Health-care workers with 2 dogs scrambling for new homes due to Yukon Housing's one-pet policy

Dr. Lindsey Campbell didn't think twice about bringing her two dogs, Badger and Ginger, when she moved to Watson Lake, Yukon, this spring.

But Campbell didn't realize the Yukon Housing Corporation (YHC) has a one-pet policy and now she'sscrambling to find a new home in an extremely limited rental market.

"I think it's ridiculous," Campbell said, whosecontract included a guaranteed place to live through YHC.

"If we're really trying to encourage people to live in the communities and not just in the city ... I think they need to be a littlemore flexible."

She's not the only one struggling with the one-pet rule Amanda Arbic, a registered nurse, may have to move her family back to Ontario over it.

Arbic said it's extremely hard to find a house to rent or buyin the community. Meanwhile, she said, there is a "huge nursing shortage" in Watson Lake.

"I bring to the community 15 years of emergency experience," she said.

"And now we're going to lose our contributions to the community because of a dog."

The Yukon Housing Corporation helps provide accommodation for health-care workers moving toYukon.But health-care workers can't stay in the YHC homes if they have more than one pet.

Meanwhile, hospitals are extremely short-staffed and have several vacant positions, according to the Yukon Employees' Union.

Arbic thinks staff accommodation should be separate from the YHC.

She moved to Watson Lake this summer with her husband, children and two dogs, Mya and Remi.

"Had I known it's going to be such a hassle I don't think I would have come," she said.

"My husband said, 'they'drather lose a nurse than have an extra pet.'"

Yukon Housing says it is reviewing policies

The housing corporation says it's aware of health-care workers' concerns, and is working with tenants to "rectify the situation."

"Currently, no tenants are facing eviction in Watson Lake due to the one-pet policy," read an emailed statement from YHC spokesperson Sarah Murray.

The corporation said it is reviewing its policies. It said the one-pet policy helps "balance the health of our tenants and safety of our units."

It said the policy "provides a consistent and equitable approach for lower and higher income tenants."

"Pets, even well-behaved pets, can increase the cost of maintaining the units so the one-pet policy balances this reality with the desire of tenants to have pets for companionship," said the statement.

Campbell said she and her husband areresponsible pet owners and both her dogs agolden doodle and a Schnauzer-poodle mix are non-shedding. Her husband is also working as a doctor in the community.

Campbell said she's lucky thathercontract means Health and Social Services is negotiating withYukon Housing on her behalf. But she says her nursing colleagues are on their own.

In the meantime, she has postedonline trying to find a new spot. Her dogs are like "children" to her and her husband.

"It's frustrating, going into winter trying to findnew housing," she said.