different faiths, cultures, and pets

[mardyfish]

I am working on a project at work to change the policy and allow people living in sheltered and other older persons housing to have pets. As part of the policy development process, we need to complete an Equalities Impact Assessment - looking at how the proposed new policy may impact, positively or negatively, on people from different faiths, cultures, etc.

I have some information (e.g. about Muslims, Travellers, Gypsies) but am finding it difficult to find out if there are any other considerations about other groups of people that we need to bear in mind when completing the EIA or drafting the policy. For example, there is anecdotal information that there may be higher rates of cynophobia in some communities, and also ritualistic belliefs around having a dig in the house or coming into contact with canine fluids in other cultures so we need to consider that when looking at the policy.

Can anyone help or signpost me towards any information that gives further details.

Part of the project will include consultation with customers and other people so I can also, in time, contact local groups to find out more, but I need to complete a first cut of the EIA and so some indicative information would at least help with that.

If anyone can help at all, that would be great and very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[mardyfish]

sorry in the scond paragraph that should say a dog in the house!

[swedeheart]

Hi mardyfish, I covet your Vitruvian Cat avatar:) Sorry I don't have all the answers but your question brought Manimalis to mind. As far as I know they're over here in Sweden but click the flag for an English version. It's very common for Swedes to speak English well enough to understand and be understood so if they sound right to you please don't hesitate to make contact. An email might be best, give them the chance to hand it over to whoever is best suited to answer the question http://www.manimalis....ew/engelska/valkommen Good luck with your project, it's an important one.

[boxtops]

It's a complicated one because some people of some faiths are keen on pets and other people of the same faith won't be so bothered. You need to look at which animals are sacred to some religions (cows = Hindus, but not exactly pets). Muslims like cats (Mohammed cut the sleeve of his coat once so as not to wake a sleeping cat) - but again they won't all like them any more than other people do. Many Muslims will only keep a dog as a guard dog because some believe that dogs are dirty animals. I am sure if you google the names of the different religions "and pets" you would be able to find some general ideas - this for example is a chat thread I got when I googled "Hindus and pets". http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/844544
I hope this helps.

[swedeheart]

Love the Mohammed story, boxtops.

[boxtops]

Swedeheart, http://www.pictures-o....org/islam-faith.html

[swedeheart]

Good name too, for a cat - Muezza. What a beautiful expression: "roaming time":) Thanks boxtops!

[micmak]

Boxy. I read every word on the link and found it fascinating.I love cats. In my eyes all cats are beautiful. Even if they have one ear, one eye, half a tail. I just love em.

[wolf63]

Never heard of the cats self-righting themselves before - when Merlin rolls off things (usually the bed or the back of the sofa) she just hits the ground with a heavy thud.

I think that it is good that how different people interact with animals is being taken into account in your report. I am not sure of the statistics of ethnic/religious minorities in this country and I live in an area of the country that is about 95%+ white europeans so I do not have a full picture of the problem. Could it be that the problem (if there is going to be one) is being overanalysed?

You are not going to be able to please all the people who are end users so aim to please as many as you can and make plans on how to placate the rest.