‘Housing’s tenants have equal right to own a pet’
Wednesday 30th June 2010, 2:29PM BST.
HOUSING has defended tenants’ rights to keep pets, following calls for checks on those banned from keeping animals.
Housing services director Jim Roberts said the department did not impose conditions upon tenants that would not apply to people who did not live in social housing.
‘To do so would compound the unhelpful stereotype that social housing tenants are somehow less responsible than other people.
‘A person who owns their home or a tenant in private sector accommodation would not be expected to submit to a suitability check before being allowed to keep a pet, so why should the department’s tenants be treated any differently?’ he asked.
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‘A person who owns their home or a tenant in private sector accommodation would not be expected to submit to a suitability check before being allowed to keep a pet, so why should the department’s tenants be treated any differently?’ he asked.
I agree that those who keep pets (for the purpose of this post let me assume pets = Cats & Dogs) be that in the private or social housing sector should come under the same legislation however, responsible pet care requires significant financial spend i.e. vet care on top of regular spend in food etc.
Surely those who live in Social Housing do so because they do not have the means to live within the private sector, if that is the case IMO they should be prohibited from keeping a pet on the grounds that the money required to do so should be used for other essential purposes.
Lets not forget that keeping these pets in the majority of cases is funded by social benefits. Surely this can’t be right can it?
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I do not have the means to rent within the private sector and many struggle when they are forced to.
If you have children it is nice to have a cat or small animal that they can help to look after and of course if you live alone a cat can be a companion.
Please do not try to penalise people who live in states houses.
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SG
How dare you assume that “these pets in the majority of cases is funded by social benefits” The majority of our tenants are decent hard working people who have jobs that do not always give them the level of income they need to live in the grossly over inflated private housing sector and I won’t have them treated as second class islanders just because they live in social housing. Where they live doesn’t make them anymore irresponsible than anyone else and they love and care for there pets just as those who are fortunate enough to live in their own homes. As in any tenure of housing there will always be exceptions to the rule but please don’t assume that our tenants or the GHA tenants don’t work and are all living on benefits because it is not the case
DJ
Housing Minister
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Well stunned guern you shock me to the core !!! what are you going to say next, that people in states housing shouldnt own a car because it maybe funded by benefits etc GET real & get a life !!!!
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I am not against ppl in states houses having pets, but I do know of 1 woman who is on her own with 3 kids 3 horses 1 cat 2 dogs claiming benafits living in a States house and is about to pay out 800 pound for a puppy , I just don’t get how she can aford it .
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Good point coco.
If they can afford to keep a pet then quite frankly they should be putting that money aside to get themselves out from states housing. A pet is not a necessity so therefore it’s a luxery. Why should I be paying so that someone can have a cat?! I can’t! I live in rented accommodation.
Also if they are strapped for cash (which I assume the majority of them would be) then they most likely wouldn’t have their pet neutered.
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I think its the landlords decision.
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@dave jones.I pay tax and insurance .I do not want kids yet I have to contribute to ppl who live in states houses and on benafits who keep popping babys out et et,I think we do have a right to object to what they can and can’t have. Also yes they should be checked on having animals, I know of at least 3 ppl who have pitbulls who live in states houses and they are not legal, you seem to think your state house ppl are all hard working ( yeah right) I would be quite happy To meet up with you and take the blinkers off your eyes
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All of these arguments would be irrelevant if we had adequate animal protection legislation. Everyone would be culpable, whether they lived in social housing or otherwise.
Like many people, I am well aware of some appalling cases of cruelty that have occurred in some of the less desirable social housing estates, but I think it is unrealistic to believe that no animal cruelty has occurred in the private sector also.
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Dave Jones – Surely the fact that these people are in subsidised States housing IS us providing them with benefits????? Could not these houses be let in the private sector for much more than the States tenants are paying? Therefore, they are receiving a benefit, paid for by us.
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My mum lives in ‘social housing’ which I prefer to call a States House. She has paid her rent on time for over 35 years, raised three children and has NEVER claimed benefits, she has worked, sometimes 3 jobs at a time to raise her children and we’ve never gone without due to her hard work and committment to her family. I would be extremely proud of myself if I become half the woman she is.
My mum has 3 cats (which are actually mine that I left at her house when I moved into my own accommodation). How can anybody have the down right nerve to say she should/could be questioned because she lives in a States house?
However, I do have a problem with the people I know of, hear of and see of (on social networking sites) that sit on their a**e all day, claiming benefits, smoking fags and keeping 3 or more animals – it’s bad enough I pay for these people to sun themselves sitting in their gardens with laptops, bragging about drinking wine and getting off their face whilst their kids are out with other people, having to pay taxes to feed these people AND their pets? Now that, I have a problem with!
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Some peoples ignorance never ceases to amaze me.
I would love to know where you have facts and figures from stating most states house tenats are on benefits? I bet Dep Jones could find facts to back up his claims.
truth is, many people cant afford to get out of social housing, but can afford to keep a pet, and if they can – why shouldnt they! Dave, do you smoke, drink or eat out? if you do, then by what you are saying about pets in states houses, i should say to you, dont eat out dont ever drink or smoke, save that money to buy your own house – then you can do what you like? How do you like that?
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But I’m not complaining that it’s my god given right to have these things whilst being subsidised by the State. I go without plenty because I am saving. In a few more years I will be in the position where I can buy however, unless I win the lottery there will always be things I want but sense will prevail me not to buy.
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Auntie GP – Just being in a States house is a social benefit!
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Aunt gp you obviously have blinkers on to. When ppl on benafits stop claiming then they have a right, why should we fund there luxurys and why the hell should I pay/house there kids out of my hard earned money. I don’t sit around sunning myself all day and on face book, They need to get off there back stop having kids they can’t aford and get a job, snd yes I can tell you that there is only a few in states houses that do work
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Coco-prove it – I demand to see figure and statistics that will back up your claim – or a an apology please.
Eh – i am fully aware of what social housing is – what is the relevance of your comment?
Dave-ok lets remove social housing – get everyone into work, what do you think will happen to the rents and sales? I reckon the increase in demand will mean that prices will sky rocket because everyone can afford it so demand will far outstrip supply, leaving you saving for even longer.
Is it ok for granny on her pension living in states accomodation to have a cat??
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Oh and aunt gp how do you figure that they can aford a pet-when they can not aford to Home /feed/cloth there kids without hand outs from us ,
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Coco, I presume that your high level education and even higher level career have prevented you learning to spell and not ignorance? Oh, wait . . .
Unfortunately, the cost of living in the private sector in Guernsey has gone through the roof, well, rents in the private sector and living in general. It is not purely the scum of the earth that live in states houses.
Of the people I know with pets, the few I know who live in states houses love their pet and are not on benefits (they have jobs, just not jobs that pay enough for private sector), they would simply rather go without for themselves to provide for the animal but they walk their dogs as they should etc etc, I can think of one rich family who have dogs, they are not abused but they are not regularly walked and looked after anywhere near as well as the people in the states houses.
There are exceptions to the rule yes, but a lot of people who live in states accommodation are not happy to be there, they feel second rate (and no I do not live in a states house myself) and a pet brings them a little happiness, what’s wrong with that? I’m not talking about the tenants on benefits who sit around smoking and drinking and popping out children obviously, but not all states house tenants are like this.
I think a lot of you need to grow up, yes some states house tenants live on benefit and are scumbags but most aren’t and judging by some of your attitudes on here, I’m guessing are also much better human beings than you, so indeed far more capable to have a pet.
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Too many people on this island with blinkers.
I am of the same opinion as coco. I’d love the opportunity to sit in the sun whenever I like. I’d also like love to own a laptop, I think it would be fairer if the States would buy us all a laptop and not just the “benefit bunch”.
I, like many others who have already posted, work bl***y hard and just about scrape by and am sick to the back teeth of taxpayers’ money being used to fund layabout lifestyles. I’m fed up with being told “Ah, bless, poor single mums, poor unemployed, poor druggies. It’s not their fault they don’t work”.
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@jimmy o agree my education was not good my spelling is bad to ,but it never stopes me working hard oh and by the way I own 2 very good buissness that earn me a lot of money x
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Oh and I would be happy to meet anybody and take them around the states houses and show you all what realy goes on, and then you would change your tune.
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CJG
The question has to be asked.
Should your mother have had 3 children when unable to afford rent?
If people find themselves in dificulty, they should be housed by the States to enable themselves to get themselves straight.
States houses are often used as breeding centres to prevent the tennants being returned to the private sector.
One easy way to solve this is to stop ALL child benefits. If a child is found in need of anything vouchers could be issued for the required item, no cash, this, I believe, would have a dramatic effect on the social make up of the island.
I can’t however see this benefits happy States taking any action to solve the islands social problems.
Except taxing the rest of us more, that is.
Auntie GP.
Should you not be the one, “Prooving it”.
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when i saw sue vidamour pubish the animal pics and mention states tenants in the same breath i groaned. i knew the subject of animal cruelty would end up up with coco and cheesed off playing their usual abusive loop. it must be interesting to be so bitter and mean-spirited. it must be interesting to be so obsessive and angry. it must be interesting to be so ignorant of why inequality really exists in any society. it must be interesting to endlessly pick away at the the most powerless and poorest part of society. welfare exists, approved by the ruling and middle classes, not out of altruism, but to stop the poor taking their fair share. abuse of hand outs will happen in such a context. look over your shoulder coco and cheesed off – the genats budgies are out of their cages to seek your apology.
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The arguments seem to have veered away from the original owning pets story.
But if you want to see the evidence of animsl cruelty go to the meat section of any supermarket sand there it is.
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i live in a states house, not by choice as i would love to own my house, but 10years ago i was struck down with a near fatal neuro condition, and i have never claimed a penny off the states, i have worked all my life, there are people in private rental, who claim benifits,know one seems to have a go at them. but the majority of people that live in states housing are hard working.
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Apologies for going ever-so slightly off subject, but a certain politicians usual defence of the indefensible, that is, people who have their lives funded (partially or wholly) by the rest of us, and his intimation that it’s all fair, so we shouldn’t complain, forces me to.
