Mental and Physical Safety
Homelessness is a physical and mental threat to someone’s well-being. Having a pet to care for, and that cares for them in return, is not only good for someone who is struggling with mental health issues but it can actually make them physically healthier.
A person feels a stronger need to take care of themselves because they are needed to take care of their pet. In cold months, their pet is a source of warmth and companionship. Not only does having a pet reduce stress and lower blood pressure, but it can improve immunity, lower risk of stroke and heart attack, and ease physical and mental pain.
SHOULD HOMELESS PEOPLE HAVE DOGS AND CATS?
ARF course, the first question that arises is why do homeless people have dogs and cats when they can barely take care of themselves? Nonprofit homeless organizations have consistently avowed indisputable benefits for homeless people to have a dog or cat. After all, dogs and cats provide companionship, love, warmth, protection, acceptance (no judgment, right?), and most notably, a reason to LIVE. Suffering from invisibility and marginalization in today’s society, homeless people can benefit from having a furry companion at their side. Oftentimes, they’re a day away from committing suicide, and having an animal to care for may be their only means of living. Nevertheless, it sounds like the advantages are way more one-sided – meaning the human on the street benefits more than the animal itself. PAWS DOWN.
It’s not to say that dogs and cats don’t gain from their homeless human companion – heck, some argue that these animals are much happier than the ones who live inside a home but are left alone all day while their financially established human goes to work. They claim that the #1 priority for dogs IS human companionship, not shelter, food, or veterinary care. And, supposedly, homeless people will even feed their dogs and cats first BEFORE themselves. I personally find it hard to believe based on the countless interactions that I’ve witnessed, but hey, a professor from the University of Colorado Boulder wrote a whole book about it called, My Dog Always Eats First.
Sorry to be the Debby Downer here, but WOOF, I am barking out my doubts about this so-called beautiful bond between homeless people and their animals. While it’s true that domesticated dogs originally came from the wild and may have successfully adapted to outdoor living in the last thousands of years, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are better off outdoors their entire lives. Think about extreme, even deadly temperatures! Besides extreme temperatures, dogs also have to battle parasites and cruel passersby while living on the streets with their humans. Not to bark, excessive exposure to sunlight causes cancer in dogs over time. And, I haven’t even begun to bark about environmental pollution! I know some of you would ask, what’s the difference between lonely backyard dogs and these homeless dogs? At least the “homeless” dogs have human companionship, right?
OK, people who leave their dogs outdoors really should NOT have dogs, to begin with – whether they live on the filthy streets or inside a multi-million dollar house.
ARF, it is a consensus that dogs provide unconditional love to humans and would do anything for them; nonetheless, if homeless people can’t provide basic needs (such as food and clean water) for dogs regularly, then is it really fair to the dogs? If you don’t know where your dog’s next meal would be, it seems as though these poor innocent animals will live a life of starvation or slow death with health pawblems in development along with the lack of veterinary care. Neglect is a form of cruelty.
So, should homeless people have dogs and cats? To be fair, it’s the same answer for anyone, really – with or without a home.
Penny for my barks? Perk up your ears!
Can homelesspeople take care of their pets?
It is a common misconception that homeless people can’t take care of their pets. As an expert and huge advocate for keeping homeless and their pets together, we can assure that people experiencing homelessness love their pets and will always find ways to provide for them. As a matter of fact, a homeless pet owner would rather sleep on the street than choose a bed in a shelter that doesn’t allow pets.
When it comes to owning a pet, people experiencing homelessness are not much different than people who are housed: they love their furry companions, take good care of them, and treat them as family. So, next time you see a homeless person and their pet on the street, put your worries to the rest, the pet is well cared for.
