Folks Experiencing Homelessness… and their pets
🐾 Unhoused People & Their Pets: What You Should Know
Many people experiencing homelessness have animal companions—and for good reason. These pets offer emotional support, protection, stability, and unconditional love in a world that often feels unsafe or uncertain.
Studies estimate that 10–25% of unhoused individuals have pets, most commonly dogs and cats. These animals are deeply loved and well cared for, often receiving food and attention before their person does.
However, there are real challenges:
Access to shelter and housing is limited—many facilities don’t allow pets.
Veterinary care, food, and supplies can be hard to come by.
Stigma often leads to judgment or separation threats, despite evidence showing strong bonds and responsible caregiving.
Animal companionship can be life-saving. Pets provide a sense of purpose, help reduce isolation, and support mental health—and they deserve safe, inclusive services alongside their humans.
Supporting unhoused people means supporting their chosen family—fur, feathers, scales and all.
❤️ Organizations Making a Difference
Here are a few groups working to keep people and their pets together:
Pets of the Homeless
Offers pet food, veterinary care, and emergency boarding assistance nationwide.The Street Dog Coalition
Provides free veterinary care and supplies for pets of unhoused individuals in cities across the U.S.My Dog is My Home
PALS – People and Animals Living Safely
Based in Los Angeles, PALS offers pet-inclusive housing options and support services.Pets of the Homeless
A great example of global outreach offering veterinary care with dignity and respect.
📚 Research & Resources on Pets of the Unhoused
Irvine, L. (2013). My Dog Always Eats First: Homeless People and Their Animals.
📖 Book that explores the deep human-animal bond in homeless communities, based on interviews and fieldwork.
Key finding: Many people experiencing homelessness prioritize their pets' needs over their own and actively seek veterinary care when they can.
Rew, L. (2000). Friends and pets as companions: Strategies for coping with loneliness among homeless youth. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 13(3), 125–132.
📄 DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-6171.2000.tb00089.x
This study found that pets were a crucial source of emotional support and resilience for homeless youth, reducing feelings of isolation and depression.
Understanding the associations between owner and pet demographics on pet body condition among those experiencing homelessness and housing vulnerability in Canada Prev Vet Med. 2021 Oct:195:105454.
doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105454.Epub 2021 Aug 8.
These findings suggest that animals owned by those experiencing homeless and housing vulnerability are generally in good health and similar factors influence body condition score and over-conditioning as animals seen in general companion animal veterinary practice.
Physical and behavioural health of dogs belonging to homeless people, Anim Welf 2024 Feb 26;33:e11.
Results showed that dogs of homeless persons were well cared for and physically healthy (which was consistent with other studies), and had few behavioural problems, but did display evidence of separation distress while the owner was away.