The other (week) day, mid afternoon, a friend of mine witnessed 5 local ladies of approx 17/18, suitably bikini clad and bronzed, soaking up the sunshine outside a local (not cheap) eatery.
As they continued to drink, smoke, text etc, he also became aware that they were mostly mums on benefits. Eventually, poor dears, they were forced to put an end to their social afternoon, as various offspring had to be collected from school/nursery.
I don’t object much to someone in a States house keeping a budgie/cat /dog, but as for keeping a whole menagerie, sky dishes, top of the line mobiles, fags and afternoons out, subsidised by the dollar the rest of us earn sweating our n*ds off 8 hours a day (mostly in jobs we hate) then yes, I certainly DO object.
…and whilst the poor loves maybe can’t put enough aside once all the gadgetry, fags an New Look clothes are paid for, they must find some consolation in the fact they can at least spend the summer here on the Benny-dorm.
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Coco, if you own businesses then open your eyes and stop being so ignorant. Many people who live in states housing take the pure p*&& out of me and my hard earned money, people like my mother do not. Do not tar everybody with the same dirty brush as these smack head with 4 kids or single mothers who can’t be bothered to go to work. Not everybody in a States house wants to be there. I take offence to your comments and take them personally against my mother. Grow up and open your eyes. You’ll notice a lot of States house are well kept and have beauitful gardens. These people, like my mother, pay for these themselves. Everything in her house and outside of it she owns and has worked hard for. She’s too old to go into the private sector and why should she, she is comfortable where she lives and with the amount of rent she’s paid on her States house could probably own it outright.
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Scarlett – absolutely spot on.
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Dave Jones, in response to you post time at 9.18 on 30-Jun-10.
In no part of my post did I refer to those islanders living in states housing as second class, the statements I made were associated with the financial aspect of those within states housing that own pets, I did not connect this to animal cruelty. Clearly there are those amongst us that will harm animals irrespective of their backgrounds and social status.
If I may in some way attempt to convey the thought process behind my post. What I was attempting to state is that all individuals that live within states housing are directly or indirectly on state benefits. The mere fact that an individual(s) lives in states accommodation is a social benefit in itself whether they claim further benefits or not. If we take this thought process one step further the cost of an individual owning a pet is therefore in some part funded by benefits, either those claimed directly or as a result of living in accommodation with reduced rent. I’m not privy to how your department calculates individual rents but what is clear is that the sum paid will be significantly less than a similar sized property in the private sector.
Your post timed at 9.46 on 1-Jul-10 reaffirms my argument, a pet is a luxury, if I may quote you “If they can afford to keep a pet then quite frankly they should be putting that money aside to get themselves out from states housing.”
Within the current financial climate and the ever increasing burden on the revenue generated via taxes etc surely it would be of benefit to the island as a whole to reduce expenditure on social benefits (to those that are on the social / private borderline) and increase rental for those individuals in states housing that can cope with such an increase. In reality this will mean a reduction of luxury items, clearly pets fall into this category. The reality is that all islanders irrespective of status will need to bear the burden of the financial climate if this island is going to continue to prosper and to allow essential capital projects to be completed.
If I may pick up on an element of your post that referred to “grossly over inflated private housing sector”, what is your department doing / proposing to assist first time buyers and those on low income to allow them to purchase / rent within the private sector?
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Judging by some of the comments on this thread I assume the Daily Mail must be selling like hot cakes in Guernsey.
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Apologies to Dave Jones, in the post above I’ve inadvertantly attributed a comment by another poster to him.
The section of my post regarding Dave’s post timed at 9.46 on 1-Jul-10 is not attributale to Deputy Jones.
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I have 2 young children on my own and i work full time!! I also have a puppy dalmation and i have absolutely nothing to hide so if anyone would like to come and see my house thats fine by me!! At the end of the day if you have nothing to hide why would it bother you if sometimes someone popped in to check…. Dont tile everyone with the same brush its not fair!!!
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@ blah. I’ve got nothing to apologise for, neither has coco.
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Stunned Guern – answer me this.
Are you saying that my 62 year old mother who works a full time job, helps me and other family members with looking after our children when she’s not working (which she does for free and saves me money on expensive child care fees for my toddler, which I pay £600 a month for as it is), shoudn’t have a pet because she is in a states house and you and me as tax payers with mortgages pay for her to be there? She works full time, she has and always has earned her own money, she pays a lot of tax herself and pays a lot in rent for her States house compared to others who dont even pay rent! She has a small 2 bed states house, the rent she pays would allow her to get a small one bed flat with no garden if she was to pay the equivalent to what she pays now. Why should she move out or expect to be treated the same as these free loaders? She has a garden which her grandchildren enjoy all summer and a spare bedrrom should they decide to stay over. Her tax money also funds these single mohers on 40 fags per day and cheap wine sunning themselves when the rest of us work full time jobs and struggle to make ends meet.
You really need to stop putting all states house tenants in the same bracket because this is not the case.
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Steve – what a disgusting question to ask. Like I said, my mother has always worked and NEVER claimed benefits, how many children she decided to have is totally up to her. She didn’t take us to the social and sit there for 4 hours begging money.
She had two children with her first husband. Things weren’t given to you on a plate back in the 60s and she worked in low paid jobs and lived with my gran and her brothers/sisters. They were given a states house back in the 60s. They were saving for a deposit on their own property, my mum’s husband then went and stupidly died in a traffic accident leaving my mother with 2 young children, unfortunately she was so engrossed in going to work and trying to provide for them (with no social help), the money they HAD saved for their deposit went on living/funeral costs etc. She didn’t then have a string of different men and kids, parties until all hours like most of this “scum” that has been mentioned, she continued to live a normal, self resepcting life.
Who are you to judge how many people she should have had just because she lives in a States house?
You really all need to take a look at your lives. I myself work hard and pay a lot of tax, have a mortgage and a young family, I too cannot bear the site of these young mothers bragging that they’re subathing, going to the shop for fags and sitting in beer gardens of a lunch time whilst I’m at work, struggling to pay for childcare, having hardly any money left at the end of the month due to the hurrendous prices I have to pay for everything from food to a mortgage.
But tarnishing all states house tenants with the same brush is wrong. There are still some very decent, hard working people who are too old to get a mortgage or don’t want to leave the houses they’ve lived in and paid for twice over for the last 3 decades. Have some respect as my mother works as hard as anybody else and dosen’t ask for handouts.
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Many who live in States housing are hard working folk – there’s no doubt about that. Not every job can pay for a private sector rental, that doesn’t mean that people don’t work jolly hard – in fact many lower paid jobs involve a lot harder work than the higher paid ones! There is absolutely no reason why States House tenants should not be allowed to own a pet – they have every right to if they so wish.
However, there is a valid argument surrounding benefits. Guernsey taxpayers should not pay excessively to allow welfare payments to be spent on luxuries. This doesn’t mean that people on benefits shouldn’t be allowed to own a pet or buy some fags, but it should mean that some kind of limit is in place to prevent abuse.
I believe this dilemma is easily solved with a voucher system that ensures benefit payments are spent o necessities (e.g. food, clothing, baby items) with a certain amount paid in cash to be spent at the recipients discretion. Whether that be on Sky TV, a pet or some fags is their decision, but there is a cap on it to ensure that the majority of money is spent to ensure the recipient and his/her family is looked after first.
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statestenant. Dogs need company and attention just like people, or they get depressed and bored.
You, sadly like many other people, don’t understand that having a dog and working full time is entirely unfair and unintentionally cruel….
I will however, not ’tile you with the same brush’ (?!), if you can tell me you have someone/somewhere that provides company and care for your puppy (free of charge…?) whilst you’re at work all day…?
I’ve heard the story too many times of people getting a dog, then expecting it to be stuck on it’s own 8 hours a day (maybe with a quick walk at lunchtime, if it’s lucky), then it’s not long before the poor thing has started tearing up the house/misbehaving…
and soon there’s another ‘difficult’ animal at the shelter for rehoming.
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We should not even have to defend our self!!!Stunned Guern i think you need to grow up!
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@ PLP..at last, somebody talking some sense on here. Exactly what I want to say but end up so angry at the ignorance I end up waffling for hours! ;-)
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oh Scarlett, shut up will you. Why should anybody have to tell YOU who/how their dogs are looked after every day. I have two dogs, both KC registered pedigree dogs who are left on their own for around 5 to 8 hours a day, to run free in our garden and play.
Are you going to tell me that I shouldn’t be allowed to have them? Or I should phoned up Skipton (my mortgage provider) and tell them I have one, seeing as I don’t own my house outright and they lent the money to me – maybe they should have a say in what I do with my home and money?
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and so what if she paid for somebody to walk her dogs, SHE WORKS FOR HER MONEY IN A FULL TIME JOB. Why would she need somebody to do it free of charge for her, just because she rents a house from the States? Would you prefer her to live in a States house and be claiming benefits? Would that be better for your tiny little mind? Maybe that way you could abuse her more, IF that’s at all possible.
Your comments really are pathetic and I’m finding them quite derogatory – grow up, get your head from out of your a^$& and get in the real world.
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CJG, I will take the opportunity to answer.
Unfortunately this debate has gone way beyond the issue of simply pet ownership in states housing. I’ve no doubt that you’ll be angry with the post that follows but I will caveat it by stating that I don’t know enough of your families circumstances but from the limited information in your post I’ll respond as follows.
The situation that you’ve outlined above would suggest that your mother shouldn’t actually be in states housing as she can afford private rental albeit not to the size of property she has become accustomed too. Clearly though given her age it is not practical to expect her to rent or buy within the private sector. I respect her work ethic and contributions in rental as clearly others would not.
States housing should be used for those who clearly have no alternative. I respect that your mother assists with childcare (as I have firsthand experience of how expensive that is) and the spare bedroom will undoubtedly be useful for this and a garden is a great asset but the property she is in should be allocated to an individual or family that requires permanent use of both bedrooms. IMO she should be re-housed into a suitable one bedroom property (this would undoubtedly be difficult for her).
There clearly is a distinction to be made between those that have no intention of working with the system and those like your mother who require some assistance (in the form of housing) but work hard so that further benefits aren’t required. A dangerous generalization has been made in the posts above and I will apologise for my part in that.
