Thanks to the work of Genevieve Frederick, "Pets of the Homeless" was set up.
Pets of the Homeless is a nonprofit volunteer-based organization that is dedicated to collecting food for animal companions of the homeless in the United States and Canada, as well as administering veterinary care.
Read about what inspired her and the work of her organisation, so appreciated by homeless war veterans, and those who have fallen on hard times in North America:
http://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/pets-of-the-homeless
In the UK in some supermarkets I have seen collection bins for Dogs and for animal rescue centres. But it would be good to have this charity, or something similar working here too. It certainly would be nice to see collection bins for donated dog and cat food for the homeless.
Sometimes, for those people, their animal companion (usually a dog) is the only friend they have, and the only ray of hope that keeps them going.
(Although in UK the P.D.S.A. is a fantastic charity providing veterinary care for anyone on very low income, and only asking for any donation the person can afford.)
What a great charity and so timely. There are many more homeless than ever before. I do see street people with pets, I did not realize how many have pets. That is a lot of animals in vulnerable situations. Of course it is a lot of people in vulnerable situations.
I wish we could solve that problem, but in the mean time helping their pets has got to help the people feel more secure.
I can see why a homeless person wants/needs a pet. Just having a pet to care for gives a person a reason to keep trying. The animal gives them love and acceptance which are in short supply when you live on the street.
You are right about the normalcy factor. Even if you have nowhere to live, having a pet gives you a sense of still having a normal life.
Pets make life worth living and no matter how displaced you are, home is anywhere that you can be with your pet.
As long as you have a pet you have family and you belong to someone.
I know....that is why I struggled for quite a while to take Misty from the homeless guy who used to be her caretaker. Some would say I should have done that earlier. But I couldn't -for those considerations.
Only when it became clear that he was unable to really care for her owing to his huge shortcomings (and those were nothing to do with being homeless or poor) -did I act instinctively to protect her.
Quote:I know....that is why I struggled for quite a while to take Misty from the homeless guy who used to be her caretaker. Some would say I should have done that earlier. But I couldn't -for those considerations.
Only when it became clear that he was unable to really care for her owing to his huge shortcomings (and those were nothing to do with being homeless or poor) -did I act instinctively to protect her.
Being homeless is not always the real issue. Even if he had a place to live, Misty was still better off with you.
I do see homeless people around Toronto and some have pets. The pets look well cared for and could leave if they wanted to. In the dead of winter I saw a homeless guy with his big shorthaired pit-bull type dog. He had used an old pink baby snow suit to make a warm water proof dog coat. Well done on his part and the dog was wearing it with pride because his owner had made it for him.
There's a professional beggar around here. Been 'homeless' for 20 years i.e. 'homeless' when he isn't living with his girlfriend that is.
He has had a stream of dogs over the years, people give more if there's a dog there.
And they do - and then he goes and spends it, mainly on alcohol.
Quote:There's a professional beggar around here. Been 'homeless' for 20 years i.e. 'homeless' when he isn't living with his girlfriend that is.
He has had a stream of dogs over the years, people give more if there's a dog there.
And they do - and then he goes and spends it, mainly on alcohol.
That is a problem. He is someone who has problems even when he has a place to stay. Does he do okay with his dogs. Are they well looked after?
He is using the dogs as a begging tool. A group of homeless here got a hold of a wheel chair and used it for the same reason. It got them more money, but they took turns sitting in the wheel chair.
Still for some people, having a pet is very important even if they are homeless. The pet is all the family they have.
There are many different reasons for homelessness.
I myself, was briefly homeless when I was young and lived in London. In fact, I had two periods of this. Each time there were friends I stayed with but it was an unpleasant situation. I literally slept for 3 hours one night on a bench in a park, after walking until I couldn't walk any more.
But some are homeless for reasons of substance addiction, and serious psychological issues.
Yes, unfortunately, some street people do utilise dogs to help them with their begging, and the cuter -the better. I have seen that, and heard it said by those people. Sometimes their notions of 'care' can be far removed from the dog's actual needs.
But I have also witnessed real love, care and deep bonds between others and their dogs, for all they were begging or on meagre benefits.
Begging sometimes can be a lucrative business for some people! And it is sad to see a dog used in the way you describe, Knight.
Homelessness is a complex problem. Sometimes people are between homes and having to make do. Sometimes people become homeless because of mental health problems or addictions. I think some people just want to drop out of the system.
Dogs do get used, but they can also be beloved pets. It is hard to tell at a glance how things are. I am glad there are charities helping the homeless with their pets. Better we help the wrong people sometimes, than fail to help those who really need our help.