A recent newspaper headline: “Charity offering free pet grooming to low income pet owners” caught my attention. After reading, I noted a comment left, and if I understood the meaning, the author was questioning why homeless and low income people would have pets – “Low income and homeless with pets just doesn't sound right,” according to him. Another comment suggested the initiative was “frivolous”. How wrong they are. They’ve lost sight of the WE person they could be, with a little examination of their own priorities.
People have low income for many reasons just as they find themselves homeless for any number of reasons. It’s easy for armchair critics to take shots from the comfort of a home, with food on the table, the lights on, and a dog or two at their feet or maybe on their lap being fed a favourite biscuit. Do the financially secure have exclusive ‘ownership’ of the privilege of having a pet? No, they do not. I know this and Angela Hopkins knows it.
Angela Hopkins’ The Homie Project is not just about grooming the dogs of homeless or low income people. It’s about grooming the souls of those very people who are in crisis for reasons we will never know about. What we must know, though, is that their dog is their world and as best as they’re able they will look after and care for their pets.
These economic times, impacted significantly by COVID isolation, have affected the homeless in ways that cycle through every aspect of daily life. Inability to meet apartment rent may force eviction; the pet gets ‘kicked out’, too. A few missed mortgage payments costs the roof over the heads of all, including the family pets. Decisions have to be made on the fly. Some people will turn their beloved family pet over to animals shelters. Others will take an aged pet to the vet to be euthanized, not wanting it rehomed with an unknown future. Those critical of the actions of the homeless who love their pets need to just stop and see. Many vets are going above and beyond providing free care to meet the basic needs of pets of street people. Those in the community who can will quietly contribute to cost of care with frequent donations to vet clinics to defray costs of their extra client load. Vets have bills to pay and can’t carry a huge roster of ‘freebies’ as much as they might want to; it’s not practical. That’s why initiatives such as The Homie Project is vital to a community’s profile, letting citizens know that pets are important contributions to the mental health of seniors, the disabled, the disenfranchised. Do we not have an obligation to help where we can without questioning the lifestyle choices of those in need? We do not have that right. The world is stuffed full of ME people, while the WE people, in the minority, quietly go about the business of filling in the gaps, whether in their own community or on a grander scale, providing what so many lack – money. Having money creates opportunity not only for personal growth, but also to share with those who struggle. It’s a challenge having to choose which necessity of life will be paid or sit on the back burner. Lots of seniors will go without proper nutrition themselves to ensure their pet friend has daily meals. Some will short their daily prescription drug allotment to save money to set aside for vet care costs; a juggling act of epic proportion.
On December 1, 2012, a new Responsible Pet Ownership Policy was implemented for New Brunswick public housing units. The New Brunswick Housing Corporation requires that the pet be registered with them, with current vaccination record and municipal license; the pet must be spayed or neutered. Dogs will not be allowed without direct access to outside.
With appropriate rules in place, non-subsidized landlords should look to being WE people, allowing seniors with pets. Downsizing forces decisions that don’t have to be made when a dose of compassion makes lives so much healthier and happier so that Mrs. Jones and her canine or feline companion can live together in solidarity.
Carla MacInnis Rockwell is a freelance writer and disability rights advocate living outside Fredericton, NB with Miss Lexie, a rambunctious Maltese and Mr. Malcolm, a boisterous Havanese. She can be reached via email at carmacrockwell@xplornet.ca
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