals, you can read more here:
Information and Advice – RSPCA New South Wales
Understanding your animal’s needs means recognising that every animal requires certain things to feel healthy, happy, and safe. Good welfare goes beyond meeting an animal’s basic needs. It also includes being healthy, having the opportunity to do the things they enjoy, being able to avoid the things they don’t, and living in a safe and caring home.
To learn more about meeting the needs of dogs, cats and small animals, visit our link below:
Meeting Your Pet’s Needs | How to Support Safe, Healthy & Happy Pets | RSPCA NSW
Enrichment can help your pet stay both mentally and physically fit. Simple ideas include:
You can read all about this on our enrichment page via the link below:
You can find advice on renting with animals on our below pages:
The NSW Government also has dedicated information and resources. You can read more here:
Keeping a pet in a rental property | NSW Government
Yes, but only for specific reasons.
Under NSW tenancy law, tenants must apply for pet approval using the standard pet request form. The landlord must respond within 21 days and can only refuse on limited, reasonable grounds (such as the property being unsuitable for that type of animal).
For more information visit NSW Government – Keeping a pet in a rental property.
You can only be evicted for a pet if you:
Eviction must follow the proper legal process.
For more information visit NSW Government – Keeping a pet in a rental property
RSPCA NSW rehomes a range of different animals, from dogs, cats, and birds to horses, rabbits, and sheep! We believe that all creatures, great and small, can bring joy to our families and homes. Begin your adoption journey today and make an adorable lifelong friend!
By providing temporary homes for our animals, we can ensure they get the care they need until they are ready to be adopted. Join our network of foster carers for an incredibly rewarding experience; with your help, we can change the lives of some of the state’s most vulnerable animals.
We rely on our generous supporters to continue assisting the thousands of animals turning to RSPCA NSW for help. No matter how small your contribution, every gift makes a lifesaving difference for animals in need.
By raising funds and lending a hand to communities and their pets, our volunteers play a pivotal role in our work throughout NSW. If you have a genuine concern for animals and enjoy meeting like-minded people, consider becoming an RSPCA NSW volunteer today!