IMO the Housing Department need to focus their attentions on the two issues that these posts highlight. 1) get those with no intention of doing anything but claim benefits into work and add value back to the island (kicking and screaming if needs be) and 2) help those like your mother (albeit no disrespect intended younger than your mother) who could afford some form of mortgage buy their own properties, either from the existing housing market (by way of % ownership) or into purpose built properties designed for that purpose, or into private rental on an initially subsidized basis. Both points 1 and 2 require detailed thought and will cause angry reactions from both sides of the fence.
Unfortunately with the financial pressures bearing down on those that own their own properties there will always be resentment against those that are assisted by the states, because of this generalisations will be made as it is impossible to know each personal circumstance behind the level of states assistance being given.
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CJC
Who am I to judge? A TAXPAYER who has to live in the private sector, unless I decide to start banging out kids and let the States house me.
How is it “Disgusting” to ask why some people get housed by the States and others don’t?
It drives me mad when I see people saying “I’ve lived in this States house for 40 years”.
40 years and never had a job that pays minimum wage?
I’m expected, as are most people, to exist on minimum wage, without States help.
For the record I earn over minimum wage but well below average wage.
I’m the one who should be disgusted.
I pay 95% of my earnings just to live, no States house is available for me, to allow me to save for a deposit on a half million pound hose.
Why do I not deserve a leg up, but your family do?
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Stunned Guern – I totally agree with your comments and respect them.
The thing I don’t get is – if she was to move out and stop paying the rent to the States, they would then move in another family who, lets face it, are more than likely not going to pay what she does or even worse be on benefits and not pay any rent to the States at all.
What would society (or the oh so perfect do-gooders commenting on this site) prefer?
From what I gather, all the people that were earning too much money and living in States houses have been kicked out to private, then the States are filling these houses up with people on benefits, single mothers etc? Is that the right thing to do?
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Steve – I’ll choose not to reply to your comment. “my family” is my mother and I’ve more than explained her situation in previous posts so I won’t comment any longer.
I too feel hard done by, I too feel my life would be much easier if I’d just stopped work the minute I got pregnant, sold the flat I had at the time and went down the social begging a house and benefit. I then wouldn’t have to worry about hefty bills every month, a mortgage and extortionate childcare fees.
Why don’t I get some sort of benefit or a child care voucher that would help me out? I don’t because I work a 9-5 job and own a house, if I stayed home all day on Facebook and Lambrini I’d get a hell of a lot more.
I too do not like people that claim benefits, or should I say I don’t like the majority of them. I’m merely sticking up for my mother who deserves and is well within the rights to have pets as SHE is the one that pays for them, not YOU as the taxpayer, JUST because she’s in a States house which SHE pays her way for.
It’s obviously a losing battle I’m fighting because you just see everything with ignorant eyes.
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CJG. You haven’t actually explained why your mother is entitled to live in a 2 bedroomed States Housing property. I admire her for working and not expecting to live on benefits like many States Housing tenants do. The fact that she looks after her grandchildren does not mean she should be entitled to a two bedroomed property though.
My own mother is of a similar age to yours, has worked hard since the age of 14 and at times had more than one job to try and make ends meet. She too is in a States Housing property. A ONE bedroomed property. The Housing moved her as soon as her children left home because she was honest enough to contact them and let them know her situation and that she no longer needed a two bedroomed house.
Not all States tenants are on the benefit bandwagon but too many are. That’s what I have a “problem” with. There are many hard working, decent tenants who have always worked hard for what they have. Sadly though there are also those who take the p**s. (CJG I’m not referring to your family just in case you think I am). I fail to understand how the benefit culture is allowed to thrive. My parents brought me up, in a States House, to have a strong work ethic like many of the above posters. Sadly not all seem to have had that upbringing and expect us to pay their way in life.
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I knew Guernsey was expensive, but a half million pound house? (See Steve above…) Cor damme la!
Reading this thread has really stressed me out. Can’t we just all relax a little and agree to disagree?
xxx
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CJG. Sorry, did we just slip into an alternative reality where this debate is all about YOU?
Your aggressive, rude, defensive responses to everyone on this forum and constant references on all your posts to YOUR life and YOUR family and YOUR situation could have me mistakenly believe so!
Sorry if I’ve hit a nerve regarding my comments about full time workers who leave their dogs at home alone all day. Perhaps you’ve been told that before?
It is entirely inappropriate for a young puppy, or any dog, to be left, bored and lonely, on it’s own all day.
– go ask the ‘K.C.’ to fill you in on doggy psychology 101, though I don’t believe animal welfare has ever been particularly high on their agenda, bearing in mind their insistence on the ‘purity’ of breeds has left many dogs with awful congenital medical problems, and a docked tail was always better to them, than one that hadn’t been unceremoniously, painfully chopped off.
My comments were directed to a states tenant, who lives in housing that we subsidise, having a single Dalmation puppy left on its own (unless I’m told otherwise by her) all day long.
Firstly, if it’s a ‘pedigree’ (yes, like yours, CJG) then that is a very expensive choice for a struggling single mum (possibly because the kids ‘had to’ have one ‘like in the film’…?) when there are other, equally lovely, heinz varieties out there you can have for nothing.
I know, because I have them, and would never fork out stupid money for a ‘k.c.’ reg’ed ‘pedigree’ because they’re too damned expensive…
even more-so for a struggling single mum with 2 kids, I’d have thought, which also prompted my remark regarding ‘day care’ for the puppy, an equally expensive endeavor if the paid for variety.
Really, CJG, if you can’t calm down and stop seeing even slightly negative comments on here as some sort of personal insult, then I suggest you go get some anger management.
fyi, that comment IS about YOU.
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the amount of HATRED directed through this site, at the drop of any hat, towards guernsey states tenants and / or guernsey benefit claimants, is extraordinary. the divide and rulers must be well happy.
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Scarlett, theres lots of forums on dogs and thoughts on KC and non KC breeds, health issues, tests etc. You might find somebody more interested on there. I won’t get into my thoughts on those issues with somebody of your mental state.
You’re boring me already.
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Cheesedoff – I’m not entirely sure why they haven’t moved her to a one bedroom, she actually wouldn’t mind (as long as she had a garden I might add). I left about 7 years ago and she informed them immediately, as you have to. The only query they’ve had with her of late is because of all these changes, getting the ‘high earners’ out etc.
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Wow, talk about controversy….
I don’t believe that anyone should be restricted from having a domestic pet. However… those that live off the States benefits should not be allowed to have multiple pets. As mentioned in above posts, pets are a “luxury” item. They cost money to feed and have care for (I wish I had become a vet….) therefore if you have enough money to care for multiple pets, then you shouldn’t be living off benefit.
There are always going to be some exceptions, and some cases have already been made above, but a large number of the people that are living off benefit, and milk the system have more than one pet.
Those people that go out to work and provide for themselves, their families and others (including all those on benefit) should be allowed to do what they like with any surplus income. The jump from States (or Social) Housing to the private sector is a big one. Many families who are at the top end of the combined income rent scale are still not able to make the jump into private sector, and so they should not be forced into it. As they work and make suitable contributions to the islands economy, they also should have a degree of freedom of choice. If the difference between some is saving for their own house or having a better standard of living by having “luxury” items, who are we to criticise?
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Oh for goodness sake!
Cigarettes and alcohol aren’t essential either, but there’s nothing to stop those on social benefits from wasting all their money on them.
There are always going to be people who abuse the system, but to penalise your average, hard-working Guern by denying them the right to animal companionship is just crazy.
Let’s all just chill out, shall we?
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We used to live in a states house and now we own our own but it is these kind of comments from many of you that make the people who live in states housing feel like second class citizens. When we were in a states house the same subject was brought up then about keeping animals. It was suggested that ‘states house people’ wouldn’t be able to look after pets properly why??. Like the majority of people in states houses we were hard working and yes I suppose our rent was subsidised when compared to the private sector. But…people in the private sector also have help from the states if they need it (I know of some). What’s the difference? I’ll tell you what, it’s a different address. When we bought our house people’s attitudes were completely different when we gave our address..why? we were the same people. So please don’t tar everyone with the same brush not everyone can earn a fantastic wage to enable them to buy in a grossly inflated property market. Where would we be without the people who work very long hours in the hotel industry and retail where unfortunatley the wages they earn very often aren’t enough to buy their own house? Should they be penalised by not having animals as well.
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No intelligent responses to make, then, CJG?
Just more rudeness, and more self absorbed droning on about you, you, you…
all utterly fascinating (to you, that is) I’m sure…
who’s boring who, exactly…?
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@ Scarlett. For your information my puppy is also free to play in the whole of my back garden whilst i am at work and during the day My Fiance comes home from work to check on him. I do know that dogs need physical and mental stimulation hence the reason my finace goes home many times during the day. I have pride in myself as i actually go to work and pay for my children with my own money!!! I do not intend to stay in my states house forever. Scarlett you obviously have serious issues and seem to have an answer for everything. Maybe you should learn to sit back and get the facts before you start putting people down!!
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Also Scarlett, who said i am a struggling mum?? I handle things very very well. I have worked all my life and always paid tax and insurance so i am entitled for my rent to be substidised and i bet i do not pay much less rent than you do!!! Just get your facts straight!
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People in states accomodation should be allowed the same freedom as those who live in the private sector ,just because they live in States house’s does not make them 2nd class citizens but as for the current trend of people buying dangerous dogs ,I.E Staffordshire Bull Terriers ,mastifs and doberman’s , Guernsey is not anything like Croxeth in Liverpool and from what ive heard and seen its becoming a problem , this is where checks should be made and soon! before some kid gets chewed up !!!!
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@statestenant – Can I ask how many rooms your house has and how much rent you pay – and yes, I should be able to ask this as it belongs to me as much as it belongs to anyone else in the island (well those of us who pay tax anyway), including you.
My rent isn’t subsidised by anyone and I would love to have a pet, but can’t afford it, yes I could probably manage to feed one, but if something went wrong and I had vets bills to pay, I would struggle! How about you?
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Seems to me that those in private rent are almost sounding like they have some bitter resentment that they do not qualify for a states house?
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My rent is £175 per week and it is a 3 bedroom house, but that is because i have a boy and girl. It therefore belongs to me then as i pay full tax and full social insurance!! Lucky for me i have pet insuance which covers me for up to £4,000 per year….
