Homeless Being Turned Away From Shelters Because Of Pet Dogs
A new survey claims hundreds of homeless people are being turned away from shelters because they have a pet dog.
It’s estimated there are 2,744 rough sleepers in the UK and many are accompanied by a pet dog.
But the British public may be unaware that the situation is sometimes exacerbated by the fact that getting shelter with a dog is not always straightforward.
Twenty years ago there wasn’t a single dog friendly hostel in the UK, and just one solitary veterinary clinic to support rough sleepers and their pets.
Tthere are 157 dog friendly hostels nationwide available to help rough sleepers and those in a housing crisis.
The charity’s project offers an invaluable veterinary service in 107 towns and cities across the UK, working with local vets and homelessness organisations to provide care and shelter. Last year Dogs Trust funded over 1700 veterinary treatments to help dogs remain with their devoted owners.
A snapshot survey shows that a change in attitude towards homeless people with pets could improve the situation, as some say that they are still living on the streets because they can’t find accommodation with their pet – and almost two thirds (64%) have been asked to give up their dog in order to get into accommodation. The vast majority (82%) of homeless people with dogs say their pet is their best friend.
Public opinion also supports the view that dog owners should not be forced to give up their dog to get into hostel accommodation (67%), with a further 80% recognising that homeless people keep their dogs primarily for companionship3.
Andreana spent some time sleeping rough on the streets with her dog Khan. She says “I really believe I would be dead now if it wasn’t for my dog. He really held me up. I couldn’t have gone on without him. He saved my life.”