by Robin Loving

Created on: July 15, 2009   Last Updated: September 25, 2009

How to help pets of the homeless

Depending on the circumstances for homelessness, I think the needs and worries of an animal guardian vary quite drastically. Some people are the victims of a life-altering circumstance, which has made it difficult to provide for a pet any longer yet they are reluctant to let them go. Other people are transient through a choice of their own, and they've obtained a pet while living this lifestyle. While some of these circumstances may require a bit of tailoring to fit the individual needs of the pet and their person/s-and cats are only briefly touched on here- I am going to close my eyes and try to imagine myself in a position where I am homeless with a dog, and what resources I might be seeking. (While my eyes are closed, I will NOT be clicking my ruby-slippered-heels together, hoping to wind-up in Kansas. I've lived there and the winters are brutal.)

Cats are a particularly difficult case when assuming a life-style without roots. Cats, although able to adjust quite easily at times, are just not suited for 'the road'. On the other hand-cats could be easier to find a new home for. They take up less space ('personality', aside), and don't require quite as much of a hands-on daily routine. I'm going to guess that a person who 'chooses' a transient lifestyle, will know of the difficulties of trying to keep a cat, but a person who is on the brink of losing their home, may need assistance with finding a suitable situation (either temporary or permanent) for their little lap-rat buddy. If you are able to extend this variable option yourself...bless you-If not, networking with the Animal Welfare Community, or offering to take pictures, post ads and field phone-calls for someone who is in need, could help tremendously, if this person is already without these modes of communication. As a last resort for many cat guardians-they may need to relinquish their pet/s to a shelter. You could offer to help them find a No Kill animal shelter that has little or no surrender-fee. If there is a small fee, and they are in desperate financial straits-perhaps you could assist them in this way.

When I think of dogs and what a dog needs, I look at my own 75 lb. girl and shudder. If I were displaced, I think my options would be very limited. I would be forced to find temporary housing for my cats, and Annie and I would have to 'hit-the-road' in search of a new living situation for the eight of us. While placing myself in this 'virtual' situation, I'm

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