OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – CityCare wants unsheltered people to know they can still ask for a warm bed, even if they have a four-legged friend.
“They spend all day being ignored by everyone around them,” said Ian Apfelbaum from CityCare.
Apfelbaum said the unprotected “man's best friend” has a deeper meaning.
“In many cases, their animal is the only thing that loves them unconditionally during the day, and we're excited to see them every day,” Apfelbaum said. “There is no doubt that these animals that come to our door every day are just as loved as the dogs we keep at home.”
At the end of March, the Homeless Alliance closed its winter shelter. The 300-bed facility will only be open from November until March.
Currently, City Care is on the rise and we have to refuse some people.
“In the last two weeks, we've probably seen about 30 to 40 additional people coming up to our door before we open at 6 p.m.,” Apfelbaum said.
He said some people experiencing homelessness think having a four-legged friend will prevent them from getting into a shelter. City Care is making sure to let them know that this is not the case.
A pet hotel with 140 beds and 24 kennels is located within City Care's night shelters in Pershing and Villa. Also, kennels aren't just for dogs.
“Here, you can make a full-length dog like this, or you can separate it and make it into a half-kennel,” Apfelbaum said. “We have all the supplies your pet needs, including food, treats, and things to bathe your dog.”
There is also space for pets to run around outside.
The shelter can provide new leashes and harnesses at 7 a.m. after check-out time.
If more guests arrive with pets, CityCare said they can use additional kennels in storage.
The night shelter is open from 6pm to 7am
