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government housing continue to have strict regulations against allowing pets to reside with their homeless owners. Some action is being taken by social institutions to address the issue. San
Francisco initiated a program which addressed both homelessness and animal shelter overcrowding: WOOF – Wonderful Opportunities for Occupants and Fidos. Started in August 2012, the homeless are given a dog that would otherwise be euthanized, to foster until a permanent home can be found. Homeless people are trained to care for the dogs and will receive a weekly stipend. In addition to dog training lesson, the foster owners received training in job readiness, communication skills, banking and health care. All pet food and care is provided by the shelter. Pets of the Homeless is a national nonprofit with a mission to feed and provide basic emergency veterinary care to pets of homeless people. In the
162:, Canada. These pet owners described the ways their pets shaped their environment: they would sleep outside in the rain if the only option was shelter in a no pet shelter; their pet kept them off drugs and alcohol, and they avoided risky behavior that might result in arrest and incarceration because they feared their pet would be removed or euthanized. They also reported that they gave up going to social events at arenas or other public areas where pets were not allowed for fear their pet would be taken from them. The ways in which their pets shape their daily decisions also carries over to the level of involvement of homeless pet owners in the local community.
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interaction. The owner and the pet are united in a 'couple' relationship which is socially defined. He notes that people link the animal and the owner and have a set of expectations regarding how they will act. In public animals serve as social facilitators and encourage openness to the point where strangers feel welcome in approaching the human-pet couple. This relationship is supported by Irvine in her description of the "Pack of Two" designation of the homeless owner and their pet. The combination of the anxiety for the pet, and the close emotional relationship between the owner and the pet, shapes the experience of homeless people.
22:
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connection. Homeless pet owners use their pets to facilitate socialization, getting their owners out to local vet clinics and parks where they interact with other pet owners. Many homeless pet owners regard their pet with a high degree of attachment and report lower levels of loneliness with pet ownership.
130:
Leslie Irvine argues pet ownership prompts many to act responsibly, with many making a deliberate choice not to drink or use drugs, and to avoid contact with substance abusers or those involved in any criminal activity for fear of being separated from their pet. Additionally, many refuse housing in
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Owning a dog entails significant expenses, including food, veterinary care, and grooming. Homeless pet owners often place their dog's needs above their own, leaning on community support, pet-friendly services, and organizations like Pets of the
Homeless for aid. They creatively navigate economic
170:
Social interaction among homeless people is impacted by pet ownership. Many homeless pet owners reported that having a dog facilitated conversation, but at the same time having a dog had a negative impact on their ability to find housing because homeless shelters, rental housing, and subsidized
112:
One factor behind the actions of homeless pet owners is the fear and anxiety over the loss of their pet. This anxiety is explained in a theory by
Clinton Sanders, who notes that a close relationship with a companion animal shapes the construction of the owners’ identity, and forms the basis for
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Several studies have concluded that homeless people attribute their pet with saving their life, getting them off of drugs or alcohol; one researcher noted that many dog owners reported their dogs knew when they were sad or emotional, an example of the ‘empathetic experience” of a human-pet
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As a group, homeless people who own a pet put its care first before accepting housing or shelter, employment, leisure activity, or health care, themes identified by Irvine and
Sanders. These themes were earlier identified in research among the homeless in San Francisco in 1994 by
131:
shelters if their pet is not allowed to stay with them. Homeless pet owners will not sleep in shelters that do not allow pets, they will pass on the opportunity for housing if they cannot take their pet, and they will sacrifice their meal if food is limited. The role of
88:(mainly dogs and/or cats). Studies of homeless pet owners in urban settings show a sense of identity and community connection between pets and their owners. This topic is part of the Animals and Society branch of study in the field of
145:
challenges by tapping into community resources, sharing their own meals with their pets, and seeking pet-accommodating shelters or outdoor spaces, demonstrating resilience and the deep bond between them and their animals.
