Thanks for your articles in the weekend Fin Review – very good. I refer to the article on this about a month or so ago.
You mentioned 3 schools of thought on this, but no one has mentioned the actual pets themselves – although point one may be linked to it.
While I believe some animals (birds in cages, lizards, some snakes in empty dry fish tanks, etc.) are ok in flats, the most common animals such as cats and dogs simply should NOT be allowed in any apartment.
This is something I have noticed in Asia and unfortunately it is creeping in here. There it is sadly common to own a dog (or cat) in a high rise and once a day (usually late afternoon) the owner brings it down to a small common lawn area, where everyone gathers to chat (and smoke) and let the animal have limited exercise for about half an hour. It then goes back up to the apartment, where it stays (often while the owner is at work) until it comes down again the next day, and so on.
It is a cruel and boring existence, as they need plenty of fresh air and outside space to run around. Not to mention the probability of dogs barking as well as the hygiene issue (worse with dogs than cats). Quiet simply it is cruel and should not be allowed at all.
It is very pleasing that the NCAT senior members recently ruled against pets in apartments – for normal, decent minded citizens, and domestic pets this must continue and be supported.