Why Dogs Are Driving People Away

Dogs can be some of the most loyal and important figures in people’s lives. They are there for you when others aren’t, and wont turn their backs on you. While dogs are very popular amongst most, some people do not like dogs for different reasons. Some could be afraid of dogs based on the stereotypes of their breed, they have had a bad experience with a dog, or they really just do not care about them. If a dog is with a homeless person out on the streets, it may not be the answer to securing people’s attention in a positive way, and could actually drive the possible donors away. 

If a mom and her daughter are walking the streets and see a homeless person, they may not feel safe going up to a homeless person and giving them a donation. Especially if the daughter for example is at a young age, the mother could have some drawbacks. A reason why a homeless person with a dog is not likely to get donations is because the donor could be scared of getting attacked by the dog, or their child getting attacked. Not all dogs are sweet and friendly, especially if they are out on the streets. There can be fear that if you get close to the dog and its owner that the dog would attack you and leave you with scars for the rest of your life. A mother with a young kid such as a daughter has every right to be nervous about their child going near a homeless person, and their dog because they do not know how the dog is around people. According to the article titled, Why are friendly dogs turning ferocious? Here are the reasons and how to stop the human-dog conflict, and how dogs are more likely to attack when, “…they are left hungry and thirsty on the streets; there are no caretakers or very few people who care for them…”(ET Online and Agencies, 2023). This supports the possible fear of the people walking on the streets going to donate because they do not know how the dog is and are at risk of getting attacked. 

In some people’s eyes, seeing a dog could draw attention and make someone want to help out. In other people’s eyes, the dog is not something that is appealing and is not something that makes them want to donate. Just because there is a dog next to a homeless person does not automatically make everyone feel bad and want to help. Non dog people would not be interested in the slightest to help out the dog and its owner. A reason why people could not like dogs is because they have had a bad past experience with dogs. It takes one time to affect some people’s mentality about some things, and with dogs if something bad happens once, it can turn them off to the idea of dogs forever. If a person who does not like dogs sees a dog outside with a homeless person, and they had a bad experience they would not want to approach that person. Even if they want to help out the person, the dog next to them could turn them off to even approaching the homeless. 

Dogs in homes already can be dirty and smell and have fleas and ticks. Not all dogs are clean and can carry diseases and can just be dirty overall. Especially if one is big on hygiene and not getting sick, going near a stranger’s dog who has been outside may not be the best idea. Diseases can be passed from dogs to people which some may not realize. Especially if it is a homeless guy with a dog, who knows what that dog has picked up from being on the streets without proper care. According to the article titled, Diseases You Can Get From Your Pets, states how a dog can give humans the septicemic plague which can cause, “…fever and chills or headache, among other symptoms. It can be fatal if not treated with antibiotics”(Frysh, 2024). Other diseases can include hookworm, rabies, and tapeworm which is rare but is still possible. This could be a huge reason why people would hesitate to approach a homeless person and give a donation. The fear attached with it and getting dirty or even a disease is not worth it to some people. 

There are stereotypes with people like the homeless, and with dog breeds. If a homeless person were to have a chiwawa as their dog, someone may be more likely to approach a homeless person and give a donation rather than if it was a pitbull. A pitbull has been a dog breed that was feared for a long time based on the stereotypes. They are said to be mean and vicious and could even kill someone. If a homeless person had a pitbull, that would be so that their dog could protect them from the possible harm going on around them. But that would almost be contradictory if they would want donations, because the dog would be more trained to attack than to be nice. According to the article titled, The Stereotypes Surrounding Pit Bulls, states how “…their behavior ultimately depends on their individual personality, early socialization, and training”(Brinkley, 2023). If the pitbulls are used to just being out on the streets, most likely they would be in flight or fight mode. With this mode and how they were socialized, they may not be the friendliest and most approachable. If the homeless had a smaller dog which is known to be better behaved, then maybe a stranger would be more likely to give a donation. The dog breeds definitely would be a big contender of whether or not the people would be driven away from helping the dog and its owner.  

Overall, dogs may not be the answer to acquiring more donations. The fears that can be attached with dogs are factors that can drive people away. Dogs are not always as sweet as they look, and these strangers have the right to be nervous to approach them, let alone a homeless person which can be scary enough for some people. Overall, people would not want to approach a homeless person and their dog because of the fear of being attacked, acquiring a disease, and because of the dog breed they have. The donations could be limited with dogs by the owners’ sides, and the dogs could actually be the reason why more and more people are not willing to approach a homeless person and help them out. 

The stereotypes surrounding pit bulls – wounded Paw Project. WPP. (2024, April 2). https://woundedpawproject.org/bsl/stereotypes-surrounding-pit-bulls/ 

WebMD. (n.d.). Diseases your pets can pass to you shown. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/pets/ss/slideshow-diseases-from-pets 

Why are friendly dogs turning ferocious? here are the reasons and how to stop the human-dog conflict. The Economic Times. (n.d.). https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/how-to/why-are-friendly-dogs-turning-ferocious-here-are-the-reasons-and-how-to-stop-the-human-dog-conflict/articleshow/98424363.cms