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to their pet is constructed as their primary reason for being in life. The pet is dependent on them for food and care and this gives the owner a sense of responsibility and a positive self-image and self-worth.
175:, veterinary surgeons and registered veterinary nurses have responded to the issue by creating a charity called StreetVet, which provides free accessible veterinary care to homeless clients in need.
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researchers Aline and Robert Kidd. Similar themes were identified in research conducted in Canada by
Michelle Lem, Director of Community Veterinary Outreach in
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Rew, Lynn (2000-07-01). "Friends and Pets as
Companions: Strategies for Coping With Loneliness Among Homeless Youth".
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Kidd, Aline H.; Kidd, Robert M. (1994-06-01). "Benefits and liabilities of pets for the homeless".
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Knight, H. (June 25, 2014). "Woof program offers second chances" – via sfgate.com.
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Conti, L; Lieb, S; Liberti, T; Wiley-Bayless, M; Hepburn, K; Diaz, T (1995-11-01).
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Homeless woman with dogs, Haight Street, San
Francisco, California
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deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a
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My Dog Always Eats First: Homeless People and Their
Animals
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451:"How Much Does It Cost To Own A Dog? - Spend On Pet"
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Journal of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing
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259:. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc.
29:The examples and perspective in this article
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100:Impact on the homeless experience
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219:Sanders, Clinton (2003).
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238:10.1525/si.2003.26.3.405
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1089:Latin American children
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255:Irvine, Leslie (2013).
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997:Homeless Persons' Week
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79:Between 5% and 10% of
960:Single-room occupancy
852:Homelessness services
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1179:Bangladeshi children
976:Transitional housing
586:Pets of the Homeless
225:Symbolic Interaction
49:create a new article
41:improve this article
801:Vulnerability Index
117:Social interactions
1002:Homeless World Cup
606:"A Pet Needs Help"
288:10.5252/az2015n2a3
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837:Soup kitchen
811:Survival sex
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771:Bumvertising
669:Homelessness
613:. Retrieved
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453:. 2018-12-04
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703:Mole people
683:Aged people
190:Street dogs
96:ownership.
1437:Categories
1146:New Mexico
1114:California
1099:LGBT youth
1031:By country
615:2024-02-09
591:2016-02-21
457:2024-02-13
201:References
133:caregiving
57:March 2016
1394:Australia
1201:Indonesia
1161:Elsewhere
1082:Vancouver
985:Awareness
971:Tent city
966:Squatting
830:Responses
698:McRefugee
610:StreetVet
493:0033-2941
437:145203536
388:1744-6171
335:0090-0036
296:162644541
90:Sociology
45:talk page
1424:Category
1333:Portugal
1310:Scotland
1194:children
1131:Columbus
1126:Colorado
1104:Veterans
1070:Americas
880:Shelters
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693:Families
554:17137826
509:43724325
421:: 3–30.
396:11111505
179:See also
126:Sobriety
39:You may
1387:Oceania
1364:Germany
1305:England
1290:Ireland
1285:Finland
1280:Denmark
1259:Hungary
1156:Seattle
1136:Florida
1046:Algeria
933:Housing
501:8058851
353:7485673
344:1615702
160:Ontario
149:Shelter
1359:France
1328:Greece
1295:Sweden
1264:Russia
1240:Europe
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1039:Africa
940:Foyers
754:Issues
733:Tramps
728:Bergie
676:People
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1338:Spain
1321:South
1273:North
1216:Japan
1189:India
1184:China
1109:Women
1051:Egypt
962:(SRO)
745:Youth
738:Hobos
550:S2CID
540:(4).
530:(PDF)
505:S2CID
433:S2CID
292:S2CID
140:Costs
47:, or
1352:West
1247:East
1206:Iraq
1172:Asia
869:List
857:List
806:Pets
497:PMID
489:ISSN
392:PMID
384:ISSN
349:PMID
331:ISSN
542:doi
481:doi
423:doi
376:doi
339:PMC
323:doi
284:doi
233:doi
94:pet
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