Both of these experiences showed me the importance of community and the importance of not being a bystander. The worst part of those experiences was having people walk past you looking down; the sense of isolation was awful. We also know that mental health and loneliness are particularly rife amongst those most vulnerable who find themselves living on our streets. For many, owning a dog is the only means of contact they'll make, and a source of strength to support them through their night. They could be the sole light of someone's existence. 

Dogs on the street, whether you agree with it or not, are here to stay. That's why drawing on the Hope Project, led by the Dogs Trust, is so important for the context of this short debate. Sadly, most accommodation providers in the UK still operate a 'no dogs' policy, meaning that homeless dog owners are denied access to the shelter and support they so desperately need. It's a self-defeating policy, which means providers aren't able to open accessible nor offer support to the very people that they should be trying to help. The Hope Project works with hostels and housing providers to encourage them to accept clients with dogs. The Dogs Trust is working in partnership with Homeless UK to provide a directory of dog-friendly hostels. Currently, less than 10 per cent of hostels in the UK are dog-friendly, meaning that many dog owners are denied access to that shelter and support simply because they have a pet. 

Across Wales, only eight hostels operate a dog-friendly policy. Eighteen of our 22 local authorities have no dog-friendly hostels at all. I'm very grateful to The Wallich, Tresillian House, The Ambassador YMCA and the Salvation Army, all of which allow pet dogs into their accommodation. Across the border in England, the situation is just as bad. According to the Hope Project, only one hostel operates a dog-friendly policy in the west midlands. The picture in Northern Ireland is similar, with only one dog-friendly hostel listed in the entire country, based in Belfast. And, in Scotland, there are two throughout the country, both based in Edinburgh.

Now, some will say that the person looking for accommodation should just give away their dog. Now, Deputy Llywydd, I could never do that, and that is a decision they definitely should not have to make. There are many benefits to accepting dogs into hostels, not just for the owners and the dogs themselves, but for staff and other residents. When homeless people are forced to choose between their dog and a hostel place, most will, understandably, choose to stay with their dog, as their dog is most often their best friend, their companion. The bond between any dog owner and a dog is a strong one, but it will never be more so than with that of homeless people.

By ensuring we open up hostels to dog owners, we can ensure we are giving people access not only to the shelter, but all the help, advice and support a hostel can give them, and that's the very thing we are trying to achieve. This would mean that staff working in dog-friendly hostels could help homeless people who wouldn't usually engage with those services. Talking to someone that's homeless about their dog, engaging in that conversation, could also lead on to other conversations where staff might be able to help and support in other ways. Staff at dog-friendly hostels across the UK say that having dogs at their hostel lightens the atmosphere and makes the hostel feel more homely.

Now, whilst dogs provide that much-needed friendship and companionship, we know that their health can be impacted by the conditions in which they live as well, and that could be the case on the streets or in shelter. So, that's why the veterinary scheme is also another part of the project, which provides free veterinary treatment to dogs whose owners are homeless or in housing crisis. Dogs who are part of the scheme are entitled to free flea and worming treatments, vaccinations and microchipping, and the Dogs Trust will also fund most additional necessary treatments that the dogs may need. The scheme runs in 113 towns and cities across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and I'd like to pay tribute to all those local veterinary practices, charities and other homeless organisations who make this type of support possible. 

Deputy Llywydd, I'm very grateful that, in a statement last week, the Minister mentioned Housing First, an issue that I brought to this Chamber last year. She's right that having a housing first policy in Wales means that people can secure permanent, secure accommodation where pets are welcome and can turn it into a home. But I'm also acutely aware that, whilst having a housing first policy is obviously where we want to be, and there's some fantastic work going on, people are still having to use temporary accommodation where 'no dogs' policies exist. So, in my mind, something needs to be done now to deal with these issues in temporary accommodation and not just rely on Housing First. 

Temporary accommodation provided by the local authority is often sourced from the private rental sector, and often 'temporary' can mean several years in reality. Crucially, this, along with the 'no dogs' policy, causes a broken system and blockage in the system. If a homeless person is allowed their dog in a hostel but not at the next stage of temporary accommodation, then they will be reluctant to move on. If the only option is to give up their pet, they won't, and they will very likely end up back on the streets. The blockage in the middle of the housing process, essentially facilitating bed blocking at hostel level, is something that needs to be addressed by the local authority, perhaps with assistance or incentives from the Government, who have the ability to adapt the guidance for future housing duties.

So, moving forward, what can we all do? Personally, I'm looking forward to meeting quite a number of groups and people with an interest in this issue over the next few weeks and exploring exactly what I can do beyond this debate to influence the Government and others. I also think the Government must focus on securing the 'move on' pathways and crucially ensure that no-one who refuses temporary accommodation because they will not accept pets has their housing duty discharged, because this traps them in a cycle of homelessness and it also traps their beloved pet. 

In closing, and before the Minister replies to this important debate, I did want to play a video commissioned by the Dogs On The Streets charity, but I don't think the 90 seconds that we are allowed out of the five minutes would have done it enough justice. DOTS, headed up by Michelle, currently operates weekly in London, as well as running regular services in other major cities across the UK, and it has a view to expand further. With a fully equipped mobile veterinary surgery vehicle, allowing ease of access to dogs in need, DOTS ensures all the essential items and services are provided for free each and every week, from food provisions to new harnesses and leads, plus training and grooming sessions. The video tells us the story of Damo and his dog Gypsy and why this issue I've brought in front of the Chamber today is so very important. So, in the words of Damo, 'Everyone needs a companion.'

Finally, Deputy Llywydd, let's change what I and so many others see as a major injustice, not only to people that are homeless, but to their dogs too. Diolch yn fawr.