Gone to the Dogs

This is the 6th time I have tried to start this article. My first two attempts involved some gibberish that was not nearly as clever as I thought it would be once I saw it written out. A couple tries incorporated statistics and fell flatter than a Nebraska highway. No one wants to see percentages on a Monday. I was really struggling with what to write about so I decided to forgo a hook and some catchy phrasing and simply delve into the topic.

One of the primary services we offered at Project Homeless Connect was directed at pets. Many people from the community approached me before the event and wanted to know why we had space dedicated to grooming and spay and neutering. After all, shouldn’t we focus our time and energy toward people? On the surface, it seemed like a fair question. Our hope was that PHC would help people living in the midst of trying circumstances, so what do animals have to do with anything?

I spoke with several people who had turned down shelter because the place they visited could not accommodate their pets. Initially, I thought I was mishearing people. Perhaps the message was getting lost in translation. You turned down a place to sleep because they wouldn’t allow you to bring your dog? This did not compute with my line of thinking. A person would actually refuse shelter simply because they could not bring along their pet? Seriously? I kept waiting to see if that guy from “What Would You do?” was sneaking up on me.

The best way for me to wrap my mind around this was to visit where the animals were being serviced. After talking with quite a few pet owners (some still homeless) my disposition changed and I remembered what it felt like to have a pet. These animals were more than property or carry-on luggage. Many aspects of a homeless person’s life are chaotic. Circumstances can change and new environments present themselves on a daily basis. A pet often provides an anchor that allows an element of comfort and consistency. No matter how a person’s life would change, their pet was with them as an extended member of their family.

I was looking at the situation backwards. These people needed their animals because they were more than important, they were essential. The shared experiences and bonds transcended flea collars and afternoon walks. These pets provided sanity in a world of unrest and perpetual white noise. To abandon the animals just for shelter was unfathomable because it seemed inhumane. Many people cannot relate to this but if you have had a pet in your life it makes sense. Could you simply turn your back on an animal that was part of your life in the most trying of situations? Why should the homeless be any different?