Man asks Lily Savage to save his Shih Tzu dog
DOG lover Lily Savage has been asked to step in and help a Tewkesbury man keep his pet.
Paul Regan, who has been told by his landlord to re-home his shih tzu, has turned to former drag star Paul O'Grady for help in keeping his pooch.
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DOG LOVER: Paul O'Grady as Lily Savage
He has written to the TV star, best known for his acid-tongued alter ego Lily Savage, who now presents ITV's weekly For the Love of Dogs programme. It follows O'Grady's experience looking into the work at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
Mr Regan, left disabled from the effect of suffering two strokes, revealed he had approached the TV star for help after the deadline for him to re-home his dog passed on Tuesday.
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Earlier this month, Severn Vale Housing Society gave him until September 18 to stop keeping two-year-old Smokey in his flat in Queen's Road, Prior's Park.
It does not allow pets in blocks of flats that have communal areas, for hygiene reasons. Mr Regan has ignored the order because he says his dog provides him with vital companionship.
In his letter, Mr Regan said: "I know you are a dog lover. I really do hope you can give me some publicity, backing and any advice on a way forward to save my dog and companion from the grip of bureaucrats who have no understanding or compassion for disabled pet owners."
His landlord has already warned him that it will take him to court if he continues to breach his tenancy agreement.
When setting Tuesday's deadline, it told him that he could lose his home and even be sent to prison over the matter.
But Mr Regan is adamant he will keep fighting the matter and said he plans to have his day in court if he receives a summons.
Severn Vale's housing manager, Claudia Cobban, said: "As a responsible landlord, we are simply enforcing our pet policy which Mr Regan accepted on sign-up to the property.
"Customers were involved in developing and approving the policy, which applies fairly to all customers.
"A housing officer will be visiting Mr Regan next week to check whether he has complied with his tenancy conditions, and if necessary discussing any further steps."
Comments
by spindles12
Sunday, September 23 2012, 8:06PM
“TimMessanger quote:- "They're also susceptible to heat stroke because of their breading and like a bit of coprophagia!"
Isn't it funny that someone can spell coprophagia (eating faeces) and can't spell breeding! I'll assume it was a typing error.”
by Eggybred
Sunday, September 23 2012, 6:27PM
“Isn't there some funky regulation that states no contract is allowed to contain unfair terms? So a tenancy agreement cannot contain outright bans of keeping pets because it creates a significant imbalance in the rights and obligations of the parties, to the detriment of the consumer (I'm reading from the OFT site!)
So could it not be argued that he has the right to appeal and put forth his case? I'm not saying he'll win or that it's right to keep a dog in his flat, I'm just interested in the law of it.”
by TimMessanger
Sunday, September 23 2012, 4:42PM
“IsitJimKerr........................ It's a toy dog get over it! They're also susceptible to heat stroke because of their breading and like a bit of coprophagia!”
by IsitJimKerr
Sunday, September 23 2012, 4:16PM
“TimMessanger..................I was with you till the last six words. You are a d!ck.”
by dontyaknow
Saturday, September 22 2012, 9:10PM
“MissyMadDog - As where he lives has no communal areas, he is not allowed to keep a dog. Simple. This is what it says in his tenancy agreement, that he agreed to and signed BEFORE getting a dog. Perhaps the people you know in Severn Vale houses with pets have communal areas or gardens.
Severn Vale will now have the cost of taking him to court where as it could have spent the money elsewhere. This is a prime example of a selfish person. My guess is that he is simply bored and seeking attention.
Also I agree with honslknjklyt completely. Double yellow lines are there for a reason. People should not be allowed to park on them - disabled or not. I would far rather we had more allocated disabled bays near to town and city centres. Car parks appear to be half empty, so why not have a few more disabled spaces.
I have seen some people parked in stupid places, and the excuse that they are disabled just doesn't wash with me. Parking on corners or junctions just shows a lack of common sense and really should be stopped.”
by TimMessanger
Saturday, September 22 2012, 5:35PM
“Can't get my way - goto the papers.
still no joy - write to someone famous and then goto the papers.
SAD!
Anyways a Shih Tzu isn't a real dog.”
by MissyMadDog
Saturday, September 22 2012, 4:59PM
“Severn Vale say their pet policy "applies fairly to all customers", well it obviously doesn't does it. Enforce this policy on all tenants who have pets or even better, scrap it.”
by EllJay1
Saturday, September 22 2012, 2:54PM
“MissyMadDog - he's not being singled out, it's part of his tenancy agreement.”
by MissyMadDog
Saturday, September 22 2012, 12:47PM
“I don't understand why this gentleman is being singled out. I'm unaware of all the facts to this case, but I do know there are loads of Severn Vale housing tenants who have pets, some I know personally and they don't seem to have had a problem with Severn Vale concerning the keeping of pets.
As for keeping a dog in a flat being cruel, what nonsense. Of course having access to a garden is better, but as long as the dog is walked regularly, gets plenty of excercise and looked after properly, then they're fine. Mine's very happy and contented and I live in a flat.”
by honslknjklyt
Saturday, September 22 2012, 12:35PM
“I disagree that keeping a dog in a flat without a garden is "extremely cruel". Does the author of that statement know the meaning of "extremely" and "cruel"? The overuse of the word "extreme" leaves you with no word to use when something is "extreme",just like the word hero - so overused, who do we now describe a hero?
Back on topic, yes, it is preferable that their be a garden but plenty of dogs can be happy in flats so long as they are taken out enough, to do their business and have a walk. If the owner loves the dog and the dog loves the owner there is not a problem.
However, the rules are the rules and apply to him as much as anyone else. He may think he is a special case but so does everyone. Someone who has lived in a flat may become bereaved and a dog can be a great help but the rules would apply to them too. What is the point of rules if they only apply to certain ones.
We see the bending of the rules for disabled drivers and look how they park on yellow lines and where no-one else apart from foreign cars would be allowed to. We would get tickets, yet they park for as long as they like, right by corners - because they are special!
Rules have to be equal. I would think the best course of action would be to move and find a place to accomodate him and the dog. It is sad but perhaps he should concentrate more on getting the council to change the rules by campaigning after he has rehomed the dog so that others can benefit from his legacy should he be successful.
Dogs can be a great help in all manner of illnesses.”