Australia is a nation of pet owners, but as our cities grow do we have room for our furry friends? Mirvac and RSPCA have hatched a plan to make life easier for pets and their owners.
Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world. According to the RSPCA, 64 per cent of us own one of the more than of the 24 million pets in Australia.
Even more Australians would like a pet, but say high density living is their biggest barrier, according to Mivac’s head of residential, Stuart Penklis.
“We know more people are living in apartments and want to welcome a pet into their lives, but many urban spaces just aren’t set up for animals,” Penklis says.
“What we found from speaking to our customers was a real need for an expert service tailored especially for pets and their owners.”
Mirvac and animal welfare charity RSPCA NSW are trialling a new Pet Concierge service with qualified vet nurses operating from The Social Corner café at Mirvac and Landcom’s Green Square development.
The idea emerged from Mirvac’s innovation team Hatch, which set out to explore how to make built environments more desirable.
Leya Hubbard, lead innovator at Mirvac, says her team’s research found pet owners were increasingly prepared to go to great lengths for their pet.
“We are seeing from our customers that their ‘fur babies’ are very much part of their lives – Pet Concierge is a way we can make life a little easier for pets and their owners.”
RSPCA NSW’s chief executive officer, Steve Coleman, says the trial is a “convenient solution that gives time-poor pet owners peace of mind”.
“If you get stuck in the office and need someone to feed your pet, or you need your dog walked, fed, or even just a spot clean, then our experts are situated in-house and just a phone call away.”
Zetland local Nathan Bennett and his partner Heidi Carr are taking advantage of the Pet Concierge for their pampered pooch Romeo.
“Romeo can be very particular about his environment and we find when we go away it’s really far better for him to stay at home and have people visit. Previously we have been relying on friends and one pet-sitting service but we really like the security and peace of mind of having a service provided by the RSPCA,” Bennet says.
Mirvac’s Pet Concierge follows reforms to Victoria’s Residential Tenancies Act, which will give renters greater freedom to own pets from July 2020. Other states are looking to follow suit.
Pet Concierge is available to Green Square residents, as well as pet owners in the wider community. RSPCA NSW and Mirvac will evaluate the pilot and assess whether it can be rolled out across other Mirvac developments.