Results from the Dogs Trust charity’s nationwide survey into the problems of renting with pets, (Renting With Pets Survey) showed that 75 percent of dogs have been excluded from rented accommodation.

The UK Pets organisation, reporting on the findings on its website www.ukpets.co.uk, says the Dog Trust fears this could not come at a worse time as the country faces the threat of recession.

With increasing numbers forced to downsize or rent property there is a real risk that thousands of pets may be abandoned or handed over to rehoming organisations, says the charity.

Several Dogs Trust rehoming centres report an increase in calls from owners requesting help with vets bills or rehoming their pet due to financial difficulties.

The June survey contacted 1,400 pet owners nationwide and the results were as follows:

1. 78 percent of pet owners experienced difficulties finding privately rented accommodation that allowed pets
2. 54 percent did not find anywhere that allowed pets so
3. 14 percent kept their pet without landlord's knowledge or consent
4. 11.4 percent rented an unsuitable property in order to keep their pet
5. 8.5 percent rehomed their pet to friends, family or a rescue centre
6. 8.2 percent bought property, did not move or are still looking
7. 0.4 percent had their pet euthanised
8. 47 percent of landlords gave tenants no reason why pets were banned
9. The UK's least pet-friendly landlords live in the West Midlands – 83 percent of pet owners had difficulty finding accommodation
10. Northern Ireland has the most pet-friendly landlords – but 66 percent of owners still have problems finding rented accommodation
11. 65 percent of cats are banned and 10 percent of private landlords ban fish

Dogs Trust is now conducting a survey on its website www.dogstrust.org.uk of landlords and letting agents to learn more about their experiences and concerns when renting their properties to pet owners.

If you are a landlord or a letting agent, we would be grateful if you could fill in our online survey today – your experiences and ideas will help us with our ‘Lets with Pets’ campaign which the organisation will be launching next year to provide advice and support to landlords, letting agents and pet owners.

Dogs Trust Chief Executive Clarissa Baldwin explained: “Pet owners who need to rent privately are being forced to live in unsuitable properties, or rent with their pets without consent from their landlord.

“We are consulting with the Association of Residential Lettings Agencies (ARLA), other professional housing bodies and letting agents to develop Lets with Pets, a UK-wide campaign encouraging landlords to accept pet-owning tenants and help owners find the elusive pet-accepting landlord.”

Information provided by www.ukpets.co.uk and www.dogstrust.org.uk.