A place for the homeless and their pets
Many homeless people -- perhaps as many as 10% -- have pets. (The pets above are waiting with their owners, who are homeless, for veterinary care in Ventura County.) Loathe to abandon their companions, many often refuse housing services rather than go into them without their pets.
To address that problem, the nonprofit group PATH next month will open the PetCo Place in Hollywood, a shelter that will house both homeless people and their pets. People will sleep upstairs and their pets downstairs.
Both people and animals can stay as long as they need while they try to get back on their feet and find permanent housing. Advocates say it is the second such shelter in the U.S. The first is in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
-- Jessica Garrison
Photo: Carlos Chavez / Los Angeles Times
The nonprofit Path merits accolades and commendation for attempting to keep people and their priceless pets together amid a dire, financial crisis.
Posted by: Brien Comerford | July 23, 2008 at 08:22 AM
This story makes me so happy! I am glad to live in an area that recognizes not only the therapeutic value of pets, but also the importance of their companionship. The homeless have lost everything, why won't we work with them to keep a friend!
Posted by: Megan | July 23, 2008 at 10:28 AM
I am so touched to hear about this and want more information so I can donate if possible. I work at a homeless shelter and we do not take pets. I am a very deep, very strong animal lover with pets of my own. They depend on us for life and happiness and the homeless do need their friends. I hope this will take off somehow nationwide. Kudos to the visionaries here.
Posted by: Tristine Barry | July 24, 2008 at 05:18 PM
What a wonderful story. We will be contacting PATH to see how "Feeding Pets of the Homeless" can help. Our members collect pet food and we award grants to organziations that meet our objectives.
Genevieve Frederick, Founder
Posted by: Genevieve Frederick | July 25, 2008 at 09:57 AM