I have really been struggling with updating my blog. Not because I have nothing to say but because I have too much to say. The other day I came across this website:

http://www.petsofhomeless.com/default.htm

I was completely taken aback. Not because I was unaware of the problem, I just didn’t realize how much bigger the problem is getting. Homeless people owning pets is actually a controversial subject to some. Many think that they don’t deserve to have pets or that it is unfair for the pet to have to live this type of lifestyle. I completely disagree. I understand why some might feel like if a person can’t take care of themselves, how or why would they try and take care of an animal. But I look at it like this: in some cases that animal or even that animal’s human is the only living, breathing, loving being that they know. This is their only companion. Most homeless people are not homeless by choice. I don’t think they should be punished or denied companionship because of those circumstances. Would it better to take the animal away, making both miserable and then taking the pet to a shelter only to be put to asleep after 5 days unless adopted? Also, the housing foreclosure situation has compounded the problem of abandoned pets. Honestly, if I had to leave and had the choice of living in my car with my pets or an apartment without them, I can honestly, with all candor, say that I would live in my car. I am lucky that I have family that loves me and would take me and pets in if necessary but the thought has crossed my mind.

Now there does beg the question “if they can’t feed themselves how can they feed a pet or pay for vet care”? Well, it is hard if not almost impossible. I have been asking myself for the past few days, how do I help? So for the next few weeks I will be on a fact finding mission on how to partner with Pets of the Homeless in my part of the US. I don’t think getting food donated would be the biggest task, I think it will be finding someone who knows how to find the section of the population that needs this type of assistance. So, wish me luck and I will try to keep my blog updated in a more timely manner! Also, visit the website if this subject interests you, as they say it so much better than I can.