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I’m not suprised how emotive this issue has become, however, I think it’s a case of a few have ruined it for the majority.
statestenant – whilst I don’t have anything against people living in states houses I don’t agree with your statement that you are entitled to have your rent subsidised. I, too have always paid tax and insurance but I don’t think that gives me any rights over anyone else. I understand what your trying to say but just be careful of the backlash you may cause.
The people I object to are the ones who have approached me at various times asking me to either demote them or to lower thier pay as they are earning to much to stay in their States House. Believe me it’s happened. These people have had kids but they’re starting to leave the nest and they’ve gotten used to where they live. I understand it, I do but the problem arises from the States not controlling the system correctly or using it for what it should be. A helping hand.
There is no minimum wage in Guernsey (yet) so I don’t understand these comments regarding this. If you mean the proposed £6 an hour then even two adults earning this full time is not enough to look after a family of 2.5 (and Rover) children without assistance.
I don’t think it’s incorrect of me to say it’s the majority of the middleage/older states tenants (40+)who have a work ethic and are out there providing but are not perhaps earning enough for their brood and the younger ones (16 and pregnant) who take advantage of the system. There are of course exceptions to both catagories but from what I’ve experienced both professionally and personally that would be my outlook on it.
I don’t think states tenants should have any less of a right to own a pet than anyone else. We are living in a free world and the last time I checked we aren’t under communist rule. However, there should be regular checks on states housing to ensure it is maintained and the upkeep is to a suitable standard (much like a rental agency) and to ask the question if they do have 9 cats, 3 dogs, 2 parrots, a budgerigar and a horse are they on the right level of benefit (including housing)?
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Auntie GP:
sounds to me like people living in private rented accomadation or bitter that their taxes are paying for subsidised housing for people who qualify for states hausing.
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Oh and does anyone have any details about pet insurance??? I dont know much about it but isnt it something like £2.50 per week? I think most people can stretch to that and then if the worst happened it avoids expensive vet bills???
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Jamie – Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Dobermans are not on the dangerous dogs act and are very unlikely to ever be. Kids will only get “chewed up” if the dog is brought up in a violent way, a dog is what you make it. People are the problem, not the dog. But that’s a whole different storey.
StatesTennant – you don’t need to explain yourself to her or anybody else for that matter. You should be proud of who you are and where you’re from and shouldn’t explain yourself or how you treat your dog to some jumped up little know it all, it’ll grow up one day and get in the real world.
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Auntie GP i think it should be a must when buying a pet. I have pet insurance and it is £15 per month. CJG. Thank you very much atleast someone on here can understand and your right i am not defending myself anymore x
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Some of my thoughts on this echo others, but one thing I would say is this:
Hero – oh, I hate when people trot out the “tell me xx, because I own your (insert name of what they think they own because they pay tax)”.
Just because you pay your taxes does not give you the right to know details of their lives! No more than by going into a restaurant, you can demand to see how they live because your custom funds their life.
Very silly!
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j – you are probably right, but i do not see what people are saying here – are they saying do away with social housing? Better to have people on the streets as long as my tax isnt going to them?
Lynnie awesome post – should put the matter to bed.
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Wish I only had to pay £175 per week for my one bedroomed damp pokey flat! Maybe I could afford a pet!
And my point WAS that you own your house, but so do I and so does every other tax payer!
Good on you for the insurance though – I have never suggested that you were not a good owner, just that maybe your cash could be better spent elsewhere, like a more realistic market rent!
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Billy
You choose to eat at a restaurant and you also choose which restaurant to eat at.
You dont choose to pay tax, and you dont choose where your tax money goes.
So I do think people have a right to know what type of lifestyle their tax dollar is funding.
If they are funding lifestyles they themselvces cannot afford, they have a right to know.
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i know we have come a long way from animal cruelty (though sue vidamour + gsy press generally = moral panic), but the pressure of housing costs have repeatedly bubbled up. as far as i can make out the amount guernsey people for accommodation in relation to their wage, is way, way in excess of that compared with most other places. lotsa bods in a tiny space makes that inevitable here, if the state does not intervene. loads of people are trapped in states housing and will not afford private rents. many others are in private rentals and ripped off disgracefully. others try buying and are in debt to ‘take it or leave it’ bank limited, for ever and ever. meanwhile the states (was it dave jones’ policy?) agreed a good few moons ago to remove ALL private rent controls, ensuring in the stroke of a gold plated pen that landlords and property companies could use the great god ‘free market’ to snoopy-dance all the way to early retirement. people fighting on this post might be better joining forces and demanding a new control on private rents, before more families self-destruct just trying to deal with the stress of trying to feed 2 kids (and hamster and goldfish) plus the greedy landlord (many wealthy guerns own several rental places). stop fighting among yourselves folks.
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What do I have to do to get a States house please?
Sounds wonderful.
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£175 per week for a 3 bedroomed house? As Hero appears to be saying private sector renters can only dream of such low rents.
Why aren’t those in the private sector entitled to some form of rental subsidy? I’m talking about single people in particular as there is nobody to share half the rent/bills with. Many of these properties are in poor condition yet the tenants don’t have any choice but to live in accomodation that they can just about afford. It’s wrong that unless
you have children the States Housing won’t help.
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And before Dave jones pipes up I do realise that the States Housing do help elderly people but there are also people amongst younger generations for whom life is an uphill struggle and they are forced to do without life’s luxuries, sometimes they can’t even afford life’s essentials yet the States Housing will not house them unless they have children. Are Housing so blinkered that they cannot see they are encouraging all the single mothers in their choice of lifestyle?
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Cheesed off – i believe that if your income is below a certain requirement rate, then you can claim some sort of rent subsidy through supplementary benefit, it is of course means tested as are all benefits.
Ormerman – I believe that by elected deputies and lobbying them you can have a say as to where your tax POUND goes, alternatively you could stand for government yourself and have a more direct influence or join the civil service and help ensure that the money is spent better – I believe social security are regularly recruiting for additional staff? Or you could sit and whinge and moan about it anonymously on a forum??? Or go and live somewhere else? I bet you will struggle to find somewhere where the tax and insurance contributions are this low, and the infrastructure in place is so good, but by all means give it a go.
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Statestenant. Now, it seems, this forum is about you AND CJG’s life.
To reiterate, I DID want to learn some facts regarding your pet situation before drawing any conclusions, or perhaps you missed that in my post….
“I will however, not ’tile you with the same brush’ (?!), if you can tell me you have someone/somewhere that provides company and care for your puppy (free of charge…?) whilst you’re at work all day…”?
Thank you for answering, it is reassuring to know that you are a responsible owner, and, it seems, that you too acknowledge the FACT that leaving a dog alone all day is wrong, as they become bored, depressed and sadly, sometimes, un-rehomable…
that, I have an ‘issue’ with.
I also have an ‘issue’ with people in tax payer-subsidised housing wasting money on expensive pedigree dogs, especially when there’s a plethora of FREE, lovely heinz variety dogs out there desperate to be re-homed, so I shall work on the basis, statetenant, that you got your Dalmation from a shelter or something, and didn’t spend 100′s and 100′s of pounds buying it from a ‘breeder’, or, god forbid, a puppy farm….
just one more thing, as Colombo would say, statestenant and CJG, if you don’t want I- and others- having opinions/making comments/putting ‘people’ (YOU) down regarding your lives and lifestyle, may I politely suggest that you don’t post all the personal details of the aforementioned on a forum where the subject they relate to is being so hotly debated?
Just a thought-!
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Now you know why ppl do not want to move out of states houses,because they have it all to easy.
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Thanks Auntie GP, didn’t know that was possible I have to say.
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Auntie GP
I’m not whingeing and moaning, this is my first foray on here, as for yourself I see you regularly anonymously moaning about this or that, so I find the latter half of your comments very ironic.
I own my property, and I have enough excess income for many animals, I have no need to moan about this.
However I was disputing Billy’s claims that tax payers dont have the right to know where their dollar goes. (I used dollar as its a well known phrase, dont suddenly go all patriotic on us)
The difference being this is knowledge from the horses mouth, not from the spin that an elected politician would give.
I’m sure many tax payers have been very enlightened by some of the above comments, and they are far more informative than what the elcted few would have us beleive.
You clearly are very happy to be funding others hedonistic lifestyles, and for that I applaud your generosity, but dont expect many others (particularly those whose means are similar to many states tenants but via “means testing” are confined to be far worse off)to follow your lead.
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Ormerman – I think you will struggle to fine me moaning about much, I am a very positive person and you will often find me championing the underdogs on this site. As a product of the social system I know what it is like growing up in states housing, fortunatly for me my parents instilled good work ethic and values and encouraged me to work hard and be able to achieve the one thing they wanted more then anything, to buy a house. On a modest salary my partner and I manage our mortgage, and a few nice things, nothing too exotic but the ood meal out or takeaway that type of thing, the one thing that we would really like to do is start a family, but we can not afford that at present so it will have to wait on the back burner.
Generous, no, understand the meaning of a welfare state and appreciate the benefits it provides in contrast to lets say a dictatorial states, yes 100%. It frustrates me as much as anyone else when I see scroungers (and in my line of work I see most of them) however, of the 1800 or so states houses, there are not 1800 benefit claimers – I would say that more then half are honest hard working folk all contributing to the same tax pool – it is unfair to lump everyone into the same bracket because they live in a states house when it is prob more like 300 or so that give the other 1500 a bad name.
Oh welcome to the site – I hope you are not put off by ferocity of this particular debate, they are not all quite as fiesty as this and some people do have some very interesting points to make.
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Ormerman, no I am definately not happy to pay for scroungers when I work very hard myself.
I’m just not convinced everyone in social housing is a scrounger, and moreover, we don’t have the right to know everything about someone just because we contribute in some small way to their existence.
We could say that about anyone!
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here here Billy, somes it up nicely! And people who do work hard that have states accommodation also pay taxes, just cos they may have cheaper rent doesn’t mean people should have a right to know or have a say in how many cats they have or how they pay for them! But you’ll always get ignorant people who really need to get out more, so!
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If only they could afford to get out more….
