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Question of Pet Worthiness:
Should Poor/Homeless People Have Pets?
Aw, geez. If I needed inspiration to write this post, I got it on Christmas night.
My sis and I had to make that dreaded trip to the emergency vet with her new pup, Keeper, who exhibited signs that traumatized my sister, having recently lost Tizzy, and me to a lesser degree. When all was said and done, Keeper had relatively minor ailments. She had to stay overnight to get stabilized. Final vet bill for this unexpected visit, $1200. My sis can afford it, though this was not in her budget.
As we sat in the spartan waiting room I couldn’t help but think of the families I know who, despite their lack of resources or even a place to live, have — and love — dogs.
“Parking Lot Survival,” my recent 5-minute video, focused on “Sara” and her 6-year-old son “Kenny.” They live in a small SUV with Blake the dog and Colby the cat. As we chatted about the challenges of owning pets while homeless, Sara commented that people have dogs before they become homeless, a point missed by unenlightened observers. Blake and Colby are essential parts of her family. She gets donations of pet food from the local pantry. She’s not sure how she’ll cope with the pet medical emergency.
