by Heide Brandes
Too often, people who find themselves without a home or place to stay do not seek residential shelters
in their cities because the shelters do not accept dogs or other pets. In fact, many homeless owners with pets would rather sleep on the streets than in a shelter that doesn’t allow pets.
Even more concerning is the fact that many people do not leave abusive or dangerous situations because they cannot take their pets with them to rescue shelters. Often, abusers use threats of harm or death to beloved animals as a tactic to keep their victims from leaving.
Unfortunately, owning a dog or other pet is often a barrier for people who need to find temporary shelter, access services, or find housing. More often than not, people are forced to choose between the safety of a shelter and bed and staying on the streets with their pets.
Many people choose the latter, but noticeable progress toward pet-friendly shelters is being made.
The Salvation Army Meets the Need
In late October 2022, the Salvation Army Center of Hope in Oklahoma City, operated by the Central Oklahoma Area Command, unveiled its new dog kennel.
“We have a shelter here for single men, single women, and families, but we’ve learned that many homeless individuals in the community who need to be out of the weather have pets, and they refuse to leave the pets,” said Major Charles Powell, Salvation Army area commander. “They would rather sleep outside than leave the pet unattended.”
To meet that need, the Salvation Army Central Oklahoma Area Command raised funds and built the kennel on the shelter grounds to offer a safe place for clients to leave their animals.
“We’ve got a unit in the back that heats and cools so we can control temperature,” said Powell. “It’s just a way to open doors to help more people in the shelter. If we help them deal with their animals, they can come and stay with us.”
The idea for a kennel at the Salvation Army Center of Hope started several years ago. The six-cage kennel was funded through donations and with a final gift from Oklahoma City resident Chuck Musgrave. The kennel has indoor and outdoor individual spaces for each animal. The entire facility was designed to be hosed down and cleaned with ample drainage.
“This was a need that we saw, and this allows us to reach more people who need help and shelter,” said Powell. “If the need increases, then, yes, we will look into expanding the capacity of the kennel.”
Homeless People and Their Pets
According to the National Library of Medicine, as many as 25 percent of homeless persons have pets. Although the majority of them reported that pets kept them company and made them feel loved, nearly half of those interviewed reported that having pets also made it more difficult to stay in shelters.
For people who are homeless, the benefits of having companion animals include reduced depression and loneliness compared with their peers, but they also report a lower chance of finding permanent housing and job-finding services and a decreased likelihood of staying in shelters.
The Salvation Army Center of Hope isn’t the only organization addressing the pet situation. Palomar, Oklahoma City’s Family Justice Center, has an ongoing partnership with the Oklahoma Humane Society through the Animal Advocacy Program. The program helps take care of the pets of people who are fleeing domestic violence. An animal advocate is on-site at Palomar to help take immediate care of pets while Palomar staff members help care for the family. Animal care can include pet pantry assistance, coordinating veterinary care, or placing an animal in a temporary foster home until the family can be reunited.
The day shelter at the Homeless Alliance in Oklahoma City also offers a kennel, complete with pet food and access to veterinary services, so people with pets aren’t shut out of the system of care.
The Salvation Army Center of Hope is at 1001 North Pennsylvania Avenue in Oklahoma City. For more information, call (405) 246-1100 or visit https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/central-oklahoma.