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I have just spoken to someone who is on benafits.she has told me that she is better off staying on benafits and would have a second child to do so. She gets, free housing,free money enough to feed ,cloth ,pay sky,go on hol once a year,pay her car loan and buy petral,go out 3 times a week,she has just bought a ne sofa at 1k,she aso likes to pop over to Southampton 2 a year for the sales, doctors are free,she likes to go shopping in the morning and weather permited beach in the afternoon and if she can’t be bothered to cook she like to go to rockmount to eat.she had no problem telling me all this. Oh and next month she is having a belly tuck.this girl also has a horses cats and a dog.wow can some 1 lend me a kid
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Coco-I dont believe any of that for a second, for a start no one gets free housing – even if they are in reciept of a rent rebate, they would still be paying something.
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Can’t remeber the last time I had a holiday, went out once a week never mind 3 time a week. I can’t afford to run a car. I rarely eat out, private rents are too steep for those sort of luxuries when you’re on your own. My sofa (and most of my other furniture) is hand me downs from various family members. It must be lovely to be able to go to the beach as and when you like.
I knew I did it all the wrong way. Stupid me for getting a job….
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Coco
I believe the number you require to report this
matter is 732500
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aunt gp her rent gets paid by the states . And it is all true her sister works for me and the girl popped in for a chat.if you want it told to your face then I don’t think she would have a problem telling you eather. Like I said in above post if anybody would like to meet and have there blinkers removed I am quite happy to remove
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I don’t see what makes people who live in states houses so special and why they can have special treatment from the states…? I mean, mostly, if they had worked in school instead of boozing and getting pregnant at the age of 16 (and i know a lot of states residents, who have also admitted what Coco has very well explained) as an excuse not to work, then they wouldnt be living off the states and the hard workers money, and they would be in a job that pays and would have their own house and wouldnt be tarnished with the same brush… i appreciate people who cant work due to medical reasons but i dont see why the people who are perfectly capable to work dont… I mean… the community of guernsey shouldnt have to carry the weight of the drop outs and lazy sods who do F all all day and keep their luxuries. Maybe, just maybe, if they didnt spend all their money on luxuries, and fancy cars and phones, ipods and nice clothes, they might be able to get clothes which atually fit their several children and might even be able to bring them up so they are not abusive lay abouts like their parents… obviously im not generalising but there are many amoung the states tenants who do not deserve to be kept off the streets, guernsey is plumeting due to their ignorance to actually do something with their lives. The taxpayers shouldnt have to pay for them to have it easy and pay cheaper rent and for them to keep pets… if they cant afford to earn and care for their own lives then why the hell should they be allowed to control another living creatures life? If they spent 2 years just working on getting themselves out of those places by getting a job and not splashing out on everything then they would be able to rightfully enjoy the luxuries the hard workers enjoy…
There is no reason whatsoever that they should get an easy life when everyone else works their butts off the fund their lives….
Scarlett i agree with many of your posts…
And CJG…. this is a general comment and i dont care what your opinion of it is and no, its not aimed at you before you get all defensive and crazed like you have since the top…. the world is not against you.
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I already have used that number and will carry on doing so, 1 person who I reported was claiming benafits and working taking home over a thousand pound a month cash,she was made to pay it all back
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Yawn @ Earn a Life aka Scarlett, getting a bit boring now don’t you think?
I don’t think ANY of it is directed at me. Why would it be? I don’t live in States accommodation, I have a mortgage and work full time, pay my childcare fees and paid for my expensive pedigree dogs, plus all the extras that come with them, vets fees, KC registrations etc etc.
Why would I think you’re directing this at me Scarlett, oops, I mean Earn a life?
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omg. aahhhhhhhhhhh!!! i am so angry with the people targeting guernsey benefit claimants and tenants, with such over the top bile and envy, that I am missing the 2nd half of the bloody holland uruguay game. if u knew me u would know what that means. like auntie gp i do not believe coco and cheesed off anymore – I believe they are now clearly inventing much of their allegations because they are obsessively envious and hating of any working class bod who they think may have an easier life than theirs. if you think it so great, then why not swap your situations with states tenants? or do you hate, so completely,the idea of women having children? clearly you have an issue with fecundity? i’m not naive enough to know people exploit our welfare system, but coco and cheesed off and their cronies are grossly, hatefully wrong in targeting only this small number of people for being states subsidised. FOR GOODNESS SAKE, WHAT ABOUT CONSIdERING ALL THE OTHER PLACES WHERE TAX PAYERS’ MONEY GOES AND WHICH OTHERS THINK IS AN OUTRAGE? EG THe ONGOING SUBSIDISING OF PRIVATE EDUCATION? coco and cheesed off et al – your tax is propping up the lifestyles of many many of the island’s wealthy and rich families who send their kids to the private colleges for fees way below the normal fees. THINK!!! this is not about poor people having sodding cats and dogs and sky tv – your struggle is about CLASS and the middle and ruling class in this island who use their wealth to buy influence to grab what ever they can from the state, whether in tax avoidance or private education and so on. in the uk tax avoiders / evaders scrounge way way way more than benefit fraudsters. someone help me here before coco and cheesed off lead a wickerman mob to fort houmet.
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OK coco – in that case this individual is clearly decieving somebody, perhaps she has a job she is not telling anyone about or perhaps she is making money through illegal methods, maybe she has a partner working who she has not declared. Either way that is one of 1800 or so. There are workers who live in their own property who defraud income tax and make gains out of the tax payer, think of the top bankers and financiers who use every loophole available to avoid paying a penny more then they have to, this is not something that only states tenants do!
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This island is doing a good line in labelling at the moment:
– Commuters
– 4x4s
– States House Tenants
– Yobs
– Single Mothers
…..etc
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So Blah
Lets take the honest hard working states tenants out of the equation and just leave the benefit claiming child factories and pot heads that you are sticking up for.
You dont differentiaite between them in your post, you just mention “benefit claimers” so I assume you are sticking up for the layabouts too.
So you are happy for funds to be diverted away from island infrastructure and making better quality education avaliable for all who choose to take it (if it wasnt subsidised I wouldnt be able to afford to send my children to private education, and its sill a major stuggle now, but I have sacrficed that for my childrens future).
You would happily have these funds diverted, so yet more money is available to the people who cant be bothered in life, and just sponge off the hard workers (such as the working states tenants).
Fanatstic attitude blah, its those type of attitudes that has turned the UK into a welfare state struggling under its own weight of beneifts payments. Guernsey will go the same way if you and your ilk had thier way.
I think your post is more inflammatory than most of the ones you missed a football match to berate.
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Actually CJG i have no idea who scarlett is and just because i agree with her doesnt make me her… Maybe you cant accept the fact that there is more than one person who wants you to shut yer face and stop talking about yourself… you dont see anyone else going on about their life history in such depth…
No1 cares that you pay all that and do all that… as you said (again and again) you dont live in states accomodation so the topic is not about you, have an input to it by all means but stop relating it back to you… its pretty pathetic and self centred… maybe you just like being the centre of attention.
I also dont think that scarlett would be petty enough to disguise her name, she seems to have strong opinions so why would she change her name?
Blah, please explain to the ‘cronies’ (which if we are going to be picky and pathetic like everyone else on here, is offensive generalisation) how it is fair that the honest tax payers pay for the kind honest caring states folk (as they are being made out to be)to sit on their butts and do nothing? obviously they are not all the same, as i said, some people with medical issues or disabilities (other than laziness) cannot work and that is fine, but its the ones who do nothing when they could, like the 19 yr old dads with 3 kids (as an example) that you see in town every thursday(without fail mind you) to get their states cheques… who i also recognise in town at the weekends stumbling from one side of the road to the other… who ruin it for the rest. I have nothing against the ones who actually try and do something for themselves and i dont believe Coco, scarlett, cheezed off and the ‘cronies’ (maybe you should re-think that word bearing in mind what this topic is about) have a problem with the working ones either.
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Hahaha aunt go and blah you are both so way off the mark, meet with me and let me prove,you will both be eating humble pie.
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An incredible amount of judgemental generalisation here. It is worth remembering that States housing and benefits serve different purposes and are not inextricably linked.
It is quite possible to reduce benefits for a layabout who has no interest in working whilst still providing a reasonable level of social housing to support those unable to afford the private sector.
Those casting stones at all States tenants should remember that if there was no States housing it would be harder for people to get off benefits.
It is true that many private sector rental properties prohibit keeping pets. However, there is a distinction between private sector rental housing and States housing – if you are in the private sector you have some degree of choice and so if you have pets you can look for a property which allows pets. States housing tenants would have no such choice and so a blanket ban would prohibit many people from keeping pets. If you accept that we still live in a free society, and that pets can have beneficial impacts on the lives and mental health of their owners, then such a blanket ban would be draconian, in my view.
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Coco, I find it quite ignorant of you to believe that you can change my way of thinking. Clearly it is our different views of the world that enable us to interpret this situation in different ways. To engage in healthy debate is good, it keeps the mind sharp and the views of others in focus and even shows you things you had considered before, but to think that you could actually change a persons entire outlook, which in my view is part of their personality, to me displays a huge amount of ignorance, which further enforces my view of you that you are indeed ignorant to those around you and selfish with a my way or high way attitude.
Blah – enjoy the footie tonight – come on zee Germans!
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No I don’t have anything against States House tenants as a generalisation and have said so. The majority are hard workers. Many a time I have also stated that there are people who do need/deserve to be on benefits for GENUINE reasons such as disability.
But there is still something very wrong with encouraging a benefit lifestyle which is what the States of Guernsey do. Be it encouraging single mothers to have more children to guarantee a heavily subsidised roof over their heads plus a luxurious lifestyle compared to some other islanders or whether it’s paying layabouts more to not work than they would get by working.
I wholeheartedly resent MY hardearned taxes being spent this way. The retirement age has recently increased and no doubt will again. Will the layabouts and theirs or the the single mothers’ offspring be paying for me to live a life of luxury when I’m too old to work. I somehow don’t think they’ll be knocking on my door to so much as enquire about my health never mind hand over any cash. Which probably still won’t be earned at all.
IT’S WRONG!VERY WRONG!
