Dogs Being Lifesavers of Their Homeless Owners

The rise of homeless people around the world has skyrocketed over the years, but right now in America, the rates are at an all time high. Out of half a million of the homeless population, only some are blessed with having a companion alongside them, in the form of a dog. The presence of a dog can offer the homeless unconditional love, strength, companionship, and benefits. The benefits can be in forms of a conversation, a meal, a smile, or even a donation. Dogs can be lifesavers for their owner, and can be the reason why they get through life. Even though dogs can be lifesavers for their humans, it could end up being the opposite for the dog. The lifespan of the dog is at risk due to the conditions they face, but that is the price that they pay. 

One benefit that dogs can provide is drawing in attention from the pedestrians around them. Seeing a dog alongside a homeless person could lead people to open up their hearts, and their wallets to someone in need. A pedestrian is more likely to open their wallets and give a donation if they see a struggling dog, due to the fact that they can help the dog and its owner. All while the benefits from being outside with the dog could help the homeless, it may end up backfiring if the person tries to go to a homeless shelter. The shelters may not end up taking both of them in, and would have to make the homeless choose between their dog, or a bed. 

At the end of the day, the homeless are people just like us who need love and attention in their lives, as do their pets. Dogs need love and care as well as humans to keep going and keep providing the benefits they provide. The empathy that dogs bring to people is an important aspect as to why the amount of benefits are at an increased rate compared to without. 

Humans are often visual learners, and need to see things to believe it. In order for people to want to benefit the homeless, they would need to see the love and passion that the homeless have for their pet. The more love they see, the more likely they are going to want to help. According to the article titled, Are Dogs Children, Companions, or Just Animals?Understanding Variations in People’s Orientations toward Animals, written by Blouin states that, “the protectionistic have high regard for both pets and animals…they view pest as valuable companions and as creatures with their own interests.”If the homeless showcase a protectionist type of love for their dog, people will notice that and will hopefully want to give back and one help the homeless, which in return would be helping the dog. 

Dogs give up a lot to be out on the streets, which people may not realize. The dogs are in a very vulnerable position out there, and are very over-stimulated especially if they are in a city. Dogs give up a warm safe home, a yard, and even constant food and water if the homeless cannot afford it. According to the article, Companion Animal Overpopulation, written by Peta states how, “animals who depend on humans to meet their needs for food, water, veterinary care, shelter, and safety cannot survive for long on their own.” If a dog is staying with their owner outside with terrible conditions, that shows the love that they have for their owner. The dog may not choose to stay with the homeless, but if it does it is really showing their owner and the public the dedication and love that it has for its owner. If the same people are walking past the homeless and their dog everyday, they are going to see the love on both sides that the homeless, and the dog show each other. That in return should be striking to a pedestrian and hopefully make them more likely to toss some coins or bills in the homeless cup. 

Social interaction is something that varies from person to person. Some people are content with just a hello, while others would prefer to go have longer and deeper conversations with people they may not even know. Social interaction is something that many homeless out on the streets have a lack of. Certain people may find themselves hesitant to go near a homeless person, based on their stereotypes or their looks. This is dehumanizing them and making them feel unworthy. Something that a dog can help them with is acting as a conversation starter. The dog can make their humanity clear, and can show the pedestrians that they do have a heart and something to live for. Many people love dogs and if they saw one would be attracted to them. Which in this case is in the homeless favor because it is making them more approachable, and kind-hearted.

As with people, dogs do not live forever. It is important for the dog’s health to be in good standing if they are out on the streets because of the fact that they are dealing with terrains that the average dog would not. The homeless, if they have a dog, put the dog’s health and necessities before their own. Even if the homeless are low on money they received from donations, and are hungry, more times than not they are going to take care of their pet first. According to the article titled, Pets & Homelessness in LA, written by Sabo states how, “…the average life of a street dog is around 3.5 to 4 years, compared to indoor dogs under 20 pounds who have an average lifespan of 11.” This evidence makes sense that the average street dog is not likely to live longer. The shorter life expectancy would be a heartbreaking thought to the homeless, which would give them motivation to ensure that they are going to receive as many donations as possible in order to care for their pet. 

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. 

It may be hard to approach a homeless person and their dog, but imagine stumbling across a dog in distress needing help. The dog looks brittle, and looks as if it is struggling, alongside its owner. The owner and its dog have a clear look of helplessness, and you can feel the pain as you are walking by them. Being homeless and out on the street cannot be easy, which can be shown visually through the homeless and their dog. The homeless around the world every single day are struggling for their lives. If a homeless person is seen fighting for their life, with a dog also struggling, the best thing that could be done is helping them out and giving them a donation. A meal, a drink, or even some money could go the longest way in terms of helping out a homeless person and their dog in desperate need of help. That one cent can make all the difference with making sure that the homeless and its pet can survive and get through their day. 

