I’m homeless due to nightmare neighbour’s lies – they left me with an impossible choice… now I’ll be living in a car
A DISABLED man has been evicted from his home after refusing to give up his beloved emotional support dog.
Kevin Cobie says he faces living in his car with his Staffy after being dobbed into his landlord by a neighbour, who refused to bend a no animals policy.
The 59-year-old, who suffers with depression and relies on painkillers having shattered his legs in a window fall, says he’d rather die than give up pet dog Memphis.
He told The Sun: “I can’t get rid of him now, I’ve had him for nearly two years. If he goes I’ll go downhill, I’d probably top myself.”
Kevin’s legs are “full of metal” after he drunkenly jumped out of his mum’s window around 25 years ago, smashing his tibia fibulas, admitting: “I’m lucky I can still walk, to be fair.”
Memphis means he has a reason to get out of the house, and prior to adopting him at eight weeks old, he said he rarely left his flat in Cricklewood in north west London.
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“The doctor went mad at me so I got a dog to get me out of the house,” Kevin explained.
“I take my painkillers and then about an hour after I take the dog out because I don’t feel it.”
He had been “going from hostel to hostel” for months before Barnet Council found him the first floor accommodation, which is operated by a private landlord.
However, he claims just a couple of months after bringing Memphis to live with him, a neighbour reported him as there is a strict no animals policy.
Kevin said: “I said I’ve got him for my mental health. He doesn’t bark, he’s no problem.
“I’ve trained him, he walks fine by my side. I can’t have him pulling me or I’ll go flat on my face.
Kevin originally moved to the borough when he was around 40 to live with his partner in Kentish Town.
“I used to deliver fruit and veg to schools,” he explained. “I began seeing the head chef of one of the schools.
“I gave up my flat in Woodford to live with her. Six and half years later we went our separate ways, and I went from hostel to hostel until I got this place.”
He previously slept rough for several months aged around 19 or 20 before being offered a place in a shelter.
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Kevin was evicted by two bailiffs on Thursday morning and now he faces living in his KIA Picanto with Memphis.
He added: “Everything is hitting me at once. I don’t know which way to turn.”
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,
- HUMEN
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,, 116 123