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aunt go I can asure you I am not ignorant maybe you should try lookig in the mirror and getting your facts right,I would not be willing to meet up with anybody if I thought my facts were wrong.but that’s just it about some ppl they can dish there crap but they can’t back it up ( and that comment is not for all)
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This post is getting pretty boring, with people typing and pretending to be other people thinking the rest won’t notice. PMSL….
And then there’s me talking about myself all the time, yawn.
Where’s that Jamie gone? Could do with a debate regarding the Dangerous Dogs Act, would be more interesting than this with everybody repeating themselves going around in circles.
Why don’t you all do something about your lives in they’re that unhappy and you’re that skint blaming people who live in States accommodation and having pets for your misfortunes! Jeez, get a life!
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This is all sounding very Daily Mail. Are we sure that that States benefits policy encourages laziness and extra procreation? Surely it is not designed that way?
Please do not give examples of individual scroungers and single mothers because that cannot be verified. We need examples of the rules under which the system operates, which show that the system works to discourage people from getting back to work and taking responsibility.
If you take some of the posts on here to their logical conclusion you end up in a world where there is no safety net for those in our society who need it. Surely we do not want that?
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TL. It’s Thursday tomorrow. Perhaps you should just take a stroll past Social Security or even take sandwiches and a flaks of tea, sit in the waiting area. Then let us all know how many of those who toddle along for their money have disabilities that prevent them from working.
I’d willingly meet up with you and coco. Of course the system works by discouraging people from working. They gey paid more not to work. What’s that if it’s not discouraging them from getting a job?
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Or how about a night out on the Town. THAT would open your eyes to where an awful lot of taxpayers’ money is going…..
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coco- you speak of facts yet you have not presented any, please see this link which will take you to the sec sec site and show you what benefit can be claimed.
http://www.gov.gg/ccm/social-security/benefit-rates/supplementary-benefit.en
An family of 1 mother and 2 children will recieve approx £235 benefit. From what I can gather even on a rent rebate they would still pay £30 rent per week – so that leaves £205 per week. This will need to feed her and the 2 children, pay gas and electric (water is included in the rent as is property insurance). Then there is clothing the children, tv licence, perhaps running a car or paying to use the bus (i can hear you scream now WALK! but this isnt always practical). Then you have other associated costs of life, birthdays, xmas – kids are always being invited to parties etc and it is socially accepted as normal practice to take a card and a gift to a party so I wouldnt deem it as a luxury, plus there are school equipment, school visits etc – suddernly the £205 doesnt sound like a lot does it?
There are my facts – lets have yours please.
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Earn a Life. I think you’re bang on there.
Poor ol CJG. Still ‘bored’ (transl: I haven’t got a sentient response…but am I bovvered, tho… ?) still banging on about her own life (thanks for the mortgage and childcare info, more to follow, no doubt, can’t wait…) and still totally unable to believe more than one person can share an opinion that opposes hers.
Now I AM a busy chap (not a chap-ess!) so I must be off, and leave it to CJG to fill us all in on more scintillating details of her life, what car she drives, what washing powder she uses, what school she went to, what her favorite color is…
ALL of which, of course, will relate to the discussion in hand.
TTFN.
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Aunt gp you live in the land of nod let me hold your hand and take you to reality .time and date please and facts will be delivered
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As Thursday is a good day at wheadon house I suggest we all meet at 9 am
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CheesedOff – so in your world, anyone who is not visibly disabled should not be claiming benefits, and anybody who looks like a benefits claimant (how do you judge that particular book by its cover??) should not be allowed to mix in society?
How about an objective assessment of whether the benefits system pays more than is necessary to live on this island, or if it sets the bar too low for ensuring that people take jobs that are available? Wouldn’t that be a more rational way of assessing the situation, rather than making glib judgements about people whose circumstances you do not know?
It is very easy to make dismissive generalisations but much harder to actually present some facts. Thankfully Auntie GP has done just that. Are you really saying that £205 per week (in that example) is more than a mother of two needs to live off?
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FACTS
After tax and insurance my take home salary is just under £20,000.00. Sounds alot but it’s not. Not when my rent is £850.00 per month which = £10,200.00 per year, no bills or rates are included in my rent. This leaves £9,800.00 which divided by 52 (as in weeks in a year) leaves me with £188.00(and a few odd pence) per week.
I don’t have children, by choice, but I do still have to pay bills, tv licence and general life costs as mentioned by Auntie GP. I know I’m not the only one in this boat and I also know that I’m not the only one cheesed off with the benefits system.
As I’ve said before I think I’ve lived my life the wrong way. I should have chosen to have children instead of going out to work. I’d be a lot better off…..
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Coco – again you refuse to provide any facts, I can assure you I am not asleep – I am fully awake and aware of the situation around me. I would love to meet you outside Soc Sec tomorow at 9, but I have a job to go to, but dont worry I will be out and about tommorow afternoon visiting these “scroungers” you speak of, so I will try and wake myself up long enough to digest their situiation and figure out where I have been going wrong all this time.
TTFN
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Oh dear, once again arguing has become far more interesting than debating…
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Yes Cheesed off those maybe facts – but they are irrelevant to the debate.
In your situation you could look for cheaper rent, ( i appreciate that £850 is relatively low however by moving to a 2 bed property and flat sharing you cuold reduce your outlay) alternatively you could seek better paid employment. The fact of the matter is these people have choosen a different lifestyle to you, it was their choice as it was your choice to do it your way, neither one is right or wrong.
I believe the system is due to come under review, im sure if you make your constructive criticism and and suggestions for improvements to Mark Dorey they will be taken on board. Also recently those that have children over 12 are now being forced to look for meaningful employment, which I think is reasonable enough, altho Coco the clown probably wont agree, altho one has to wonder how they have time to spy on all the benefit claimants at Wheadon house and follow them home to count their pets?!
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Coco – i know staffs are not on the dangerous dog act but lets face facts here i know of 5 single parent familys in states housing with staffordshire bull terriers and 1 family with a doberman . at least 3 of the staffs are pedigree dogs that cost the single mothers £500 each 1st ,how could they afford these dogs when they are on supplementary benefit and still drive and still go out to town on a saturday night 2nd why would they want these dogs as i have mentioned we dont live in manchester or liverpool and 3rd do these people have to ask states permission to have them in there house like any regular tennant would have to do in the private sector ?????
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Auntgp am I right in saying that we also pay you to laze about with them, ie are you working for the states ? If so think we do need to wake you up as it is us paying your wage, you might want to remember that when your saying ( it’s ok poor single mums pop as many as you like out we will pay
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Oh and aunt noddy I can do what I like with my time as I am not asking anyone to fund it
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Why do they have to own Bull breeds is there a problem with bovines?
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Why should I have to flat share? I have looked for cheaper rent but don’t fancy living in a health hazard thank you very much.
I have already contacted Mark Dorey.
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Aunt GP, – maybe if you got off your high horse and met coco then she will tell you the facts as she keeps saying (which you also keep missing)
Scarlett – sorry about the gender mix up.
The fact is – They havn’t earnt it! Why should we be subsidising their life when they do nothing for us? I’m sorry but its a dog eat dog world (no punn intended) Nothing is free… except for those in the community who do nothing and get paid for it… yes i can see how thats fair… I’m sorry for being so naive to the fact that they are perfect people and deserve to be paid for.
Tell me this – If a tracky wearing, smooking, push chair rolling 20 yr old girl or boy came up to any one of us and said – I have no job/education/money, give me £200 to buy cigarettes, alcohol, go out at the weekend with my friends, enjoy al fresco lunch (not that they’d know what that was) and to buy a pedigree dog because they are all essential to my being…. how many of you would say “ok” and pull out £205 from a bank account and give it to them. THAT is the reality of what its like, we dont need to go into the rules of the system because they’re cr*p to be honest, and OBVIOUSLY dont work, if you cant see that maybe you should re-evaluate your own education and intelligence.
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Jamie,I don’t think they do have to ask permition, if I ma ring then why are the states allowing such big dogs in small houses. These dogs are not on the dangr list but do need to be in the right home. I think it is a trend to have these dogs. Very sad
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Aunty – “altho Coco the clown probably wont agree, altho one has to wonder how they have time to spy on all the benefit claimants at Wheadon house and follow them home to count their pets?!” Aaaah that did make me chuckle!
Jamie – maybe it makes them feel like they have status, makes them look hard, I don’t know why they like or want them, maybe they’ve researched into the breed and found how good they are with children. I too know of a few people in States houses, I’m not sure if they work or not but I’ve seen they’ve recently brought Staffs over which are of extremely poor qauality, they look sick and are bearly 3 months old, paid £150 for them, they have had no health checks, they haven’t even seen the sire to the pups which is worrying as they could be bred with anything, just from some back street “breeder” in Portsmouth, cheap boat fare, cheap dogs. It’s a shame, this Island will soon be full of poor quality dogs and over run with even more when they start breeding them, but again, nothing I can do about it so won’t spend too much time moaning! As long as I know where my dogs are from and me and mine are okay I’m fine.
Cheesed Off – be careful, don’t give too much detail when trying to explain your situation, Scarlett doesn’t like anybody taking typing space up, it’s not like she doesn’t comment on every story possible on this site. Don’t think there’s much to do in her neck of the woods.
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Cheesed Off – for the record, I have children and I get £14.60 a week from the States, what that is supposed to count towards I have no idea, I might as well not have it, but how am I better of? If these people choose to live that life, not working, recieving handouts, wearing “tracksuits” it can’t be a nice life. Don’t you feel proud that you don’t have to do those things?
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Cheesed off – I dont need to meet Coco to be “shown the facts” truth is, they are saying that the majority of housing tenants are layabouts – so out of 1800 housing units, that would mean say 1000 people are layabout benefit claimaints, these claimaints all have to go to EW House to claim their benefit – now im pretty sure that if 1000 people were queing up on benefit day we would know about it – as it happens there are small crowds, 20 or 30 max at any one time so Coco can not show me something that doesnt exist.
Also you dont have to flat share, its your choice to live alone and manage your budget accordingly.
