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Lake Country couple struggles to find housing

After losing their home in a fire, a couple can鈥檛 find housing that accepts pets
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Felipe Burtch and Shianne Etzerza - Credit: Facebook

The Oyama couple who is still searching for a place to live.

Currently, Shianne Etzerza and Felipe Burtch are living at the Sandman Hotel, along with their two dogs, Bengie the shih-tzu, and Jake, a golden retriever/black lab mix.

On Nov. 30, the pair lost their home in a fire, along with their belongings. The fire was deemed accidental.

The problem is that no one accepts dogs, said Etzerza. After viewing a few places, they found out pets weren鈥檛 allowed. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e old so we can鈥檛 give them away. Jake is on his last legs,鈥 she said.

The pair has until Tuesday when their accommodations run out from the Canadian Red Cross. Etzerza鈥檚 mother has also started a .

鈥淪he wants to be here, but she鈥檚 taking care of my grandma who is pretty ill,鈥 said Etzerza.

They have also received overwhelming support from the community. The pair has been given clothes and even furniture. Etzerza said one woman paid for their hotel for a night.

High rental prices has also been a problem in finding a place to stay.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 really know what to do, it鈥檚 been pretty draining looking just because the prices of places are pretty high, we鈥檙e kind of feeling like we鈥檙e in limbo right now,鈥 said Etzerza.

At the time of the fire everyone was home, including Etzerza鈥檚 stepdaughter and mother-in-law.

鈥淲ithin five minutes the whole house was gone,鈥 she said. Burtch lost his voice because of the smoke.

Little tasks still need to be taken care of, and the couple doesn鈥檛 expect to be able to return to their home for a year.

鈥淥ur main source of income was working from home so now we鈥檙e kind of hooped,鈥 said Etzerza.

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carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com

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