Homeless Pet Owners

Good morning readers. I was looking over new cases for the day when the story of a homeless person who lost several beloved pets because of a bad situation struck my interest. It got me to thinking: should homeless people be pet owners? Should homeless shelters be required to take in pets? Are there resources to help homeless pet owners?

I’d love to hear everyone’s opinion on this at the end of this article. I do enough stories on people who lose their homes and abandon their pets. But what about those who lose everything and choose to take their pets with them on their journey for a better life.

I’m finding information on cases of homeless pet owner’s worldwide. And the problem in growing.

The following case is taking place in Everett County, Washington where the Everett County Animal Control seized the dogs and cat belonging to a homeless person living in a van. The animals were up to date on vet care, food and water were both being supplied and the owner was basically doing a better job of caring for the animals than many pet owners in a traditional home.

Everett County Animal Control argued the point that the animals were cold and water wasn’t put out for them 24/7. The owner wasn’t allowed the chance to find better conditions nor was a citation given. Should the owner lose custody, the animals could be put down at any time. One of the animal control officers made it clear that the dogs and cat are “only property.”

If anyone would like to contact Everett County about this case, which occurred on January 6, 2011, the contact information is as follows:

Shannon Delgado, Assistant Manager
333 Smith Island Rd
Everett, WA 98201
T: 425-257-6000
F: 425-257-6018
E: sdelgado@ci.everett.wa.us

This situation can be followed on Facebook here. It was sent to me as a page suggestion by a friend. I’m curious to see how this turns out.

Robert M. and Aline H. Kidd at the Center for Animals in Society, School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California located in Davis did a study on the homeless and pet ownership. They found that the only group of people more devoted to their pets are the Canine Corps, where dogs physically save their owner’s lives. Many of the homeless say their pets are the only ones who love them. Most would give their lives for their pet.

Karen Morissette, a homeless woman in Nashville, Tenessee, and her dog BooBoo were recently turned away from Nashville Rescue Mission. BooBoo is a sleep apnea dog and should fall under the same category as a service dog for the blind. Karen, like other homeless pet owners, says BooBoo is her life.

Most shelters refuse to take in homeless people with pets.

One exception I found is the Yukon Shelter in Vancouver, Canada. This shelter not only allows the pet to remain with the owner, they are allowed to sleep in the same room. The Yukon Shelter for the homeless considers the pet a part of the family. THANK YOU!!!

As far as information on how to help the homeless with pets, it’s mostly a local issue. Some veterinarians offer reduced prices for vet services. Many food banks now hand out dog and cat food along with food for human consumption. Most pet owners say their four legged companions take priority before their own needs.

Personally I believe the homeless should be allowed to keep their pets if at all possible. I research cases where animals are abused, starved, abandoned and unloved. I write on shelters that must destroy up to 85% of the animals who come through the door. So I’m all for anyone who truly loves having a pet and will keep it at all costs.

The homeless pet owner’s I’ve profiled above are providing as much or more care than pets in a permanent home. So why does the alternative have to be to take away the pet and destroy two lives. Then have to euthanize the animal because no one wanted it when it had a loving human to start with.

Please leave your thoughts and suggestions here. Have any of you ever been in this position or known someone who has? I just hate to see animals suffer because of society rules that need to be adjusted to deal with today’s problems.

Related articles:

Feeding The Elderly and Their Pets

Reasons Why People Surrender Their Pets – the other side of the coin.

Elisa

 

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Homeless Pet Owners

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Feb 27, 2012
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Here is my addy NEW
by: Brandia My email addy is finallyhomerescue@yahoo.com. Now I’ve got the creeps. I know that she had a lot of stuff that seemed very disproportionate to her social Security income… which she said most of it was left to her. There are a lot of things that are making sense now. None of it good.

Feb 27, 2012
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E-mail NEW
by: Anonymous I should really get your e-mail! Yes, his mother is dead. There was a lot of talk about weather she had anything to do with it, though I do know she stole quite a bit of valuable things from her before she died.

Feb 27, 2012
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YIPES! NEW
by: Brandia I need to know if the mother is still alive. I see a bunch of litigation from Thurston County & she made a comment one time to her other half that if he kept on she would get rid of him just like his mother, then she realized I was there she looked at me and said “I’ll put him out of my misery too”. I thought she was joking because she just laughed after that for quite a while.

