Dog owners have complained to a property management company about a policy that appears to ban certain breeds from its rental properties.

Tracey, who asked that her full name not be used because she feared speaking out would make it harder to find a rental, posted on Facebook after spotting the listing on the Summit Property Management website.

The races included Dobermans, Rottweilers, bull mastiffs and all dogs kept by the dog control law to wear a muzzle.

” I could not believe it ; it’s discrimination,” Tracey said. “They are not dangerous breeds; it all depends on the owner, not the breed. Small dog rats can also cause damage.

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After a number of dog owners complained, the company acknowledged that its policy was outdated and would be replaced with a case-by-case assessment.

Tracey said her mastiff cross has been a constant companion since she had him as a puppy nine years ago.

She lived alone and her dog was both protection and companionship, she said. “He’s very friendly, but barks and runs to see who’s at the door.”

With her current rental up for sale, Tracey was looking for a home. However, after weeks of searching, she hadn’t found a home and feared she and her dog would be left homeless.

Tracey’s social media posts have touched a nerve with other dog owners, some of whom have contacted Summit to express their displeasure.

Summit managing director Stewart Henry admitted that finding a rental with a dog was difficult in times of property shortages.

The policy was outdated, drawn up about 10 years ago with the aim of keeping staff safe, he said.

“We had a few staff attacked by dogs, they were quite badly injured.

“We go in and out of many houses every day. Occasionally [tenants] tie up their dogs, sometimes they don’t. It’s a lucky dive.

Working with advice from Marlborough and Nelson, the company had looked at ‘what kind of dogs we should be looking out for’.

“These are the races that mainly cause attacks on strangers.”

He agreed that owners generally dictate dog behavior. “But we don’t know the owner of the dog very well.”

After a number of complaints, Summit staff were removing the policy, Stewart said.

Instead, property managers would make calls on a case-by-case basis, reviewing the suitability of the property and whether the landlord allowed pets, he said.

They also planned to offer advice on their website to potential renters with dogs, including making sure your dog was registered and getting references from previous owners.

“We’re not dog trainers or veterinarians, we’re just normal people trying to do a job without hurting themselves,” Stewart said.