Two-thirds of Nova Scotians have a pet, compared to just 55 percent nationally. So why is it so difficult to find a place to live that will allow our 4 legged friends to live with us? Some places even state that they are "pet friendly" then turn around and say they only allow cats and/or rabbits. What about those who need a service dog and can't wait for application approval, or are constantly turned away due to high demand? The only other option would be to adopt a dog, then have it trained or train it yourself. But how can that be done if you're not allowed to own one?

Not only is it extremely difficult to find a pet-friendly living space, but it's also extremely difficult to find a pet-friendly living space that is affordable. Most of them end up costing an arm and a leg.

If we were to allow more, actual, pet-friendly living places that are actually affordable, we could easily see a drop in mental health issues and physical/mental health-related deaths. Higher survival rates, fewer heart attacks, less loneliness, better blood pressure, better psychological well-being, lower rates of depression and stress levels, fewer doctor visits, increased self-esteem, better sleep, and more physical activity, are just some of the recorded benefits of pet ownership.