topic Re: Homeless people that have dogs in Pet Lovers

Homeless people that have dogs

elated — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 04:42:21 GMT

I continue to see homeless people that have dogs. I feel so sorry for the dogs because they do not have a choice on how they live. Today when I was walking I saw two homeless people on the sidewalk with signs and the dog was laying on the grass. There was no water for the dog. The one woman had a container of water for herself. When I walked by the dog he just looked up at me with sad eyes. I felt like asking them if I could have the dog but you never know their mental state.

It upsets me to see the dogs knowing that they are not getting the care. I don't know how the people became homeless or if they really are because we have so many scammers looking for a quick buck.

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

Kachina624 — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 05:22:04 GMT

I'm ambivalent on this subject. I think the poor should be entitled to own dogs just as would anyone else, but I do wonder about their ability to give the animal good care, quality food, etc. We know the most important thing to a dog is to be loved, they presumably get that from their owners. These dogs always look well-fed and don't appear to be suffering.

For you to have asked if you could have someone's dog would have been wrong, wrong. How would you like a shabbily dressed person ask if he could have your dog? Such a request would have been elitist and insulting. Many of the homeless suffer from mental illness and their dogs undoubtedly mean a lot to them. I don't think we have the right to deny someone a pet unless there's proof the animal is being mistreated.

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

Pook — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 08:49:15 GMT

All a dog cares about is the love. I have felt bad for many dogs who are stuck with people who can provide financially but do not spend time with them. To them a dog is just another status symbol possession! They may have fancy food, toys, expensive bedding, etc but what the dog really wants is time spent interacting. Those are the ones that upset me and I'd like to rescue.

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

Jackhound Mom — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 09:21:30 GMT

Dear Elated,

Maybe you saw an earlier post of mine about homless people here in AZ? I'm with you and feel that life with a homless person (if they are) is abusive.

Sorry to disagree with the OP but animals need more than love. The problem with asking for the animal would only cause the homless person to get another pet to panhandle with.

To scold you for your opinion is wrong, wrong.

There is no law requiring a homless person give up their dog. Folks who use animals in the Tucson area where I live are allowed to keep the dogs out on the city streets in 117+ temps. Unless they are being "abused" nothing will be done. I consider restrained in extreme heat to be abuse! Our local news casters are constantly pleading for pet owners to "bring your animals in from the extreme heat!"

I'm sure this post will bring on more critizsum. Let's consider what the dogs would really want.

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

happycat — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 10:47:14 GMT

I feel for the dog. In a bigger city, I saw a group homeless people walking with their signs saying they were hungry. This was last summer, it was hot. They were walking on hot asphalt, the people all had shoes on. The dogs had to be miserable. The dogs didn't look like they were enjoying it.

It doesn't really sound like love to me. And what happens when the poor dog gets sick or hurt? Also they also need to eat and fresh water.

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

Jackhound Mom — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 11:54:39 GMT

Dear Kachina,

If you are ambivalent then why would you write about this?

Cathy

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

Jackhound Mom — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 12:00:45 GMT

Dear Pook,

It sounds like you have a problem with people who have status. How does that equate to animal abuse?

Cathy

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

hoosieroriginal — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 12:02:36 GMT

These people can't even feed themselves, how can they feed an animal. The animals are used as bait to get money, that's about it. People feel for the dogs, so they give money and it goes to booze or drugs.

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

CrazyDaisy — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 12:18:17 GMT

People are homeless for a number of reasons, many times beyond their control. To assume that they do not love or care for the pets as best they can is just wrong. The alternative is to put all those pets down, is that what you are promoting?

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

Jackhound Mom — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 12:28:26 GMT

Dear Crazy,

Wow! That is a real stretch.

Cathy

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

CrazyDaisy — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 13:31:35 GMT

@Jackhound Mom wrote:
Dear Crazy,
Wow! That is a real stretch.
Cathy

Why is that a stretch, 1.5 million homeless dogs and cats are put to sleep each year. Where do you think these pets are going to go?

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

SeaMaiden — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 14:11:16 GMT

@elated Dogs are very adaptable... many many dogs do not live in a "HOME".

Homeless people LOVE THEIR DOGS and care for them the best they can. Homeless people deserve a pet too. Do not put prejudices on the homeless. Their dogs LOVE THEIR OWNERS home or not. I really doubt that a homeless person would let their dog go with out food or water.... and probably shares what little they have with that dog. and the dog gets food and water FIRST.

I am more concerned with those dogs people IN HOUSES have that tie them up days and days at a time with no love or interaction.... or leave them in hot cars to die..... or use them for fighting or racing or all the things PEOPLE IN HOUSES do to dogs today that are cruel.

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

SeaMaiden — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 14:12:08 GMT

@Pook wrote:
All a dog cares about is the love. I have felt bad for many dogs who are stuck with people who can provide financially but do not spend time with them. To them a dog is just another status symbol possession! They may have fancy food, toys, expensive bedding, etc but what the dog really wants is time spent interacting. Those are the ones that upset me and I'd like to rescue.