I will go through my blog to make absolutely sure none of the kids names are listed, I didn’t realize they were. I watched her use the death of a kitty to have a reason to call her daughter, the pittie attacked him, Rose wouldn’t take him to the vet’s. She just tossed him in the bathroom but I went & got him & held him til he passed

As for CPS I have watched her call on people. I did call them to tell them that I heard her & she was lying but didn’t know the son in laws name she called on.


Feb 27, 2012
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People really shouldn’t take her word as gold NEW
by: Anonymous I know her games. It’s sad how she thinks it’s ok to harm others. She has falsified reports to CPS, she is suspected of causing harm to her boyfriends mother, she took her own father to the cleaners before he finally passed, stolen from her children, had dogs in the past that were taken by animal control and put down (
for being aggressive), and so much more.
Her children, even the grown ones, don’t need to relive the things she did to them. That’s why it’s important not to involve them. I’ve seen your blogs, perhaps boy 1, boy 2, ect. is more suitable.

Feb 27, 2012
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People really shouldn’t take her word as gold NEW
by: Anonymous I know her games. It’s sad how she thinks it’s ok to harm others. She has falsified reports to CPS, she is suspected of causing harm to her boyfriends mother, she took her own father to the cleaners before he finally passed, stolen from her children, had dogs in the past that were taken by animal control and put down (
for being aggressive), and so much more.
Her children, even the grown ones, don’t need to relive the things she did to them. That’s why it’s important not to involve them. I’ve seen your blogs, perhaps boy 1, boy 2, ect. is more suitable.

Feb 27, 2012
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I stand corrected NEW
by: Brandia I was wrong in bringing up Rose’s children, 1 I know, & he is an incredible young man, the reasoning behind it was her bringing up my children. Which does not make it right, for that I apologize to them, they are innocent.

 

I am glad to know that there are people who know what this woman is really like though, so now I don’t feel as bad.


Feb 27, 2012
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To Rose & Brandia NEW
by: Anonymous So, I don’t know Brandia or her circumstances (I can’t say much about you). Except, don’t bring Rose’s children into any of this. Did you ever think that they are seprate people from her?
As for Rose, I know you to be manipulative. You like to come off as perfect, but you are FAR from it. You abuses your children! And to top it off you treat your pets as poorly as your kids. Beating them, neglecting them, and then cursing at the top of your longs. There’s no excuse to not clean up the fecalmatter and urane off of your floors. Those are not even exceptable living conditions for a human 🙁
Shame on you, for trying to tell others what they are doing wrong. You seek attention at every turn. It’s funny how your the 1st person to point out others faults, but take NO responsibility for your own. It’s time to grow up, and start acting like a lady.

Feb 27, 2012
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To Rose & Brandia NEW
by: Anonymous So, I don’t know Brandia or her circumstances (I can’t say much about you). Except, don’t bring Rose’s children into any of this. Did you ever think that they are seprate people from her?
As for Rose, I know you to be manipulative. You like to come off as perfect, but you are FAR from it. You abuses your children! And to top it off you treat your pets as poorly as your kids. Beating them, neglecting them, and then cursing at the top of your longs. There’s no excuse to not clean up the fecalmatter and urane off of your floors. Those are not even exceptable living conditions for a human 🙁
Shame on you, for trying to tell others what they are doing wrong. You seek attention at every turn. It’s funny how your the 1st person to point out others faults, but take NO responsibility for your own. It’s time to grow up, and start acting like a lady.

Jul 03, 2011
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ATTACKS ON THE HOMELESS NOT A NEW THING
by: Anonymous I have spent time at Brandia’s residence and have met all of her pets. They are as spoiled as mine are. Not a single pet was malnourished or dehydrated and all were happy. Not sure what the contentious battle is here going on, but lots of personal comments and mud-slinging going on. Whoever is posting these negative personal comments better protect herself. A “cat fight” is one thing, however, Brandia has great defense attorneys and she is a tremendous litigator with a lot of people in her corner. Kicking someone when they are down on their luck is not a good thing. Defamation and libel are actionable in a court of law. Civil suits will follow this criminal action in Everett. Of that, I’m quite sure. I’m cheering on the person who was homeless for a few weeks. Hopefully the homeless person will end up with enough for her own home in the end, in damages.

