Homeless people and dogs

[Firewire]

Okay so here's wee debate for you all

Do you think it's cruel when homeless people, living on the streets, have a pet with them forcing them to also live rough with minimal food?

Or do you think it's fair because that homeless person might have a deep connection with the pet and might not have anybody else in their entire life and need the pet to keep going?

I've always been in two minds. If you loved your pet that much then perhaps you would know it would be better to give it a new home. But alternatively, what if you can't promise a new home would be better for it and you know how to take care of it, albeit without shelter?

Thoughts?

[DouglasS]

I think it's a way of them earning more money. I know I'm guilty of giving money eachtime to a homeless person with a dog, but not often without one.

[jennyjuniper]

This is a hard one, because if I were homeless and already had a dog, it would probably be my sole source of comfort and friendship. Let's face it, if a person has a few good friends he/she need not be homeless?
On the other hand I do feel sorry for the dogs who also have to live rough. It's also difficult to know which are genuinely homeless people and which are professional beggers, who use a dog as a prop.

[DemolitionRed]

There is a youtube video that shows an actor offering homeless people big money for their dogs and every single one of them refuse and make comments like, "no money in the world would make me consider selling my dog" and "I wouldn't want to live without my special friend".

Over the Xmas period I've been involved with assisting the homeless and I know with absolute certainty that there are homeless people on the street with dogs. Night shelters rarely accept these animals and so dog owners are more likely to sleep rough over a warm bed for the night.

I don't think its cruel. Wild animals sleep outside huddled up together so why not a dog and a human. I've never seen a skinny homeless dog yet but I have seen skinny owners.

[ebandit]

...of course it's fine...dogs do not require home comforts

...many pet dogs are overfed...the owner has responsibility to feed correctly..i'm sure
they do

...how 'homeless' are these seeking $?

Mark L

[Kazanne]

This is a hard one, because if I were homeless and already had a dog, it would probably be my sole source of comfort and friendship. Let's face it, if a person has a few good friends he/she need not be homeless?
On the other hand I do feel sorry for the dogs who also have to live rough. It's also difficult to know which are genuinely homeless people and which are professional beggers, who use a dog as a prop.

I agree with this plus,some homeless people are probably kinder to their dogs than people in a house.

[joeysteele]

I agree with this plus,some homeless people are probably kinder to their dogs than people in a house.

That's actually all true, also it really upset me but I came across a homeless guy who had a dog with him.
He had one blanket,the guy was lying on a wood seat uncovered the dog on the grass,covered with the blanket.

I also think a dog may be a protection thing for someone genuinely homeless too.

This guy had been made homeless by a housing association and already had the dog.
I've talked to him now a few times and the CAB are I believe helping him now get a roof over his head again.

My fury on this was directed at the Police who just heartlessly kept moving him and his dog on,whenever they came across him.
Really sad.

[DemolitionRed]

That's actually all true, also it really upset me but I came across a homeless guy who had a dog with him.
He had one blanket,the guy was lying on a wood seat uncovered the dog on the grass,covered with the blanket.

I also think a dog may be a protection thing for someone genuinely homeless too.

This guy had been made homeless by a housing association and already had the dog.
I've talked to him now a few times and the CAB are I believe helping him now get a roof over his head again.

My fury on this was directed at the Police who just heartlessly kept moving him and his dog on,whenever they came across him.
Really sad.

True... homeless people are vulnerable to aggressive drunks in the early hours of the morning.

[Toy Soldier]

True... homeless people are vulnerable to aggressive drunks in the early hours of the morning.
True, even if it's just disgusting "pranks" like pissing on them or pouring something over them while they sleep, and while a dog might not be able to physically protect them necessarily, they will at least start barking if someone is approaching and wake them up.

[Toy Soldier]

Also there are endless numbers of dogs already stray or locked up without owners... Realistically, that's where those dogs would end up if they weren't with a homeless owner. They're better with an owner who cares for them on the street than without one but with a roof over their head. A dog needs number ONE need by a mile is the company of someone who actually wants them... Way above a "nice home". Dogs don't really give a **** about that. So long as they are fed and physically healthy.

[Jamie89]

I think it's ok, I'm not sure if this is true but someone once told me that homeless people with dogs get given either money or food for the dogs, and I know people will say 'well they'll probably just spend it on themselves', but I don't know if I'd agree that that's necessarily the case. Obviously this is talking about genuine homeless people and not scammers. I think for a homeless person to have a companion and something to care for and love is a great thing so I wouldn't want to take that away from them.

