The homeless population here in Seattle is fairly large, and 9 times out of 10 they seem to be pet owners as well. At first I would look at these people almost in disbeleif that they had these poor animals out in the cold. I felt bad for these animals because they didn’t have a warm home to go to at the end of the day. Usually I'd walk away hoping that their owners had enough spare change to make sure they were getting properly fed, and still getting the nourishments that their bodies required. I always thought to myself "How in the hell can you take care of an animal when you can't even take if yourself?"
I had a really bad taste for homeless people that I saw with dogs, but after an encounter with a homeless girl, I had a chance to learn more about being homeless and owning an animal, and as a result, my opinion definitely changed.
I encountered the girl in front of a gas station, and eventually got to asking how long had been homeless, and she told me it'd been about four months. I asked her why she didn't give her dog to someone that had more of a stable home, and as her eyes drifted out of my sight she said "Shaka is the only source of support and stability that I have in my life, and I would probably lose it out here in the streets if it wasn't for her."
Shaka provides her with warmth, a sense of security, and the emotional connection that keeps her going day after day. Shaka's owner stated that she could have gone to a shelter, but there are no shelters in town that take in people with animals so she chooses to stay on the streets and take care of her dog the best way she knows how. Shaka seemed like a very upbeat and loving dog. She had her food, her water, a couple of toys, and her owner who seemed to love her more than herself.
According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, up to 10% (in some areas, as many as 24 percent) of the homeless population are pet owners. Many of these pet owners get harassed by pet control and then are in fear when they do need to take their animals in to see the vet, because they won't be able to provide an address which means that the clinic will not return their animals to them. When the animals are taken away, they mostly end up in shelters where they will either be euthanized, which I think is horrible, or placed into another home, which then becomes one less available home for the other 6-8 million animals waiting to be adopted.
Shelters across America should open their doors to people and their pets. I feel that animals should not be considered homeless because they don't have a fixed residence, but only when they don't have a steady person taking care of them. Animals that are being well taken care by their homeless owners should be allowed to stay with them. I see it on TV all the time how people (who are not homeless) mistreat their animals and leave them malnourished and un-kept.
What is your take on homeless people you see on the streets that have animals?
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Comments (28)
I just have to disagree. It's just not the time to have a pet. Pets cost money, food, vet bills, toys, etc. If they are having to BEG other people for money then they should not have a pet at this time.
Why can't the homeless people have their own pets? They all need love and companion too.
They have pets to make people feel sorry for them so they get more money from people, enough said..
Usually, the only time I will feel sorry for homeless people is when they have kids and such.. If they are homeless cause of drugs and alcohol, i could care less..
Also, I hate feeling bad when I have no money (most of the time.. Im only 21..) and homeless people ask me for some.. they expect me to have money just because I drive a car (not even my car.. my bfs)
I think they should be limited. Things like dogs can survive like that. I don't understand the rights thing because it's just like being a poor person; you can't have anything. They don't get to go to the vet. If they have to go then they'd better find a family member with an address.
@bbanmen420@xanga - yeah, I'm poor because I've got medical problems. I had a heart attack in my sleep, so I'm brain damaged on top of my other issues. I live on a pension, but I had to save up for stem cells to fix my condition. I've found that keeping myself pale and asking for 25 cents to a dollar gets me pretty far. I walk up and down the street. One day I received 4 dollars. A lot of homeless people try to garner sympathy, and all they get is a kick in the ass.
this website is very good, you can go and see it
http://www.shoes4world.com/
The homeless are just as diverse a population as the rest of us are. Some are responsible and know how to take care of things and bother to do so. Others don't.
Some of you decrying the homeless having pets--are you aware that there are vets and resuces in some parts of the US that have outreach programs and assistance prorgrams and such? I'm betting you did not know that.