Feb 22, 2011
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So it looks like Rose has been here
by: Brandia So first off I would like to thank you Elise for leaving these posts up because Rose knows full well she has an anti harrassment order in place, I told you & everyone else on FB about the ad & the original police report she was posting about my kids. What she failed to tell you are 2 things, none of my kids were at teh house except for my 14yr old idiot, the lady who gave them booze went to jail, & I got my kids back. Rose lost her kids & wouldnt even fight for them, she has also dumped them off across the country & has ads posted all over adoption boards & craigslist looking for them now. SHe is the one with an eviction just about every year since 1991 near as I can figure. My dogs did not have Giardia, nor did they have worms, & none were dehydrated at all, most of the posting are her using different names, she is using your forum to play out her little sick fantasies, because most of the Washington rescue community has blocked her. Elise you are on my FB I have finally posted all of the info as well as my court stuff so please go check it out on Taamu V. City of Everett & Everett Animal Control. Actually I will tag you in the post. Sorry she brought her can of crazy over here but it seems like you are the only one giving her an audience, I didn’t mean to bring this to you.

Jan 20, 2011
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An Arrest In
by: Rose IF SHE DID THIS TO HER OWN CHILDREN, WHY WOULDN’T YOU THINK SHE WOULD DO THIS TO HER ANIMALS?

 

Please read, this regarding Brandia A. Marea Perez-Taamu, from October 21st, 1996, in the Seattle Times!

http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19961021&slug=2355429l

Monday, October 21, 1996 – Page updated at 12:00 AM
Eastside Briefly

An Arrest In `Filthy’ Apartment Case
BELLEVUE – Brandia Taamu, whose children were found in what police described as a filthy apartment last week, was arrested on a traffic warrant when police and a state Child Protective Services worker went to her home to take her young twins into protective custody.
Police Lt. Bill Ferguson said officers and the CPS caseworker went to the College Place Apartments in the 1300 block of 145th Place Southeast at 6:30 p.m. Friday. He said the CPS worker explained to Taamu that the two 6-year-olds, a boy and a girl, were being taken because their welfare was endangered.
Furthermore, Ferguson said, the caseworker said she had information that the woman had plans to leave for the weekend without the children.
Taamu, 32, was booked into the King County Jail on an outstanding traffic warrant and released Saturday morning on her personal recognizance.
When police responding to a 911 hang-up call Oct. 12 arrived at her apartment, they found two 14-year-old boys passed out in the midst of vomit on the floor. They were supposed to be taking care of six children, all under 8 years old. Police said the 14-year-olds had been drinking hard liquor supplied by a friend.
Polcie said the apartment was dirty and stank and that the floors were covered with clothing and rotting food.
Copyright (c) 1996 Seattle Times Company, All Rights Reserved.


Jan 20, 2011
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An Arrest In “Filthy” Apartment Case IS ABOUT BRANDIA TAAMU!
by: Anonymous IF SHE DID THIS TO HER OWN CHILDREN, WHY WOULDN’T YOU THINK SHE WOULD DO THIS TO HER ANIMALS?

 

Please read, this regarding Brandia A. Marea Perez-Taamu, from October 21st, 1996, in the Seattle Times!

http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19961021&slug=2355429l

Monday, October 21, 1996 – Page updated at 12:00 AM
Eastside Briefly

An Arrest In `Filthy’ Apartment Case
BELLEVUE – Brandia Taamu, whose children were found in what police described as a filthy apartment last week, was arrested on a traffic warrant when police and a state Child Protective Services worker went to her home to take her young twins into protective custody.
Police Lt. Bill Ferguson said officers and the CPS caseworker went to the College Place Apartments in the 1300 block of 145th Place Southeast at 6:30 p.m. Friday. He said the CPS worker explained to Taamu that the two 6-year-olds, a boy and a girl, were being taken because their welfare was endangered.
Furthermore, Ferguson said, the caseworker said she had information that the woman had plans to leave for the weekend without the children.
Taamu, 32, was booked into the King County Jail on an outstanding traffic warrant and released Saturday morning on her personal recognizance.
When police responding to a 911 hang-up call Oct. 12 arrived at her apartment, they found two 14-year-old boys passed out in the midst of vomit on the floor. They were supposed to be taking care of six children, all under 8 years old. Police said the 14-year-olds had been drinking hard liquor supplied by a friend.
Polcie said the apartment was dirty and stank and that the floors were covered with clothing and rotting food.
Copyright (c) 1996 Seattle Times Company, All Rights Reserved.


