Ricky Gervais has urged MPs to act to end cruel policies that mean homeless people often cannot get support unless they abandon their pets
Ricky Gervais has called on ministers to end cruel policies that leave homeless people unable to get support unless they abandon their pets.
The comedian warned vulnerable people are routinely turned away from accommodation and services. It means they remain on the streets rather than give up animals who provide companionship and emotional support.
He called on MPs to ensure social landlords cannot unreasonably refuse pets if a risk assessment shows it is safe. He and Peter Egan, who both starred in TV hit After Life, urged politicians to act.
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Mr Gervais said: “For people facing homelessness, that bond can be everything. No one should ever be forced to choose between a home and the animal they love, which is why I fully support Street Paws and their No One Left Outside campaign.”
The campaign was unviled to Parliament’s All-Party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group (APDAWG). Mr Egan said: “After Life showed so beautifully what animals mean to us at our most vulnerable, not as comforts, but as companions, family, and anchors to hope.
“Street Paws understands that truth in the real world. No one facing homelessness should be forced to abandon the animal they love in order to find safety. The No One Left Outside campaign is rooted in compassion, common sense and humanity, and I am proud to support it.”
The show featured German shepherd Brandy, played by Antilly, who sadly died in January last year. In the programme, Mr Gervais’ character Tony’s bond with his beloved pet stopped him taking his own life.
A statue of Antilly, donated by Netflix, was installed next to a bench in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, in December. Mr Gervais said: “Antilly is a much-missed friend, and anyone who knew her will understand why it came as no surprise that she and her human Ashley were ambassadors for the remarkable work of Street Paws.
“She showed, on and off screen, that dogs aren’t accessories, they’re family.” Charity Street Paws – which supports homeless people and their pets across northern England – say changing the rules would give much-needed compassion and clarity.
Founder Michelle Southern OBE told MPs and peers: “For the people we work with, their dog or cat is often the only constant in a life shaped by trauma, loss and instability.
“When accommodation providers refuse pets, they are not offering help, they are issuing an impossible ultimatum. No one should be expected to surrender a beloved companion to access safety, warmth or support. This change is desperately needed because compassion should never be conditional.”
Dr Marc Abraham OBE, who runs the APDAWG, said: “As a vet and animal welfare campaigner, I know that the human and animal bond is not just a luxury, it’s also a lifeline. Pets provide comfort, stability, and emotional support, particularly for people facing homelessness or crisis.
“Forcing someone to choose between a safe place to live and the animal they love is both harmful and unnecessary. Street Paws’ ‘No One Left Outside’ campaign is rooted in evidence and sheer common sense, and I fully support their call for pet-inclusive housing to become the norm, not the exception.”