A pet-friendly place

Devonport admits she is not an innovative pet owner. She called her cinnamon-spotted tabby oriental Kitty. They live together at Sutherland Place and have adapted their personalities to each other. At first Kitty ignored Leonie. She was a rescue cat. “She hid under the bed for two weeks holding onto the carpet then she came out and sat in my lap. Now she’s a nut. She’s very obsessed with me.” Leonie works as the building manager and is an avid protector of pet rights. “For some residents, pets are their only companions. I personally think animals have a good sense of judgement for people. They can sense if you’re an animal-lover. She sits gazing at my face.” Kitty spends most of her time inside their ground-floor apartment. She pops out to the small yard when Leonie is having a smoke. “I had a lot of animals as a kid. They were forced on me,” she said. “The norm is to have a pet.” Leonie moved into Sutherland Place 18 months ago and is proud of its pet-friendly philosophy. “Dogs are welcome, but you have to keep them on a lead.” •