Jan 20, 2011
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This animal control incident took place at my house, so I know the facts!
by: Rose Look at my previous posting: The TRUTH about the woman in the City of Everett, SNOHOMISH COU}NTY NOT EVERETT COUNTY, Washington
by: Rose

 

 


Jan 20, 2011
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case in everett
by: Anonymous wow brendia has you all fooled..she has the poor me thinking and honestly it should be poor pets. its people like this that gives private rescues a bad name. tell me its humane to allow a pet to suffer from parisites in the tummy that is deadly. tell me its humane to ration water to keep them from peeng in her car. tell me its humane to keep them closed in a car for 23 days without ever having thier feet touch the ground..do the research before writting something that truely is just playing the poor me game..

Jan 20, 2011
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Thank you
by: Elisa Black-Taylor I knew there had to be 2 sides to this story. Thank you for the input. It did make an interesting story on people who are caring for their pets and can’t get into shelters with them. Just goes to show there are bad pet owners everywhere

Jan 20, 2011
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Homeless Pet Owners
by: Anonymous I know FIRST HAND about the situation you just wrote about and unfortunately you have not been given the facts. If you would like to know the real story, I can get you the facts.

Jan 20, 2011
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The TRUTH about the woman in the City of Everett, SNOHOMISH COU}NTY NOT EVERETT COUNTY, Washington
by: Rose Anyone who has any questions about WHY Brandia Taamu’s dogs were taken by Everett Animal Control can call them, or they can call me at Ph# 425-750-7126, since they came to my house with a search warrant for Brandia Taamu’s car, and took her animals that were extremely dehydrated! By the way, they WERE NOT here for my animals, and I of…fered to let them look at my animals, but they were not interested they said there sole interest was in Brandia’s car, because of the NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING BRANDIA TAAMU. Two days earlier, Animal Control was here to see Brandia, and Brandia REFUSED to let them see the animals in her car, which DID NOT have water then either, and as the woman was writing down Brandia’s plated number, Brandia floored it backwards down my long driveway almost running the AC officer down, and almost hitting my neighbors fence! My driveway curves, and is very long.

 

Brandia is lying to everyone saying she came to stay at my house…… on Christmas Day, and that is a lie. There are NUMEROUS witnesses that she has been here since December 12th, 2010 after she was evicted from her house. She refused to take her animals out of the car even when Sadie was not here for days on end, and was with my son at his dad’s. Those animals that Brandia had were suffering. Everett Animal Control had to call me the other day to tell me I have to take all my animals in to be checked, because Brandia’s animals all had Giardia & Worms. The dogs Brandia took to Christine’s (the Eskies) all had Giardia too! She took those dogs to Christine BEFORE she ever came to my house. Animal Control aslo said that the animal garbage which Brandia shoved under our car trailer, and has NEVER cleaned up, along with the blankets that were in her car, AND NOW ON OUR GROUND, that are covered in her dogs & cats urine & feces is CONTAMINATED WITH GIARDIA!!! I can not let my dogs in the front yard at all, because thanks to Brandia our ground is contaminated! Brandia has sent out numerous postings lying to everyone about WHY her animals were taken. They were not taken because she was homeless, which really is not true, because she has been with us since December 12th, when one of your fosters asked me to take her in. Her dogs and cats were taken because she NEVER IN 3 PLUS WEEKS LET THEM OUT OF HER CAR, AND THEY HAD NO WATER WHEN ANIMAL CONTROL SHOWED UP!!!

Also, remember that Animal Control DOES NOT take someone’s animals without evidence that they are abused or neglected! Brandia is facing criminal charges, for many reasons. BRANDIA TAAMU NEEDS TO TELL THE TRUTH!!!

 


Jan 15, 2011
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Hi Rudolph
by: Michael Hi Rudolph..thanks for the insight into life in Mumbai.

 

Pets serve a purpose for the poor and homeless as you say and that can be seen anywhere.

