Do you think homeless people should be allowed to have pet dogs?

Posted on December 27th, 2009 by admin

I sometimes walk the streets of downtown and see homeless people with pet dogs. I feel bad for the dogs because they always look sad.

My view is that if a person is homeless and can’t provide a good environment for their pet dog (let alone themselves), then they should not own a pet at all.

Do you agree?

whats the point of NOT allowing it? Taking the dogs, and putting them in shelters, where they will just be euthanized?

I’ll be honest. Most homeless people care for their dogs better then themselves. That dog is ALL they have, their only family and friend. I have several homeless people in my area with dogs, and all the dogs look healthy. The people will go days without eating just so the dog can eat.

13 Responses

  1. Anubis * Star Says:

    whats the point of NOT allowing it? Taking the dogs, and putting them in shelters, where they will just be euthanized?

    I’ll be honest. Most homeless people care for their dogs better then themselves. That dog is ALL they have, their only family and friend. I have several homeless people in my area with dogs, and all the dogs look healthy. The people will go days without eating just so the dog can eat.
    References :

  2. Dana S Says:

    You are very right. They cannot afford to feed them properly or pay for them to get proper care at the vet. I have seen dogs be taken away from homeless people before by the SPCA in the town where I live.
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  3. Wolf_Grrl Says:

    If you cant provide proper nutrition, shelter and vet care for a dog then you should not own one.

    But…sometimes a dog is the only love,friend,family a homeless person can get :(

    Sometimes human societys step in and help care for a homeless persons dog with vaccinations/spay/neuters.
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  4. doc_holliday1863 Says:

    I think it’s just to homeless pals that are hanging out togeater experienceing inproper nutrition and the world sure does’nt care.
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  5. cattlegirl Says:

    In one sense it would be good for a homeless person to have companionship. But then again the dog needs to have shots, flea medication, and food. How can they pay for this? I actually would feel sorry for them both. I’ve seen how homeless people live in new york city and even where I live in Tennessee. Most of the places where they stay are very unsanitary!!!
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  6. Jayde Says:

    Well some homeless people are evicted from their houses and take their dog with them, there’s this one homeless man in my town and he has two dog’s and they look fine, they look like healthy dogs and how can a dog look sad, it has the same expression on it’s face all the time, it’s better than them being euthanized in a shelter, would you want to leave your dog?

    I don’t agree!
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  7. Melly Mel Says:

    yes they should be able to have pets.
    Pets ARENT people & dont have a soul.
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  8. SBK Says:

    There are a few ways of looking at it, but my personal opinion is that homeless people have every right to own a pet. In some cases, the person may not have been homeless when they adopted the pet. They may have been evicted from their house or apartment and instead of leaving the dog, decided to bring it with them. As long as they are willing and able to keep the dog well nourished and healthy, I don’t see any problem with it. A lot of people put their pets’ needs before their own.

    Besides, often times homeless people do not have family and friends to fall back on. When that is your life, sometimes all you need is a friend, and a dog can be that.

    Dogs are hardy animals and I don’t think they really care whether they’re sleeping on carpet or grass as long as they get the love and attention they need.
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  9. ? Says:

    Yes I do. How often do you read in the papers or on the News that a dog has been ill treated by a Homeless
    person?
    You Here it Every Day about us so called civilised people,including breeders. As has been said already,the Homeless treat their dogs as Family,they always look well and are amazingly obedient.Being on the Streets is a very lonely place to be,Also a very Dangerous one.Don’t deny these people the only companionship and loyalty they have.

    sources: been down that route!
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  10. Dale G Says:

    no in reality most of the dogs have serious problems ie mange fleas ticks and most dangerous NO RABIES SHOTS!!!!!!! for the good of both the homeless and society they should not have pet dogs
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  11. ol' hippy girl Says:

    No.

    I think if they are able to take care of one- then definitely. I’m sure homeless people need unconditional love too.

    Maybe that dog will be the thing that will help them to pull themselves up.

    Hopefully, they wouldn’t need to choose between feeding themselves AND the dog, but it’s still America.
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  12. Jenna B Says:

    Yes. A dog would be a nice pet for a homeless person. Homeless people dont have friends so it would act as their only friend and maybe even a gaurd from dangers.
    References :

  13. Serene Says:

    I agree with you, but I don’t think there is a law that says that homeless people can’t own dogs. And if a homeless leaves their dogs at a shelter there is still a chance that it will go to a loving home.
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