Speaking with: Emma Power and Jennifer Kent about why Australian cities and homes aren’t built for pets

A canine commuter catches up on some sleep on the Paris Metro. Kevin O'Mara/Flickr, CC BY-NC-NDWe’re a nation of pet lovers: 60% of Australian households have some kind of pet. And with dogs in 39% of those homes, it’s only natural that we’re starting to see dogs sitting happily alongside human diners at places like cafes and pubs. But while we have one of the highest levels of pet ownership in the world, our rights and infrastructure planning don’t seem to be built around this reality. No Australian cities allow dogs on public transport – something that’s commonplace in many cities in Europe – and many tenants find that looking for a rental property with a pet is virtually impossible. Dallas Rogers speaks with Emma Power, urban cultural geography senior research fellow at Western Sydney University, and Jennifer Kent, urban planning research fellow at the University of Sydney, about why a nation of pet lovers doesn’t seem very interested in planning for pets. Subscribe to The Conversation’s Speaking With podcasts on iTunes, or follow on Tunein Radio. Additional audio: Domain.com.au: Jimmy Thomson – No barbecue ban but pets on notice as strata regulators lay down the law Music: Free Music Archive: Blue Dot Sessions – Outside the Terminal Dallas Rogers has received funding from The Henry Halloran Trust, AHURI, Urban Growth, the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, the University of Sydney and Western Sydney University.