SEATTLE — The story of one rescue dog is drawing attention to the larger issue of a lack of housing and shelter for families experiencing homelessness with pets.
“We're people's last resort, and that's why we're here as a last resort,” said Julie McCabe, director of Seattle Humane's Pet Resource Center.
McCabe said she sees pet surrenders every day, many from families at risk of homelessness or other housing issues.
“We're getting a ton of requests from people who are in really, really scary situations,” McCabe said.
A story about a dog named Copper draws attention to this issue.
“She had been with the same people most of her life and they didn't want to put her through the stress of losing housing and living in a car,” according to the post.
Seattle Humane helps families like Copper.
There is a pet food bank on site, which is provided free of charge to those who need it most.
We also have a temporary foster program where dogs are placed in foster homes for 90 days.
“We treat every client that comes here with the utmost respect and do our best to not judge their situation. And they're here because they're doing what's best. '' McCabe said.
Another organization called Feeding Pets for the Homeless helps homeless pets in need of food, veterinary care, health care, veteran pet support, and crates in homeless shelters.
“No one wants to be on the street. No one wants to be homeless,” said Genevieve Frederick, founder and president of Feeding Pets of the Homeless.
Customers who feed pets to the homeless can call their organization to find free care at a veterinary hospital or clinic.
They offer an online resource guide to help people find pet-friendly shelters.
“King County treated 10 injured or sick pets last year at a cost of more than $3,000,” Frederick said.
Over the past five years, Washington state was one of the top four states, with more than 400 pets rescued at a cost of $192,000.
“What's really important to me is that these pets are not separated from humans because they need each other,” Frederick said.
Frederick said many factors are contributing to this problem.
“Housing is an issue because rents are too high. We've seen many of our clients suffer from domestic violence and live in shelters if they allow pets. And I We support them in that way,'' she said.
Mary's Place in King County is accepting pets, but the shelter is full at this time.
“Our shelters are over capacity. We receive 50 to 60 calls every day from families with children seeking shelter, and we are only able to provide space for one or two people. , space available for families with: pets.'' Mary's Place told KING 5 in a statement.
Compass Housing Alliance also told KING 5, “All Compass Housing Alliance 24/7 enhanced shelters welcome ADA-compliant service animals. Separately, our 's affordable housing building recently partnered with Seattle Humane to provide specialized pet/owner training and animal health care.
The Seattle Dogs homeless program also provides assistance to people experiencing homelessness. We raise approximately 150 animals every month.
“We provide food, leashes, collars, treats and pet beds to make people's lives easier and keep them with their beloved companions. We help pets experiencing homelessness survive. The funds are used to pay for veterinary care for people in need at Greenwood Hospital. We also provide foster homes and boarding for pets with medical issues,” the Seattle Dog Homeless Program said in a statement.
The organization has also experienced difficulty referring people to shelters that have space and accept pets.
The Seattle Dog Homeless Program says, “Unfortunately, we don't have many options when referring people to shelters. We only have what's available at the time, and when we visit, “often is not appropriate for a person's needs.”
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