I am a 39-year-old widow with a son of 14 at home. I have lived in my rented house for three years and 10 months.

I have to move because my landlady wants to sell. I have been looking very hard for months to find somewhere else but to no avail.

Nearly all ads or letting agents say no smokers, no children, no pets or no housing benefit.

Well, yes, I do smoke; yes, I have a child; yes, I have two beautiful dogs; and, yes, although I work part-time as a care assistant, I need housing benefit as a top-up to my wages.

The one big problem is my dogs. I certainly haven't come across any dog lovers.

I did get a chance of a flat with a garden but wasn't allowed the dogs. I thought maybe I could get them fostered - no such luck.

I must have rung every organisation going but no one could help me.

My German shepherd is six-and-a-half and was a rescue dog. He has been my life since my husband died.

My other dog is a two-and-a-half-year-old Staff, also a rescue dog. I don't want much, just to keep my dogs.

I am a loyal, honest, hard- working lady. Surely there must be someone with a two-bedroom property at no more than £550 a month who will let me have my dogs.

The council can't help me with housing for at least a year. I have spent the past six months with homelessness looming.

-Mrs Kelly Smith, 44 Saxon Close, East Preston, Littlehampton