Misconceptions About Dogs That Need To Be Broken

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 a number of different reasons. Some could be afraid of dogs based on the stereotypes of their breed, they could have had a bad experience with a dog, or they really just do not care about them as a whole. It is normal for people to not want to approach a dog they have never interacted with before. In the case of a homeless dog though, there is nothing more to worry about from their dog, to any other dog out there. The stereotypes need to be broken with the homeless animals, and people need to widen their horizons in order to see past the negatives and realize that dogs are the reason why donations are more prevalent when with a homeless person. 

If a mom and her daughter are walking the streets and see a homeless person, they may not feel safe going up to the homeless and giving them a donation. Especially if the daughter for example is at a young age, the mother could have some drawbacks. 

Even though not all people are dog people, the dog should actually make the mother in this example more comfortable around the homeless. The dog is a symbol of loyalty and peace so the mother should feel better that the dog is present in this case. If the mother can see the relationship between the dog and its owner, it should evoke more sympathy, rather than fear of the unknown. 

Dogs can easily adapt to their surroundings, and see social cues in humans, so the mother in this case should not have any fear when it comes to the homeless dog. The dog is outside all day watching people and if in a city, seeing the hectic nature of its surroundings. Having people come close to the dog and its owner on a daily basis, should emit the fear of the mother, and show her that the dog is not a threat. If the dog has been out on the streets for a long period of time, then it should be adapted to its surroundings and should not attack. According to the article titled, How To Help Your Dog Adjust To A New Environment, written by Trott states how, “…with the proper training and introduction, most dogs will quickly adapt and start taking every new location in stride”. Especially if the mother and daughter often see the homeless and its dog, then that should give the mother more clarity that the dog is adapted to its surroundings and is not going to attack.

If the owner’s dog were to be vicious and attack, why would the owner have it outside if they want people to approach them and give a donation? The goal is to have the dog be there to be welcoming and make everyone feel more comfortable, not drive people away. 

Diseases and illnesses can be carried by any type of dog in any type of environment. It is common for dogs to pick up diseases including fleas and ticks anywhere, including in a house or even on the streets. To categorize a dog that lives on the streets by saying that since they are outside 24/7 then they should have diseases is not necessarily fair to that dog. Any dog can pick up a disease since they like to explore and sniff around places. There is no more to fear than a homeless dog on the streets in terms of diseases, than any other dog. Just because a dog is outside on the streets does not automatically mean that they are carrying a disease, when a stranger’s dog could in fact have fleas and ticks.  

It would not be fair to be afraid of a dog on the streets due to the fact that they could potentially be carrying a disease. According to the article titled, Tips To Keep Your Pets and Family From Getting Fleas and Ticks In Your Yard, written by A&A Lawn Care and Landscaping, shares how dogs are more likely to contract a disease if they are, “…out in the yard, if you have woods or high grass, ticks undergo what’s called questing, where they crawl up on these low shrubs or grass and hang out”. Out in the city, the homeless would want to stay out in the open on the streets where they are most visible to the public, and that would not be where there is a lot of grass land or trees like in a park. 

Other dogs that are owned by someone in a city could be getting closer to grass and trees where fleas and ticks are, compared to a homeless dog. If someone is still too nervous to approach a homeless person because of their dog, they could not go anywhere close to the dog and quickly give a donation to the owner and walk away. 

 There are mass amounts of stereotypes when it comes to dogs, and even homeless people. It is important for people to feel out the vibe of the pairing before going to approach them. For some people, they would not want to go ahead and approach a homeless person and their dog because of the stereotypes of the dog breed. If the stranger walking by the homeless and their dog can see their relationship and see if the homeless is going near their dog and petting it, it should show how there is a real connection and love to the dog, regardless of the breed. 

The Pitbull dog breed is a breed that is constantly being misunderstood and not given the time of day or any attention. Each dog is different with different temperaments and attitudes towards people. According to the article titled, Pitbull Abuse and Neglect, written by Admin states how, “As with any breed of dog, if a dog is raised to be mean or aggressive, as many breeds are trained in the dog fighting world, they may behave that way.  Dogs truly want to obey and please their master”. If a stranger can see how the homeless are in control of their dog, and if the dog listens to commands, it should show how the dog is behaved and should not be a threat. 

If a homeless person has a Pitbull it is not fair to automatically rule them out of receiving a donation, when even the littlest dog can do damage. It all depends on the level of training a dog has, and the relationship between the dog and its owner. The dog should show a symbol of sympathy, rather than a symbol of fear driving people away. At the end of the day, the dog is not out on the streets to look pretty, they are out there to help their owners and try to get people to give more donations. 

There is no more to fear than a homeless dog, compared to any other dog. If a dog is out on the streets, it should actually be more behaved than any other dog since it needs to stay put and stay calm due to the mass amounts of people surrounding it. The dog and its owner are a big factor with why people would or would not approach them and give a donation. The relationship between the dog and its owner should be clearly visible that there is love and trust between them, which in return should bring in more donations because people will feel comfortable enough to approach them.

References

Admin. (2018, July 5). Pitbull abuse and neglect. Animal Justice League of America. https://www.animaljla.org/pitbull-abuse-and-neglect/ 

Tips to keep your pets and family from getting fleas and ticks in your yard…: A&A Lawn Care & Landscaping. A & A Lawn Care & Landscaping. (2021, March 31). https://aalawns.com/tips-to-keep-your-pets-and-family-from-getting-fleas-and-ticks-in-your-yard/ 

Trott, S. (2024, March 19). How to help your dog adjust to a new environment. Now Fresh. https://nowfresh.com/en-us/help-your-dog-adjust-to-a-new-environment#