@Pook Thank-YOU!!!

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

silkyk — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 14:16:41 GMT

I LOVE dogs.Simple to solve the "should I give" problem. I keep a few canx of dog food (with easy open cans in case they aren't packin' a can opener) in my car and when I see a pup in need for it I give. The homeless always are SO appreciative and I tell them to take care of their best friend. There but for fortune.........

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

SeaMaiden — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 14:18:56 GMT

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
These people can't even feed themselves, how can they feed an animal. The animals are used as bait to get money, that's about it. People feel for the dogs, so they give money and it goes to booze or drugs.

@hoosieroriginal THESE PEOPLE?? HUH???????????

"These People" are just" US" a few pay checks away... or after an illness that wipes out our bank account.... "These People" are US!!!!. It is the people in HOUSES that use dogs for bait and to make money..... and buy drugs and sell drugs.... I can not believe how small your mind is to think or say such a blatent lie about the homeless...... I am SPEECHLESS!!!!!

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

hoosieroriginal — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 14:58:16 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
@hoosieroriginal wrote:
These people can't even feed themselves, how can they feed an animal. The animals are used as bait to get money, that's about it. People feel for the dogs, so they give money and it goes to booze or drugs.
@hoosieroriginal THESE PEOPLE?? HUH???????????

"These People" are just" US" a few pay checks away... or after an illness that wipes out our bank account.... "These People" are US!!!!. It is the people in HOUSES that use dogs for bait and to make money..... and buy drugs and sell drugs.... I can not believe how small your mind is to think or say such a blatent lie about the homeless...... I am SPEECHLESS!!!!!

@SeaMaiden - "These people" I am talking about can go out and get a job just like the rest of us - if they can stand on a corner all day holding up a sign, they can work a job. There are people out there that truly our help, I guarantee you, but they wouldn't drag an animal around with them to get sympathy. But 3/4 of "these people" are just as healthy as you and me and choose not to work. If you offer them a job, they come up with an excuse. Then they drag a poor dog or cat into the mix to get our sympathy. And yes, they use the money for their drugs or booze. Open your eyes.

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

hoosieroriginal — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 15:18:00 GMT

@CrazyDaisy wrote:
People are homeless for a number of reasons, many times beyond their control. To assume that they do not love or care for the pets as best they can is just wrong. The alternative is to put all those pets down, is that what you are promoting?

@CrazyDaisy; @SeaMaiden - Say tomorrow you lose everything and you have a dog. Wouldn't you find that dog a home or take it to the shelter to find it a good home knowing you can't feed it? Or would you drag that dog around with you knowing you can't even feed yourself? I saw a young homeless man every day in downtown San Diego. One day he was begging me for money. I offered to take his dog and pay him for it. His response was "no because more people give me money because of the dog". He didn't get a penny from me. I wanted to steal that dog from him, seriously - it was sad.

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

happycat — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 15:18:49 GMT

All I know is my oldest dog started having seizures several years ago. She has to have medicine twice daily. She is elderly....I have never owned an elderly dog that didn't like to lay around the majority of the day in a comfy spot.

To say that all a dog needs is "love", well...I don't even know. Love isn't going to fill up an empty belly.

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

CrazyDaisy — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 15:34:46 GMT

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
@CrazyDaisy wrote:
People are homeless for a number of reasons, many times beyond their control. To assume that they do not love or care for the pets as best they can is just wrong. The alternative is to put all those pets down, is that what you are promoting?
@CrazyDaisy; @SeaMaiden - Say tomorrow you lose everything and you have a dog. Wouldn't you find that dog a home or take it to the shelter to find it a good home knowing you can't feed it? Or would you drag that dog around with you knowing you can't even feed yourself? I saw a young homeless man every day in downtown San Diego. One day he was begging me for money. I offered to take his dog and pay him for it. His response was "no because more people give me money because of the dog". He didn't get a penny from me. I wanted to steal that dog from him, seriously - it was sad.

If you could find your dog a good home, would think you could find yourself someplace to stay. Taking a dog to a shelter is often a desth sentance. So to answer your question, yes i would keep my dog with me and do tne best i could. He would never give up on me, whty would i give up on him.

As far as the man not giving a stranger his dog, would you give your dog to a syranger? And he is probably right, more people may give him more money because he has a dog. He may get enough to feed both of them, he never said he did not care about the dog.

Re: Homeless people that have dogs

HappyDaze — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 16:57:20 GMT

@happycat wrote:
All I know is my oldest dog started having seizures several years ago. She has to have medicine twice daily. She is elderly....I have never owned an elderly dog that didn't like to lay around the majority of the day in a comfy spot.

To say that all a dog needs is "love", well...I don't even know. Love isn't going to fill up an empty belly.

Or keep hiim warm in the cold, keep his feet from burning on the hot asphalt, pay for his treatment when he is sick , keep him cool during extreme heat, keep him from being dehydrated, etc