WA rental crisis sees pets surrendered to shelters and belongings sent to storage

An acute shortage of rental properties and an end to moratorium on rent increases and evictions has forced many families to surrender their pets and stash their possessions as they search for somewhere to stay.

Karen Rhodes, the president of Perth’s Shenton Park Dog Refuge, told ABC Radio Perth’s Stan Shaw there had been a sharp increase in people seeking to surrender their pets.

“The rent has gone up, they have to move and they can’t find a rental that allows them to have a dog,” Ms Rhodes said.

“They have tried family…