A VULNERABLE woman says she is being forced by City of York Council to rehome her dog, which she said has “given me my life back”.

Jane Stock has owned Bobby-Jay since August 2016, and said she had not previously been told she was unable to have a pet, or would need permission to have a dog at the property. Her tenancy agreement at Barstow House, a sheltered housing with extra care scheme off Nunnery Lane in York, does not state she cannot own a pet.

Mrs Stock, 60, who suffers from crumbling spine and joints, is partially paralysed, suffers from pancreatitis and has had part of her stomach removed, has had seven operations in the last two years, walks with the aid of two sticks, and uses an electric wheelchair when walking her dog.

Despite a number of other residents in the sheltered housing complex owning dogs, Mrs Stock said she had been singled out by the council and told she must get rid of Bobby-Jay, a Staffordshire bull terrier, or face being rehomed.

Mrs Stock said: “They’re trying to make me get rid of my dog even though I’ve got letters from my doctor stating my health has improved since I had her.

“She’s everything to me, she’s given me my life back. I didn’t go outside the door for over six months. She’s absolutely everything to me and I couldn’t give her up now.”

A letter from Mrs Stock’s GP, and presented to the council as part of her appeal, stated she felt “the dog benefits her mental health”, and Mrs Stock had told the doctor Bobby-Jay “improves her motivation to get out of the house, improves her mood and gives her companionship”.

Mrs Stock said: “I didn’t go out for six months after my operation and she just got me out of the house and made sure we got exercise.”

A letter from York council rejecting Mrs Stock’s appeal to keep Bobby-Jay stated that the sheltered scheme was not suitable for pets, but acknowledged “there are residents in Barstow House who have dogs but they obtained these prior to the introduction of the pets policy”.

New tenancy agreements which precludes tenants from owning dogs were apparently issued while Mrs Stock was in intensive care for 13 weeks, and so was unable to sign.

When Mrs Stock told the council she was thinking of getting a puppy in July 2016, she said she was advised she would need permission, as there was no direct access to her second-floor flat. A visiting council scheme manager discovered the puppy at Mrs Stock’s flat in October 2016, and in March this year the authority wrote to her asking her to fill out an application form for the dog. This was completed and returned within two weeks.

Mrs Stock has been told she has 28 days to rehome the dog or the council will seek legal advice.

She told The Press: “I’m going to a solicitor, which will cost me an absolute fortune.”

Kate Grandfield, housing management service manager, wrote: “Mrs Stock did not sign a new tenancy and her new tenancy did not state she cannot have a pet in the building. However, tenants were consulted regarding this policy and amendment to the tenancy agreement and were ultimately given an option to accept or to give four weeks notice.

“I am not unsympathetic to the current situation and I note Mrs Stock’s medical conditions and the doctor’s note, but I cannot grant permission for something that would be in breach of the tenancy agreement and the council’s policy. We have been clear from the outset before the dog was purchased about the council’s position and we have been clear since.”

Denis Southall, who is head of housing at the council, added: “While we cannot comment on individual cases, we can confirm that we apply our policy consistently and that all tenants must apply for permission from us, their landlord, before getting a dog.

“In general, independent living communities are not suitable for pets although we have some discretion with new tenants who already have a trained dog, tenants who had a dog prior to the introduction of the policy, and tenants whose homes have an external door. Trained assistance dogs are permitted.”