Ballito – unfriendly pet town?
People in Ballito have had major problems finding pet friendly accomodation
Ballito has been called “the pet unfriendly town” after many pet owning people and families have had a hard time finding a home that allows them to share the space with their animals.
After an overwhelming response from residents on the North Coast Courier’s Facebook page, it is evident that many in the community feel it is a problem.
“Its very frustrating. As pet owners it is extremely difficult to find any accommodation in Ballito due to this fact. Even though there are beautiful duplexes in safe estates with adequate gardens for my two jack russells, they are not allowed,” said Marcelle Du Plessis, one of the Facebook commentators.
Another, Paula Mundell, said, “We have cats and are desperately looking for accommodation as well and it is a real problem having the pets! Seems it is not just Ballito it’s the whole Dolphin Coast and it is not just big dogs its any pets!”
Worst affected by this seem to be people looking to rent rather than buy a home in Ballito.
“It’s a massive, massive problem,” said Harcourts letting agent Cindy Johnson, “I’d say we have to turn away about eighty percent of people with pets.”
Gated estates in the area have different policies regarding pets, ranging from no pets at all in Zimbali to only owners of property, not tenants, being allowed two pets under 20 kg in the case of Seaward estate. Simbithi Eco Estate allows up to two pets of any size in free standing homes and in complexes, provided permission has been obtained by the respective body corporate, barring certain breeds known for aggressive behaviour.
Most complexes don’t allow pets for spacial issues, though other factors such as noise can be an issue as well.
So with more people looking to the security of a gated estate or complex, finding pet friendly accommodat ion can become problematic.
SPCA marketing manager and media liaison Caroline Smith said, “We get many animals coming in as a result of people needing to downsize into a complex which doesn’t allow or doesn’t have space for their pets,” though she stressed that this is not isolated to Ballito, but is a problem across the country.