Nobody chooses to be homeless, and live a life out on the streets, but with the rise of costs around the world, it is what has to be done for some people. It is getting harder to afford basic necessities due to the rise of costs, and the pandemic Covid 19 ended up putting many out of work. The article titled, US homelessness up 12% to highest reported level as rents soar and coronavirus pandemic aid lapses, by Freking states how due to inflation, there were, “more people being evicted”. With rent prices skyrocketing, and job losses, it has put so many out of their homes, leaving them all alone without anything to their name. If one is lucky, they could have a companion in the form of a dog alongside them to guide them through life and provide mass amounts of benefits. Some homeless could even have found a stray dog and taken it under their wing so that together they could flourish and hopefully get some help.  

Having good mental health is extremely important for humans and dogs in order to have a good head on their shoulders and to have a positive outlook on life. Being out on the streets cannot be easy, and having a dog can make all the difference. If the homeless are lonely and have no will to live, having a dog can essentially save their life and give them a reason to live. The benefits that dogs provide for the homeless mentally and physically are endless. According to the article titled, The Science behind Why We Love Our Dogs, Padmabandu states how, “Interacting with a dog can lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and provide other health benefits”. All while the dogs are helping the homeless mentally, they can also be helping financially. If the homeless look happier and have a good attitude towards people, that could make the strangers walking by feel more comfortable approaching the homeless and giving a donation. 

Dogs are a great conversation starter, especially if someone is really a dog lover. Some people prefer dogs over humans, which could be an amazing situation for this case between a homeless person and their dog. If a stranger loves dogs and sees out out on the streets, by nature they would be inclined to go up and give it love. While the stranger is petting the dog or even just being near it, they could have a conversation with its owner. That conversation could be the owner explaining its circumstances or life story. The conversation potentially would not have happened if it was not for the dog there being the icebreaker, or why the stranger even approached the pair. 

Some may claim due to stereotypes that homeless people do not have any drive for their life and have no responsibility. If they had a dog with them though, those claims would be put to rest. Anyone that owns a dog or knows someone with a dog knows that they are expensive and a ton of work. It is not easy to take care of dogs in a house, but imagine on the streets. A homeless person having a dog with them, and strangers seeing them trying to take care of their dogs show huge responsibility and drive. It shows that they are humans too with hearts and a drive to take care of something. According to the article titled, People with Pets Experiencing Homelessness, by ASPCA states how, “Studies have shown that people experiencing homelessness report that their pets provide a sense of responsibility and are a reason to live, reduce substance use, and motivated them to seek healthcare”. It is good for a homeless person to be in charge of something, so that they have something to live for. Being responsible for a dog is going to help the homeless in more ways than one and will definitely make the strangers see that they are responsible enough to take care of another being. The responsibility that the homeless show with dogs could strike people by surprise and make them more inclined to wanting to stop over and help the homeless and their dog. 

It doesn’t matter where the dog came from, if it is a new dog or an old dog, that dog can be the reason why the homeless life is saved. The dog is putting itself at risk and living in horrible conditions all for their owner. The dog’s sympathy for its owner is important for the owner to see and realize, alongside the strangers. When people can feel the love, they would be more open to helping the pair so that they can continue to love and take care of each other. As hard as it could be for some to approach a homeless person, imagine how hard it is for the homeless everyday. Dry mouth, rumbling stomachs, no money, no drive, no nothing. Even with all of the hardships that the homeless face on a daily basis, if they have a dog the problems can seem less, and they could be happier. The donations, the love, the care, and more are the reasons why every homeless person could benefit from having a furry friend by their side, and to go through life with. 

References

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Companion animal overpopulation and homelessness. PETA. (2020, August 20). https://www.peta.org/issues/animal-companion-issues/overpopulation/ 

Sabo, P. (2020, June 12). Pets & homelessness in la . The Vanderpump Dog Foundation. https://www.vanderpumpdogs.org/our-blog/pets-amp-homelessness-in-lanbsp 

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# 

Freking, K. (2023, December 15). US homelessness up 12% to highest reported level as rents soar and coronavirus pandemic aid lapses. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/homelessness-increase-rent-hud-covid-60bd88687e1aef1b02d25425798bd3b1 

Padmabandu, M. (2023, June 5). The science behind why we love our dogs. Embarkvet. https://embarkvet.com/resources/science-behind-why-we-love-our-dogs/#:~:text=Dogs%20give%20us%20so%20much,pets%20tend%20to%20live%20longer. People with pets experiencing homelessness. ASPCA. (n.d.). https://www.aspca.org/improving-laws-animals/public-policy/housing/people-pets-experiencing-homelessness#:~:text=Studies%20have%20shown%20that%20people,social%20support%2C%20companionship%20and%20security.