The homeless do not live in a bubble. If people are aware of a homeless person with an animal, they DO reach out. In my own area (I live near DC,) there was talk on a local rescue list about a homeless 18-year-old boy with a dog. People were looking for resources for both the dog AND the boy. I'd be willing to bet this happens more than a lot of us know.
How do I feel about it? Well, as I said--mixed. Some are responsible, and some are not. People who really care about their pets will accept help for the animals if it is offered.
I DO wish more homeless shelters would allow people to bring their pets along. It would be better for all parties involved.
Just because they are "homeless" doesn't mean they have to be "petless" or "loveless". Living in southern Florida, we have a lot of homeless here because it's warm and they can sleep outside more readily if they choose to not go to a shelter. We have a local homeless man that rides his bicycle all over our city with his dog and he sets up his chair and plays the guitar for people to enjoy while they are eating their lunches as places like Panera or Subway. He doesn't bother anyone, but people will give him change or buy him lunch and he is very appreciative. I myself will drop off a few extra things that I have (like blankets or towels) and he always has a smile on his face and thanks everyone for their kindness. His dog is very well cared for, he has toys and fresh water everyday that is in a little bowl for him.
He doesn't bother anyone, and anyone that I have seen help the gentleman out are always kind and loving towards him. So if his pet is what makes him happy, then so be it. Who are we to judge why people should or should not have pets? Is it better to put the dog in a shelter where he's going to be euthanized in 30 days if not adopted??
Usually the animal living on the street with the owner touches me more than the actual human because the faithfulness of the animal is so wonderful, and the love between the two is apparent. If someone is asking for money and they have an animal, I feel inclined to help out with a little more than I normally would. I do feel that the animal should be allowed to stay with the person as long as said person can ensure it is loved, safe and properly treated. Animal clinics should be inclined to help the animal in general and return it to the person who loves it so much instead of taking it away from the person who often only has the animal to hold on to, and even worse: how could someone just euthanize a poor creature that only knows how to love its owner back despite the conditions it is living in? Clinics definitely need to start allowing animals to come stay with people because we're all living creatures, and the animals could even brighten the day of another homeless person living in the shelter as animals often have the ability to do with random people. Come on, who doesn't love playing with a cat or a dog? I am sure many animal groups would love to help fund the buying of food for animals in a shelter that would allow homeless people and their pets to stay in.
Um they need some company, someone to be there for ,them love them no matter what keep them warm at night lol and make sure that one tries to take any of there stuff.
All people deserved to be loved.
Bah, I live in Seattle too.
People would rather have 2 dogs and eat tv dinners around here...
i think its for companionship. animals love you no matter what. no matter who you are, what you look like, what you smell like. it doesn't matter. its unconditional love. and on top of that, i bet those pets get more love then half the pets in homes around the US. if i were homelss, i would hope to have a pet.
From what i've seen, dog's belonging to homeless people are the most well behaved pet's i've seen.
Well behaved dogs, are for the most part taken care of, and trust their owners.For me, personally, seeing both homeless people and their stray animals together adds more sadness. I have a soft spot for animals and find them highly fascinating and it pains me to see homeless people out on the streets, so this could be why. I don't know why anyone would have a problem at all with any homeless person owning a pet. I'm quite shocked people out there would be even the slightest bit bothered over this. Just like anyone else who wants a pet, people who are homeless are entitled to have pets, since they can offer companionship and can uplift you. As long as they aren't cruel and abuse the animal, there shouldn't be an issue.
It's like, when I first got my cat and from there on, she was definitely one of the few things in this world that brought me absolute joy no matter how much adversity I'm facing now. As I've been feeling the major extent of the hard economic times, I've envisioned myself being homeless too and if that were to happen to me, I'd still take her with me and I most likely wouldn't feel so bad about the situation because whenever I see her, her cuteness just puts me at peace, takes my anger away and offers me some type of hope no matter how hopeless things are. One time, when I was petting her I actually said something, thinking out loud, "Hey, even if I lose everything and won't be doing anything in my life, as long as I don't starve to death out there, still have some clothes/blankets, and have you still as my friend, I can manage that." Having a pet is very relaxing and therapeutic. There's a special bond there, a strong friendship, and pets are like a security blanket from the cruel society/world at large.