[Cherie]

I think it's ok, I'm not sure if this is true but someone once told me that homeless people with dogs get given either money or food for the dogs, and I know people will say 'well they'll probably just spend it on themselves', but I don't know if I'd agree that that's necessarily the case. Obviously this is talking about genuine homeless people and not scammers. I think for a homeless person to have a companion and something to care for and love is a great thing so I wouldn't want to take that away from them.

I would be more inclined to give to a homeless person with an animal as well

[thesheriff443]

Well there was a young guy in reading two weeks ago that was just setting up ready for his scam, all his clothes were clean had a little dog that looked like it just come the groomers.

Dogs in general are used by the homeless as a prop to pull on peoples heart strings, they must be a nice person, they have a dog!.
Homeless peoples dogs are in general well fed,because people give it food but do these animals get taken to the vets when they are ill, I would say no

Children are cared for by heroin addicts and alchaholics, this world needs a shake up.
If people are homeless through drink or drugs give them a home in return for getting help and staying clean.

[waterhog]

I would just like to point out - allot of people who have houses should not have dogs.

must not type cast - I am going with - its there companion.

[Kizzy]

I don't have an issue with it for the reasons highlighted, that said I have passed a couple in Leeds that were very aggressive,maybe that's due to them being used as personal protection I don't know. :/

[Tozzie]

none of us ever know if we too could become homeless. I have a dog and I couldn't bear the thought of giving my up my best friend. If I were on the streets I think I may put a sign next to me saying can anyone spare a can of dog meat for my dog. I always give to homeless people but thinking about this the next time I see one with a dog I think I will go right and buy that dog a can of dog meat!!!!

[Niamh.]

It's only in recent years dogs in the house 90% of the time became the norm, they're well able to live outside

[smudgie]

The homeless have a hard enough life as it is without being parted from their best friend, the dog will be happy enough as long as it is with the person it loves.
We have animal shelters, we have homeless centres, just a shame we don't have somewhere that both can go together, especially in the winter.

[DemolitionRed]

none of us ever know if we too could become homeless. I have a dog and I couldn't bear the thought of giving my up my best friend. If I were on the streets I think I may put a sign next to me saying can anyone spare a can of dog meat for my dog. I always give to homeless people but thinking about this the next time I see one with a dog I think I will go right and buy that dog a can of dog meat!!!!

That's the thing to do. I will buy a homeless person food or a coffee but I won't give them money.

[Beso]

There is a youtube video that shows an actor offering homeless people big money for their dogs and every single one of them refuse and make comments like, "no money in the world would make me consider selling my dog" and "I wouldn't want to live without my special friend".

Over the Xmas period I've been involved with assisting the homeless and I know with absolute certainty that there are homeless people on the street with dogs. Night shelters rarely accept these animals and so dog owners are more likely to sleep rough over a warm bed for the night.

I don't think its cruel. Wild animals sleep outside huddled up together so why not a dog and a human. I've never seen a skinny homeless dog yet but I have seen skinny owners.

I bet the vast majority would go hungry so the dog.could eat.

[DemolitionRed]

I bet the vast majority would go hungry so the dog.could eat.

I think so. Loving dog owners protect their dogs the same way they would protect their children so if that means food for me or food for the dog, the dogs going to get the food

I was reading something recently about why dogs and humans can get so attached. They did a scientific experiment with scanning equipment and discovered the hormone spike we produce when looking our baby in the eyes is identically produced when we look our dog in the eyes. The most interesting part was, when a dog looks in its owners eyes it has the exact same hormone spike. Surely this means a dog feels love?

.

[Kazanne]

That's actually all true, also it really upset me but I came across a homeless guy who had a dog with him.
He had one blanket,the guy was lying on a wood seat uncovered the dog on the grass,covered with the blanket.

I also think a dog may be a protection thing for someone genuinely homeless too.

This guy had been made homeless by a housing association and already had the dog.
I've talked to him now a few times and the CAB are I believe helping him now get a roof over his head again.

My fury on this was directed at the Police who just heartlessly kept moving him and his dog on,whenever they came across him.
Really sad.

That's sad Joey, If I was homeless I would sure want my doggie with me,no way would I part with him ,to keep moving them on is really pointless they have to sleep somewhere, surely as long as they are doing no harm what would it matter?

[joeysteele]

That's sad Joey, If I was homeless I would sure want my doggie with me,no way would I part with him ,to keep moving them on is really pointless they have to sleep somewhere, surely as long as they are doing no harm what would it matter?

That's what I think totally Kazanne.

[Kizzy]

Personally I don't think I could with my dog, hes so spoilt.. If he doesn't get his swim, bath and treat he sulks :/

[Livia]

There are plenty of dogs that are cruelly abused, I'd rather worry about them than the dogs of homeless people who always look pretty well cared for to me.