Earn a life, i really dont see that it is me on the high horse, unless being on a high horse means defending the welfare state, taking a moral stance against the ignorant selfish and greedy who can not see the morality involved in providing the welfare statae from which we all benefit and live in, i pray that one day something doesnt happen to you and you have to look to the welfare system for assistance. Not one person on here has aknowledged that our tax regime and social insurance are some of the best in the world, as is the infrastructure and that we actually get pretty good value for our taxes.
Heres an alternative, scrap income tax altogether, make it dog eat dog, it will cost you a lot more to educate your kids with private tutors, protect your family with privagte security guards, and pay private practice Drs for medical care, but hey at least by paying for all this you wont be helping the poor in society and can walk past and spit on them as they lay dying in the streets begging for your pity, that will make you feel good wont it.
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Coco – I’m sure the dogs have no problem being in “small houses”. In fact I’m quite positive 2 or 3 bed houses are quite adequate for their 2ft x 2ft dog beds! You don’t need a mansion to own a dog.
What they do need as with most animals are gardens, time and attention, of which I’m sure these “scroungers” have plenty to give!
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Coco, your not bothered about facts, a quick call into housing et voilla, you do have to apply for permission, and providing your rent is up to date and the dog is not a dangerous breed then permission would be graned, providing of course there is no history of anmial neglect etc. Itso Facto!
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a Doberman was put down because it ignorant owner thought it be good to home it in her states house with 4 kids thinking it great fun to prod pull it tail kick and so on… Oh she said it keeps the kids out of trouble… Doberman has enough after weeks of this and bites. He is now dead and owner has bought a staff… this was only a few months ago
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Well aunt if that is the case then states houses do need checking on with there animals because I know of a few pitballs living in states houses. But the states are so thick they would not know the sufferance between a pit or a yorkie. So that realy work. You are so ignorant aunt gp you need educating
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You may have to apply for permission from Housing but that’s not to say people do. There’s a single mother on benefits that I know who has been in rent arrears for years. She has 2 pedigree bull terrier dogs that she hasn’t asked permission for. She’s had them for 2 years.
Itso facto too!
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I am going to set up my own organisation to protect animals, and I am not shy about confronting ppl and asking the quetion (why) I will also confront other organisations if need be. Watch this space
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You are still missing my point, im happy to pay tax as the economy cant work without it as you stated, but its the fact that they do F all and get paid for it… We do have a great tax structure but what does that have to do with slobs living for free while the rest of us have to work to live…
It keeps being mentioned about it being their choice? it shouldnt be a choice, it should be a last resort, I cant see how you can be so oblivious to the scroungers of society, and its obvious which ones they are. If you cant see that then sorry but you shouldnt be working in that field (which i guess you do, the way you replied to most of the posts). Its as much the people defending them as it is themselves who basically steal money from the hard workers. I could do a better job of sorting them out and getting them into jobs (which we seem to just import imigrants in to do) to get them out of the houses, i dont see much of that happening and rarely hear of it. They’re obviously quite content with living off everyone else and have no intention to get anywhere, Anyone can do anything if they put their minds to it. I mean, even if they’re not the smartest one of the pack, get them into CoFE, i for one and im sure many others would prefer to see our HARD EARNED money go to something productive instead of cigarettes and booze. You always hear stories of how people come from rock bottom, studying and learning a way and then coming out on top, Maybe if they tried to do that then they might get somewhere in life rather than live off everyone else for their entire lives.
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Aunt I think you are false- Reading between the lines of your post ie I thought you might be working for the states you said you could not meet me because you are working yet you have time to debate ! If you do work for the states then you are wasting our money/ if you don’t then ????
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Cheesed off – if that is the case pick up the phone and report them to the relevant authorities so something can be done about it.
Coco, its a bit rich calling the states thick, have you seen your spelling?
Why do you think I am false? I have never confirmed or denied who I work for, what I do and when I do it, your aggressiveness is clear to see and has as far as I am concerned terminated the debate – your “you need educating” sounds like a line from a soap opera coming from a wife beater, are you frustrated that we do not all conform to your way of doing things?
Its interesting, you seem to care more for animals then you do people, alot could be read into that.
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Hang on Auntie GP “……and pay private practice Drs for medical care,” Tell me how I go about not paying private practice doctors for my medical care? Is there an NHS equivalent in Guernsey that I have not been made aware of?
And DON’T tell me that doctors are subsidised for me – the grant is hardly a lot of money, and DON’T tell me that the Medical Specialist Group is provided, as this is funded by the whopping great increase in our insurance stamp some years ago (or that is how they sold the increase to us anyway), and the specialist group is a two tier system anyway, with those able to pay getting quicker treatment that those who aren’t, even though we have already paid through our stamp.
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Oh and cheesed off, you will be pleased to know that the education you speak of does go on. I know of many that have been out of work for long periods for various reasons, sickness, family raising etc and have gone back to College to learn new skills etc. I know of one person who after being out of work for 4 years with a medical problem (which was not outwardly obvious at all times I might add) has done typing, business skills, spreadsheets and databases at college, paid for by the states, and has applied for over a dozen jobs all basic level admin type jobs, filing clerk, admin assistant etc and they havent even got an interview so far, sadly employers arent interested in giving people a chance, they want good recent track record, good sickness levels and thats that. So employers need to play their part in helping people get back into work too.
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EH – go to harley street and pay and then come back here and complain. Some practitioners on Harley street arent even qualified!
You summed it up perfectly of how you are not paying private medical costs.
Those that can afford it do go “private” this is often a perk of their employers packages and not them as individuals physically shelling out for it.
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Auntie – it’s the same people that keep repeating themselves and banging on about the same thing, they won’t be educated and are too ingorant to take into account other peoples misfortunes because it hasn’t happened to them and they think they’re too far above the rest of us to ever need any help. All the can say is chavs in tracksuits, spending THEIR hard earned tax money on fags and booze and pedigree dogs (where that one come from who knows!) but whatever, it’s a lost cause, you can’t educate pork I’m afraid. They’d rather sit typing all day, belieiving they know it all, it’s quite funny to read in some cases, I think a few of them are becoming obsessive and a bit too caught up in it all, I’m presuming they have lots of issues themselves, this is just a way of venting some anger.
Cheesed Off – why don’t you apply for a States loan for a one bed flat if you begrudge paying £850 a month in rented, you’d probably pay the same for a mortgage but at least you’re on the ladder?
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Coco – “pitballs”. For one, how do you know these dogs are in fact Pitbulls? Is this something you’ve been told? Are you educated enough on bull breeds to make that decision? Have you seen Pits that are in the UK or outside of Guernsey?
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Eh – somebody that uses as many ! , and …..’s as you, I’d have thought you were quite educated? Doesn’t your work place have health care benefits?
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Yes I do know that they are pitbulls. Aunt my spelling might be crap but I own 2 companys that make me a lot of money hey and guess what I built them up myself so I must be realy thick and stupid, never mind because my money that I earn allows me to shop at Harrods/Harvey nicks have the best dentist in harley St et et.and guess what I grew up in a states house with my mother who worked so hard that after 5 years of living around ppl who could not be bothered my mother got us into private housing. So I from knowing a lot of ppl know the crack. Now if you want me to prove myself to you and what I know then meet me don’t hide behind your computer.oh and c I am not in all day tapping away on my computer-thankgod for the iPhone I can enjoy a glass of whine at the auberge x
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Auntie GP. I haven’t mentioned education. Anywhere.
CJG – I have applied for a states loan. Please do tell me where I can get a mortgage for the rest though. I’m not sure if you’ve got any idea of the cost of property but on a salary of £20K take home I don’t stand much chance. I didn’t say I begrudge £850 for my rent at all, I have made a lovely home.
Auntie GP wanted facts because she thinks the poor single rabbits, sorry I mean mummies, are hard done by. Then she goes on to say their lifestyle is their choice. I’m sorry but as I have stated in a letter to Mark Dorey anyone can mistakenly fall pregnant once. But to not learn a lesson from that is irresponsible. Benefit should only be given for the first born child. We’d soon see a fall in the “benefit birth rate” then. Shockingly he hasn’t had the decency to reply. Speaks volumes.
I begrudge working hard to support those who won’t. FACT.
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CJG – not sure I understand the question? Please would you be so kind as to clarify?
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Coco, please contact me privately and tell me where these pitbulls reside, I’d be really interested in viewing them for myself. I really do beg to differ on their authenticity though, but I am genuinely intrigued.
Cheesed Off – you sould be able to borrow the maximum from the states and get a top up loan from a local loan company. I did the same a few years back, I know it was much easier then due to the property prices but a colleague of mine has just got one and bought a little flat in town, she had only a few grand savings and got a states loan and top up loan, it’s not impossible. Have you looked into it in depth?
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I’m very aware of the ridiculous property prices on this rock, something I could rant over for hours but again, a waste of energy.
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Cheesed off well put.the only problem with explaing youself to these monkeys is that they just won’t get it as they are so wrapped up in there own brown stuff.you are a proud man and you won’t get respect for that
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CJG unless you are anyone of impotance ie someone who is a expert on pitbulls then I do not need to contact you in private I will deal with this myself and autherised persons, but if you would like to come along for the nose then please do so-send me your contact details
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Coco – you do know that by reporting them, the dogs will probably end up euthanized? Have these so called Pits actually done anything wrong? I’m sure once the authorities get wind of it the dogs will be sentenced to death, like most of the Pits and Staffs mistaken for Pits in England have in recent years.
I don’t want to come along and watch a bunch of nonsense drama or dogs being taken away from their owners for no apparent reason, why would I? You obviously love sticking your nose in peoples’ business and I thought you were an animal lover? Or at least claim to be!
I very much doubt you would be able to tell if these are in fact real Pitbulls. Can you tell me what colour they are? What height they are? What differentiates them from the typical Staffordshire Bull Terrier? I’m sure these scroungers/chavs/tracksuit wearing States House tenants (as you call them) WISH they had a Pitbull and enjoy telling people they are when they’re probably no more than your average, badly bred, messed up bloodline Staff.
They may well have Pit mixed in their blood line but you will be hard pushed to find a Pit on this Island and before you start ranting and raving, I know a lot about these dogs from first-hand experience.