That's probably the only friend I'll ever have if I were to become homeless, left to rot in the streets.
what else do you expect them to eat?!
I volunteer at a womens shelter 6 months a year in N.C. Many of these women have pets, usually dogs. These animals offer them unconditional love and acceptance. Their animals do not judge or reprimand them. They accept them exactly the way they are. Their animals love them all the time and give them a companion they can count on to be at their side no matter how cold or how hot it is. I have seen them share their only meal of the day with their dogs. I help get these animals into temporary foster homes so the women can get into a warm,dry place to sleep at night . Many will not leave their pets and sleep together in abandoned buildings together. They comfort each other. Having a pet is something that the homeless can be proud of , since many have given up on helping themselves. The companionship and love that an animal gives them is like nothing else in their lives. It is often the only reason they can give for being alive. I hear "my dog needs me" quite often. It is really that simple.
I can think of two reasons off the top of my head. First of all, people are more receptive to animals than homeless people than animals. Sad, but true. So if you have a pet, you're probably more likely to get donations from random passers-by. Secondly, no one else will talk to a homeless person. Think about it, when's the last time you had a conversation with a homeless person? They want some kind of companionship. What better way than with an animal that's been trained to be loyal?
@jamoncita@xanga - @Gorrific@xanga - @bbanmen420@xanga - condescending assholes.
Just because they're homeless, doesn't mean they can't have pets. Most of these homeless people need someone or something that'll keep them company.
I totally agree with you about homeless people with pets. Homeless people need love, too! And so do their pets!
Animal Joy Zone
@antisalvation - hahaha.. lighten up ;D
whenever i see the homeless man & his dog, the dog is just lying there. just because they are lonely & need to stay "sane", they are being selfish. the poor dog needs to be in a warm place with space & time to walk around & definitely to run around. i know some homeless people can't help being on the street but don't drag the dog into it with you. i also know that if they get food, they usually feed the dog instead of themselves. but if u truly love your dog, you'll give it to someone who can take better care of it than you can.
"I felt bad for these animals because they didn’t have a warm home to go to at the end of the day."
Funny, I'd be more concerned for the homeless person.
From the experience side, I approached a homeless man with his pet dog outside a convenient store. I gave him $20 to go inside and buy whatever he wanted that will help get him through the day. I watched his dog for him while he cautiously went in. A few minutes later he returned with several cans of dog food, bottled water, some beef jerky and a pre-made sandwich for himself. The dogs tail was wagging like crazy when he came out, so I know he was happy to see his owner again. He was so appreciative of my help and offered me back the leftover money. I told him to keep it and use it wisely. I actually think he spent more money on his dog than himself. He asked me my name and called me by it when he thanked me. Whenever I see them, which is not often, I make a point to help him.
I have a pet related business and we are going to start a community outreach program for this very cause. Since shelters won't take them, they are on there own, both of them. They need all the help they can get.
I seen many people homeless that have a dog, I can see that, but some people go as far as 2 or 3 animals, it's really sad that when it gets cold they have to be cold too. I have 3 dogs myself and I couldn't imagine giving making them stay out in the cold with me. More than anything it makes me mad is when people have small dogs like a chihuahua that barly have any hair, they go outside for 2 seconds and there shaking. I have sat outside with my dog in the freezing cold waiting for a ride and me have a jacket on and put my dog in my shirt and him still shaking. I always feed and give my dogs water before myself. I really hope they do the same. I will also give a homeless person dog food and nothing else because I don't believe someone shouldn't be able to feed there dog just because they can't afford it. I hope for the best for the animals and the people cause once a pet is having to rely on someone for food they will not be able to servive without someone taking care of them.