By Liz Moser, Community Resource Coordinator

Think back on a difficult time in your life – was your pet right by your side, helping you through it all? If so, it shouldn’t be hard to imagine the sense of comfort that pets provide when their humans are experiencing homelessness.

Over half a million Americans experience homelessness every day, and thousands face this challenge with their companion animals by their side. Pets are part of the family, and many people can’t imagine leaving them behind when they are experiencing a housing crisis.

Unfortunately, many shelters and housing programs do not allow pets. Instead of being separated from their beloved companions, many individuals choose not to enter shelters and remain homeless. Their bond is so strong that they would rather sleep on the street than be separated from their family.

For people experiencing homelessness, pets provide more than just companionship – they provide support and security, a sense of normalcy and a way to connect with the world. Pets can help people heal from trauma and provide a sense of purpose. The unconditional love and acceptance that pets provide is especially important for unhoused individuals, who are often stigmatized and pushed to the margins of our society.

Churro

We are dedicated to providing supplies and support for pet owners experiencing homelessness whenever we meet them in an effort to keep these bonded families together – like Churro and his mom, Gail, who had recently become homeless. They had found shelter in a motel when Gail called our Pet Retention team for help with cat food through our Chow Wagon Pet Food Bank. We were able to provide Churro with the supplies he needed to stay healthy and fed while Gail worked on finding a more permanent housing situation.

At Animal Friends, we know that the strength of the animal-human bond cannot be denied. We recognize the importance of animal companionship for our neighbors experiencing homelessness, and the need to support people and their pets to help them move towards permanence and security.