Pets, we love and cherish them. They are with us through the good and bad. About 68 percent of Americans have pets, between 5-10% of homeless in the United States are pet owners. There is a stigma that homeless pet owners aren’t taking care of their pets. Most on a daily basis are told they shouldn’t have a pet or they’re a horrible person for having a pet while being homeless. When in reality they are taking better care of their pets than some with homes.
Many owners struggling with mental, emotional, and other health issues get a positive relationship out of caring for their pet on the street. Homeless pet owners love their pets often saying “my pet eats first”. There are many resources available to homeless pet owners that offer free clinics, spay and neuter, vet check ups, prescriptions, vaccinations, food, and licensing.
If you are interested in volunteering or donating please check out these websites:
Written by Emily Sanders
Works Cited:Irvine, Leslie, et al. “Confrontations and Donations: Encounters between Homeless Pet Owners and the Public.” The Sociological Quarterly, vol. 53, no. 1, 2012, pp. 25–43.Slatter, Jessica, et al. "Homelessness and companion animals: more than just a pet?" British Journal of Occupational Therapy, vol. 75, no. 8, 2012, p. 377+. Gale OneFile: Health and Medicine.Pires, Candice. “Homeless People on Their Pets: 'She Saved Me as Much as I Saved Her'.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 16 June 2018.
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