Campaign to allow Longridge woman to keep dog (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Campaign to allow Longridge woman to keep dog

8:00pm Saturday 28th July 2012 in News

A DISABLED mum has been told she must get rid of her pet chihuaha or face eviction.

Elizabeth Procter, 50, took three-year-old Finney into her home after he was abandoned and at risk of being put down.

The property is rented from housing association Ribble Valley Homes, who have sent Ms Procter a letter telling her that because the flats in her building share an exit, it is outside the terms of her tenancy agreement to keep the dog.

Ms Procter, who lives with her full-time carer and daughter Jessica, 19, has a double curvature of the spine, which is causing injury to her left hip and making it very difficult for her to get out.

She also suffers from mental health problems and said that Finney helped to cheer her up and keep her company.

She said: “If I am a bit upset, Finney comes and sits on my knee, he knows when I am not feeling great.”

“My GP has even given a letter to the housing association saying how important he is for my health.

“He is really tiny and perfectly trained and has become part of our family now. Everybody loves him.

“He is really loveable and extremely loyal. He follows my daughter around like a little lost sheep, he is so sweet.”

Ms Procter, of Bleasdale Court, Longridge, has set up an online petition to present to Ribble Valley Homes, which had been signed by 109 people yesterday.

She said she would be devastated if Finney had to leave.

She said: “I will be gutted if he has to go.

“My daughter said that if he does go, she will go too, and then I will have lost my carer.

“We will be absolutely heartbroken, he is just so good for us.”

Christine Grimshaw, managing director at Ribble Valley Homes, said: “The tenancy agreement does not permit pets and all residents are asked to re-home their pets as part of the agreement for residency.

“Ribble Valley Homes has the same policy for all schemes which have communal entrances and exits.

“We understand that people are very attached to their pets so this policy is made very clear before the tenancy is agreed.

“We are sympathetic to Ms Proctor’s situation, however, we cannot make exceptions to these regulations on an individual basis.”