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What are your qualifications on these dogs and what first hand experiance have you had ? Please tell as I am not as ignorant as you think.I know for a fact that these dogs are pitbulls and I also know that they can turn without warning as I have done a lot of research unless my research is wrong ,I would never see a dog put down for no reason nor would I let it suffer in the wrong hands
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This is it coco. Nicely put yourself!
CJG seems to think that everyone has a stash of cash/savings somewhere. Sadly I don’t (I will check under my mattress just to make sure I haven’t missed anything though). I just about manage to keep my head above water and I do it by working bl***y hard. And I AM proud of myself and others who do so. I don’t need CJG’s respect :)
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Whilst I’m sure the issue of whether a dog is a pitbull or a staffie is very interesting, it’s not really for this discussion. Dangerous dogs (as classified by law) shouldn’t be owned by anyone, whether States Tenant or Lord Fontelroy from Fort George. This particular article is about whether States House tenants should be allowed to own pets.
@coco – best of luck with your plans to start an animal welfare charity but I must warn you in advance – if you come round here poking your nose where it doesn’t belong I’m likely to set my extremely dangerous killer goldfish (or is it a piranha, I’m not too good on differentiating breeds!) on you…..consider yourself warned! ;-)
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Sorry Cheesed off – my education comment should of been to earn a life, not you – apologies.
coco,for someone that was bought up in states housing you clearly havent remembered alot either that or turned your back on where you have come from. Tell me this, as an employer with 2 successful companies, would you employ one of these layabouts if they applied for a job within their capabilites, ahead of someone who hadnt had a gap in their employment history?
Also I think the states loan scheme is now closed so that would not be an option and cheesed off I know that it is the hardest thing in Gsy to get a mortgage, I used to be a mortgage adviser, i dont know that there is any advise to give, I am assuming you are single, and I do know that it is people in your bracket as it were that are the hardest done by, property owners get tax breaks on mortgage interest, states tenants get subsidised rent and at least couples privately renting might have a chance of getting a mortgage or at least be able to split the rent, but single private renters get no help from anyone and that does suck, and I wish that could change.
CJG – good luck with the impotence that coco seems to think you might suffer with.
Oh and to prove that people jump to conclusions, who said I was a she???? My name on her is a not so clever play on words to show the utter disdain I have for the political influence exerted in the Press and the lazy journalism exhibited by their “jouralists”.
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CJG – 21 posts on one subject (subject: you)
Scarlett (that’s a HIM, not her) – 6 posts, plus a few more on other subjects that interest me (not that you and your ability to wind up/ be wound up by/and respond to virtually everything on here as a personal insult, doesn’t intrigue me, CJG, for truly, it does!)
Anywho, you WIN, CJG! There really is less to do in your ‘neck of the woods’ than in anyone elses’ who are posting here, or possibly, on the planet!
You GO, girl!
Ps, thank you so much for the latest info on your child benefit details and in depth knowledge of dog breeding. Keep it coming, I await more fascinating details of your life with bated breath, and think I may be developing a crush.
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I wonder if the moderator could find a way for the rest of us to club together to get CJG and coco a room?
I’m even beginning to miss GG now!
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Wow @ CheesedOff, you really are cheesed off aren’t you. I was actually trying to be nice but you’re so busy being miserable day in day out you don’t recognise it….
Carry on in rented accommodation then, get some more qualifications and another job that isnt’ so poorly paid and you might do better for yourself, you obviously hate your situation….arrogance will get you a long way, hasn’t worked so far though…
Your anger and hatred could be utilised in other ways – why don’t you hook up with Coco and save the world’s animals?
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Coco – keep reading books and listening to the world’s media on these dogs that can “turn at any time”. If you had half a clue you’d realise that ANY dog can turn not just bull breeds, it’s how the dog is raised.
I have read lots of your posts and I do not think for one minute, due to the nonsense you come out with, are you qualified to judge bull breeds. Stick to the ponies!
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this is like they shoot horses don’t they, and coco and cheesed off, resembling the bonkers peter sellers character in dr strangelove, are clearly unstoppable (i know – my film metaphors are very badly mixed, but you know what i mean, i am talking ‘endless’ and ‘obsessive’ and ‘badly wrong’). i still want to hang in here to defend a relatively powerless portion of our community, while real injustice is maintained by the low tax demands on the large numbers of ‘nicely comfortable thank you’ residents and the obviously wealthy – can you not see this island is dripping in private mega-money and a fairer distribution of wealth would enable more people, currently subsidised by benefits and housing, to compete more successfully in the housing, education and job markets. how many politicians are charging people ball and chain rents? and if business was seriously stopped from having as many housing licences as they want for incoming cheap(er) labour, that would also help. auntie gp – what a trooper – (though we disagree – i went for uruguay and now spain -latin flair and passion over north european factory efficiency anyday. what do you reckon mr moderator? has this slug fest punched itself out? all i know is there have to be civilised people around to resist the persecution of minorities by those who, unknowingy, play into the hands of the people who really hold power. finally, coco and cheesed off – and this IS personal cos i find your views are so unrelentingly obnoxious – get some therapy to discover the root of your obsessive resentment of your class equals. look at the structure not the individual.
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quick Scarlett, somebody’s left a post on the other 9 you’re commenting on with your wealth of local politic knowledge…
You’re becoming obsessed with me now, you keep coming back to me. You can get my email if you want to contact me privately.
Did you know I pay £14.60 for nappies each week, just in case you wanted to know where the money goes.
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Ray – coco is successful owner of business, I’m sure she could afford a room for us…Coco?
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Blah – “coco and cheesed off – and this IS personal cos i find your views are so unrelentingly obnoxious – get some therapy to discover the root of your obsessive resentment of your class equals. look at the structure not the individual”.
Coco claims to have been brought up in a States house, so she must know how it feels. If this is the case she should know that not all people in States housing live off benefit funded by her and the other hard done by crew commenting (crying) that they have no money on this subject!
All she can say is that she owns ‘companys’ and drinks ‘whine’ at Low Berge. She has nothing relevant to say at all and is making absolutely no sense. Oh, but she does phone up the Wheadon House regularly to report these people with ‘pitballs’ who are taking all her hard earned tax money whilst wearing tracksuits and smoking fags.
Think I might go and leave another 20 comments (can’t believe life must be that dull to actually count them) on another post as this one is becoming as exciting as a weekend with the Pimpernel must be!
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Aunt yes I have employed states house ppl.
Hahaha I can pay for a room but you would have to learn how to behave ( joke )
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Coco – thats good, but in a way shoots your own theory down, as this now means that there are states house people that work, and as a prudent and successful business person, I assume you would not hire bad staff, and so that means that these people must be genuine, nice, hard working ordinary folk? Which is the case in point I have been trying to make all along, not to tar all with the brush tainted by a few.
Thank you and good night!
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Auntie GP you are correct in your assuption that I am a single private renter. At last – some acknowledgement that life is no bed of roses for people in my situation. Thank you.
My main reason for griping is that there’s no assistance available for private renters who have no other choice about where to live.
@ CJG – I truly didn’t realise you had it in you to be nice. I myself am a very jolly person so your “miserable” comments are quite unfounded as are those about my excellent qualifications. FYI I have 9 O-levels all grades A – C. My job IS fairly well paid but life is still a struggle. I may express anger but I so do not show hatred.
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@cjg that’s rich coming from you-you want to take a look at your own posts.
Now I am off for a well earned holliday and some peace and quiet-no doubt this debate will still be going on when I get back. Enjoy x
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Ok, so we all disagree, we are not going to change our minds… however… (short answers please)… Do Housing Tenants have a right to own a pet if they are stuggling to live on other peoples money as it is? And if they cannot afford to pay tax and living expenses on their own, should they be able to enjoy such luxuries in life which other people have to cut out due to not having enough of their own money to do so? (no offense intended incase something in that question might have sounded offensive.)
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No they do not, unless they are paying a full market rent for the property they occupy, which doesn’t happen as far as I know. I do not want to subsidise pet ownership when I can’t afford one myself.
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No.Under those circumstances they do not.
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Earn a life, I feel that if they are on a limited budget, but choose to spend that budget on a pet, then that is fine, providing of course they are not in arrears and continue to pay their rent – if such a time arises that they say “oh cant pay rent today got a vets bill” then that is when housing should say hang on a minute this was the deal stick to it or permission will be revoked.
Bearing in mind alot of who we are referring to here is pensioners, how can we tell pensioners no you cant have a cat etc?
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What difference does it make if they are pensioners or otherwise? I don’t see your point Auntie GP.
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Auntie (just a harmless question but y r u auntie when ur a guy?) Very good point and true at the end, however can you see why people are upset with them paying less rent but still getting the luxuries? I mean, would the money be better spent being saved? I would hate to say to someone ‘no you cant have a pet’, as i do also agree that having a pet can help humans psycologically, but when someone is struggling and having to have help from others is it practical?
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its a rubbish play on words to show that I am Anti the Guernsey Press because of their biased reporting and abysmal journalism.
EH the point is, a pensioner has probably worked all their life and paid their dues, and if they want a cat who are we to say no? but how can you say right states house tenants cant have a pet unless you are a pensioner? or refuse pensioners too? not fair really?
EAL – I see the point, the thing is these people might never be able to save enough to go private or buy, lets say a cat costs £10 a week (i dont know pets are not my cuppa tea!) That £520 a year isnt going to get them very far and they would need a lifetime to save enough to be of any use, so why cant they have the relatively cheap luxury of a pet to brighten up their day? Like you say the benefits to children can be considered, and for some children a pet could be the most affection they recieve??
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…26 posts about you now, CJG. Woo-hoo!
Thought I was falling in lurv til you mentioned nappies, I’d have thought you’d have grown out of those by now.
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Oh rite i get ya now.
I agree, with most part… would this not lead to the ‘slippery slope’ argument? By this i mean, where would the neccesities stop, a nicer car because a new one would be more reliable than an old one? a motorbike incase the car doesnt work, or even going out to town at the weekend because it will help their social life, which as we all know is very important to how we live aswel. Do you see where i am coming from?
It hate to say i agree with your last sentence, not because i hate to agree with you (because i dont hate to) but because that is actually fairly true in some cases.
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You got me with that one Scarlett, you’re just a big barrel of joy aren’t you, no end to your wit…..yawn..
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