Michael Avatar


Jan 12, 2011
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Homeless Pet owners.
by: Rudolph.A.Furtado Thanks Elisa for educating me on pets and pet ownership in Western Society or “First World Country’s”. I have travelled most capital city’s of the World as a “Tourist” on short stays and hence not been able to actually interact with locals or study the cultural living of the commoner, although i am familiar with England.
In developing country’s like india, the diffference of living between the “Rich” and “Poor” are astronomical, hence the World’s costliest private residence ,”Antilia” owned by Industrialist Mukesh.Ambani exists in Mumbai as well as the World’s most horrific slum film “Slum Dog Millionaire” was produced in the same city, Mumbai.Pets are common amongst the very poor in Mumbai with stray dogs and cats a common sight on the city’s roads, most of them owned by either “slum-Dwellers’ or street urchins.These stray dogs or cats are the only “Friends” of these destitute people living on the poverty line in Mumbai.”Standards of Poverty’ differ widely in “First World” and “Developing” country’s as also the welfare of personal pets.Similarly,akin to Mumbai’s poor, seems in “First World Country’s”pets are the only “Friends” of people in dire economic misery, hence, taking away their “Pets’ from them forcibly is a great crime, seperating them from their non-human companions and driving them into further depression.

Jan 12, 2011
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homeless pet owners
by: Anonymous If the pet is being cared for, I see no reason to separate a pet from its owner. For someone who has possibly lost every thing they ever had, taking the pet away might be the last straw. For some, the pet may be the only friend they have and possibly the only thing they live for.

Jan 12, 2011
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Homeless shelter concerns
by: Elisa Among the shelter concerns are whether the pet may bite someone staying there and allergy problems. I have found a few shelters who are adding areas for animals.

 

Sometimes it seems like animals aren’t welcome anywhere.


Jan 12, 2011
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Animals used to attract more donations to begging humans
by: Anonymous Not without sympathy for homeless people everywhere, I’d like to highlight the situation in which some homeless people tend to acquire pets (often dogs, frequently puppies) – seemingly to increase the donations they receive out on the streets. Obviously it works because passers-by pause to admire to cute animal, then (having stopped to ‘stare’) end-up handing over some change.

 

I have seen this with cats as well as dogs.

It is a sensitive subject because, of course, those animals may be well cared-for, much-loved, and possibly the person’s only true companion who really loves them back – not like some of the “do-gooding” humans who want to feel better for interfering, or who are required/paid to intervene.

I have sympathy in all cases and suggest a distinction in discussion between those who had the pets before they became homeless and those who took on the animals despite having no home to offer them.


Jan 12, 2011
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Thought Provoking
by: Michael Thanks Elisa for this thought provoking article. I think that it raises some fundamental questions about how we run our societies.

 

First, I would like to say that I agree with you when you say that shelters for people should allow homeless people to bring in their companion animals. It is hard to see how a shelter for homeless people can help a homeless person when they won’t take in that person’s companion animal. It seems too that a lot of homeless people have companion animals, usually dogs. This is probably because the person can relate to a dog a less well to people. Plus they are valuable friendship.

It seems inhumane to me to take a homeless person’s pets away from him or her particularly as they are very important to that person and the animals are cared for adequately.

No one checks up on people living in houses as to whether the occupier is looking after their pets well or not. It seems prejudicial to single out a homeless person.

The shelters for people may have financial and insurance constraints, I don’t know. But if they do it is a poor reflection on society.

Michael Avatar


Please search using the search box at the top of the site. You are bound to find what you are looking for.

7 thoughts on “Homeless Pet Owners”

  1. Please send me info at elisablacktaylor@gmail.com. Send photos of the cats and a contact email and what the situation is and I’ll do an article asking for a foster until things are better. There are very likely a few rescues in the area who can help with a temporary foster home. I can do the article tonight after midnight when I come into work, as I won’t have internet at home. Hopefully someone will reply soon once I network it.

    Reply
  2. My neighbor had been evicted from her apartment/complex. Her final night of stay is July 2. Her only family in the WORLD is her 2 Persians cats. The neighbor is 58 yrs old. Although she knows she must relinquish them until she gets a new apartment (possibly 2 months) is there a temporary home she could place them in here in La sVegas? Must she give her “children” away? Our neighbor is so distraught!

    Reply
  3. I’m Rose’s son and I’m curious as to who this “Anonymous” speaking against Rose is. Your negative information about her is all quite true. I’d love to have a personal chat as I’m personally trying to have her held responsible for all she’s done regarding so many things. It’s taken me years to learn as much as I have about her activities and she’s getting angrier the more I learn.

    Reply

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