A Dunedin woman in discussion with Housing New Zealand over keeping two "slipper-sized'' dogs says vulnerable people are put under unacceptable pressure by the system.
Sylvie Kaos lives in a HNZ house with her three children, Kesi, Onawa and Anton Tobeck.
She said one of the miniature dogs - a Pomeranian-Chihuahua crossbreed named Pikachu - had lived with the family for the past few years without any problems.
It was when she took in a second dog - Chihuahua-dachshund cross Olly - about a month ago, that the situation became more complex.
In the process of gaining the correct council-related paperwork to be allowed to have two dogs, Ms Kaos ran up against the need to have "sign-off'' from her landlord (HNZ).
She said that during discussions with her HNZ tenancy manager, she was told that insisting on keeping both dogs could put her tenancy "at risk''.
After further inquiries, Ms Kaos said she had received a letter from HNZ area manager Kate Milton, saying that HNZ would be able to proceed with written consent for the first dog. At that time, there was no further mention of the second dog.
"I had wanted to get a second dog for a while, because Pikachu is joined at the heart with Kesi and they spend all of their time together,'' Ms Kaos said.
"Olly has been a perfect companion for the other two children - and they have come to absolutely rely on him.''
All three of the children had anxiety issues and two were affected by sensory issues, she said.
Ms Kaos has a letter of support from Youth Specialty Services regarding the importance of the dogs to her three children's emotional wellbeing.
Housing New Zealand area manager Kate Milton said Ms Kaos had been granted permission for one dog and was invited last week to apply for permission for the second dog.
Ms Kaos was asked to provide supporting documentation about any medical or health needs.
"We have not yet received her application but when we do, it will be fully assessed,'' Ms Milton said.
Depending on the outcome of the assessment, the tenancy manager would give the tenant written permission to keep the dog.
"We do not want to be unreasonable and the last thing we want to do is cause distress for any of our tenants or for it to lead to a bad outcome for the animal,'' she said.
Ms Kaos said she hoped for a positive outcome to the situation, but raised concerns over the pressure that could be put on vulnerable people by government departments.
"Many people would be too scared of losing their tenancy to take the issue any further, and that is what concerns me.
"People like myself are already under huge pressure, trying to negotiate the education and medical systems, while struggling to make ends meet.
Ms Milton said that like most landlords, HNZ generally did not allow dogs in its properties.
HNZ did permit certified hearing or sight dogs as well as disability assist dogs to be kept. Dogs which were seen as being important to therapy for mental illness or other chronic health conditions were also allowed.
BRENDA.HARWOOD @thestar.co.nz