Pets & Homelessness in LA
On any given night, nearly 60,000 people sleep on the streets in Los Angeles County. This is a shocking figure that unfortunately has grown by 33% over the past four years.
What’s also shocking is that around 5% to 10% of those individuals own and care for pets. Though the homeless are limited in terms of financial resources, many still prioritize the health and happiness of their pet, even before themselves.
Here we look into the relationship between the homeless and their pets, and what this demonstrates about compassion and the human-animal bond. We’ll also look at how we can help the homeless and their furry friends, as well as what to do if you find a stray pet.
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
HOW THE HOMELESS CARE FOR THEIR PETS
Many reports state that up to 10% of the homeless residing in the Los Angeles area have pets.
For these individuals, it is a constant struggle for them to take care of their pets as well as themselves. There are many stories the homeless people of the city will tell you of how they fed their pets first before they fed themselves when food was tight. Of course, for homeless people, food is almost always in short supply. It’s not easy to secure food when shelter and employment are always a struggle.
For the homeless, their pets are often their only family and perhaps the only creatures that show them any love and care. Pets provide them with comfort and companionship; they don’t judge or try to avoid eye contact, they’re a constant in a life that’s anything but secure.
Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash
THE OVERABUNDANCE OF ANIMALS ON THE STREETS OF LA
There are tens of thousands of poor animals on the streets, and a large percentage of them wind up being euthanized. There is simply no way to care for them all under the current system, so those that find their way into the Los Angeles metro shelters have about a 50% chance of coming back out again.
A whopping 72,000 stray animals are placed into shelters each year in LA alone. Spaying and neutering certainly helps as it prevents animals from being born accidentally, but unfortunately this isn’t being done at a rate that will catch up with the overpopulation crisis in the city.
In fact, only 10% of the animals taken in by shelters have been spayed or neutered. Overpopulation, due to owners letting their pets accidentally or intentionally reproduce, sees millions of these “excess” animals killed annually.
Of course, that allows many homeless people to adopt pets that would otherwise be on their own. The homeless of Los Angeles have an easy time finding a pet that is a good fit for them, and that means they can have a companion with them as they go through their hard times.
The relationship they have is often mutually beneficial. The animal provides friendship, warmth and comfort, and the homeless people can provide food and safety for the animals, allowing them both to live longer, fuller, healthier lives together.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FIND A STRAY PET
Not every animal you find wandering the streets of LA is homeless. Many of them have people who love them and care for them, and they may simply be lost and trying to find their way home. The cat experts at We’re All About Cats state that many strays are lost pets that have escaped or weren’t provided with adequate identification. This is why, if you have a pet, it is so important to get them microchipped and wearing collar tags imprinted with your name and contact number.
You may not know where the animal lives, but you can do your part to ensure that they get safely back to their home. Here’s how:
Approach the animal cautiously, says the Humane Society
Next try to lure the animal into your car and take it to a local shelter so that the owner can be identified and contacted. Even if they don’t have a collar, they may be microchipped, or their owner may have got in touch with local shelters and provided images of their lost pet
This not only gets the animal off the street but can often help to reconnect people and their pets with one another
HELPING THE HOMELESS AND THEIR PETS
If you would like to help someone who is homeless or give assistance to their pets, there are a few things you can do:
Provide food and pet food if they have a pet!
Foods that can be eaten without preparation or cold storage are the best to give. Some homeless people will store the food away until it is needed, so try not to give perishables if you can help it or be offended if they don’t dive in straight away. However, if you only have perishables, then you could certainly give them.
Provide a sense of warmth
Another way to help is through supplying the homeless and their pets with blankets, bedding, medical supplies, veterinarian supplies and toys for their pets. One of the best things you can do is ask a homeless person what they need help with. Some require reading glasses, crutches, a razor, lighter or other small items that you might not think much of but that could prove invaluable to them to make their life easier.
HOMELESSNESS AND PET LIFESPANS
How long do pets live on the streets among the homeless?
Part of the reduced lifespan of pets on the streets can be attributed to their roaming habits which put them at risk of fights with other animals, getting hit by moving vehicles, etc.
Many sources state that pets actually live longer and fuller lives with the homeless than if they were to be left to themselves. The homeless tend to take excellent care of their pets. Though indoor cats can live up to 20 years, outdoor cats can average just two to five years. Similarly, the average life of a street dog is around 3.5 and 4 years, compared to indoor dogs under 20 pounds who have an average lifespan of 11. However, the good news is this will increase dramatically with care from a homeless individual.
Of course, if you can lend a hand and occasionally help out, they can live even longer, happier lives.
The Vanderpump Dog Foundation is an LA-based 501c3 dog rescue organization, working hard to help create a better world for dogs globally. You can find out more about us and what we do here or find out about our rescue center here.