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Feeding Homeless Pets
Saturday, July 19 - 10:00 AM CST
Photo by
Kirsten Bole
Approximately 10 percent of homeless
people have dogs. A new organization called Feeding Pets of the Homeless
collects food and distributes it to the homeless in cities across the
country. Listen as we talk to the organizers about how the program works and
how anyone can help.
Giveaway Segment:
Dr. Harvey's Canine Health dog food
premix. We're giving away eleven 8 oz packages, which each make 3
one-pound servings. Listen to learn how to win.
Main Segment:
Genevieve Frederick is the founder
and executive director of Feeding Pets of the Homeless, a nonprofit
organization whose members collect pet food and deliver it to food banks
and/or soups kitchens which have agreed to distribute the food to the
homeless and impoverished. Headquartered in Carson City, Nevada, FPH
collects cash donations, distributes grant applications to
veterinarians, reviews and awards grants, provides marketing materials
and promotes the organization for members to the national media. At
present, FPH has 57 members in 23 states and a member in Canada. Visit
www.petsofhomeless.org to see if there is a member collecting food in
your community.
Here are excerpts from the
interview:
Do you have any statistics
on how many homeless people have pets?
Michael Stoops, Acting
Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless estimates
that between 5%-10% of homeless people have dogs and/or cats. Monte
Fast, Executive Director of FISH (Friends In Service Helping) said the
percentage is more like 25%. Weather, unemployment, and the cost of
living are factors in homeless populations from city to city.
The U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development suggests there are about 750,000 homeless people in
the nation on any given night. Most are homeless for a short period of
time, and usually need help finding housing and/or a rent subsidy. Some
find housing right away or move in with friends or family.
How do most homeless people
come to have pets?
Most bring their pets with them into homelessness. Others meet on the
streets and form a lasting bond. Homeless pet owners receive a type of
normalcy by providing food and water for their pets. Some homeless would
sacrifice their own food for their pets. For many on the streets these
animals provide them with security from other homeless people who may be
mentally ill or from those who would harm them or steal from them.
What challenges do homeless
pet owners face?
The major problem is finding a shelter or assisted housing that accepts
pets. Another is finding food and water for themselves and their pets.
Vet care is a challenge because of the costs and transportation issues.
Soup kitchens, food banks and shelters can offer pet food thanks to the
members of Feeding Pets of the Homeless who collect the pet food and
then deliver it to them for distribution.
Are pets ever taken away
from their homeless owners?
Sometimes, pets are taken from homeless owners and taken to shelters.
The homeless do not trust authorities or veterinarians and are afraid
that they will not get their pets back. Some homeless people will
not go to a hospital for themselves because they have no one to care for
their pets.
Are shelters becoming more
accepting of animals?
Unfortunately, no, usually the only pets allowed in shelters are
certified service animals.
What do you think the
public's general attitude is toward homeless people with pets?
Some people have empathy for the person and the pet. Others think that
it is wrong or selfish for someone who cannot take care of himself to
have a pet.
What is life like for the
pets of the homeless?
Pets who are loved and cared for don't seem to care where they live. But
some pets living on the streets do not get the proper diet and medical
attention that they need. Without vaccinations there is a big risk of
disease and without spaying and neutering, the problem of homeless pets
multiplies. That is why we have a grant program in place to provide
medical and preventative care to pets of the homeless.
How did you get the idea
for Pets of the Homeless?
In 2005, I published a book, "Happy Tails - Hilariously Helpful Hints
for Dog Owners," with Dr. Gary Ailes. While working with him and his
partner, Woody Allen, doing some public relations for the book, they
asked me to do some additional PR for their hospital. This began as a
program that veterinary hospitals around the country could use to
publicize their businesses while helping pets.
Around that time, I saw a homeless man on the sidewalk, begging. Lying
alongside him was a pathetic dog. When I returned home I started
researching the homeless with pets. And I asked myself why would those
folks who can barely feed themselves have a pet? The answer was that
pets are nonjudgmental, providing comfort and an emotional bond of
loyalty. In some cases, they provide the homeless with protection, and
keep them warm. The tragic part is that the pets of the homeless do not
choose their owners. The numbers are mind boggling. So I started
formulating the idea for Feeding Pets of the Homeless.
How long did it take?
I launched the program at the end of 2007 using Dr. Gary Ailes and Dr.
Woody Allen as the first vet practice to start collecting pet food for
the homeless and disadvantaged in my town. I used the press release
samples that are in the program and the local press and a local TV
station picked it up immediately. They had a 55-gallon trash can filled
that first day and have received hundreds of pounds of pet food since.
Veterinary Practice News published an article.
Where did all the photos
you have on your Website come from?
I found most on Flickr.com and sent emails to the photographers asking
permission to use them. Every one of their replies was positive and they
were more than happy to help. They had taken the photo(s) and had seen
firsthand the heartbreak of the homeless and their pets. The photos come
from every city across the country and Canada.
How can people help?
Contact us and we will provide
information on how to sponsor or become a member, or how to volunteer in
your community. Donate cash to the organization so we can continue to do
our work and provide grants to licensed veterinarians. Subscribe to our
newsletter and help to spread the word to family, friends and peers.
Talk with business owners who would
likely set up a collection site at their businesses. The Feeding Pets of
the Homeless membership is available at www.petsofhomless.org . The
membership comes with step by step instructions to start and
instructions on how to get publicity, it also comes with decals of the
logo and other benefits. Volunteer to help a collection site by
separating the pet food into qt. bags and delivering the collected pet
food to a food bank. Visit www.petsofhomeless.org or email us or call
(775) 841-7463.
Do you have any record of how many
people have been assisted thus far?
There is no way I or anyone could get a true number due to
confidentiality issues at food banks and soup kitchens.
Can you relate any
particularly memorable stories of the people and animals Pets of the
Homeless has helped?
One of our members is a mobile groomer and does outreach work with her
church. She came across a homeless woman and offered to groom her dog.
The dog was in pain due to a very bad yeast infection. The member took
the dog and the homeless woman to a member veterinarian and he treated
the animal. Feeding Pets of the Homeless was able to pay for the
treatment and meds that the dog required. A photo of the homeless woman
and her dog are on the website. The homeless woman said she had lost
everything including her home because she used all her money to rescue
pit bull dogs from fighting rings. The dog that was treated had a
missing ear due to the fighting.
What are the benefits of
membership?
Membership benefits include; free publicity to draw the public to their
business to drop off pet food. The business is acclaimed as caring and
loving because it is doing something for the less fortunate in their
community. Sometimes customers will make an extra purchase of pet
food from the business, thus increasing sales of pet food. The program
suggests ways to involve the staff and they end up working as a team by
participating in this worthy pet project. It gives them a opportunity to
give back to the community. Another benefit is internet exposure on the
Feeding Pets of the Homeless website.
Genevieve Frederick
Founder/Executive Director
Feeding Pets of the Homeless
2255 Waterford Place
Carson City, NV 89703
(775) 841-7463
info@petsofhomeless.org
www.petsofhomeless.org
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8:00 a.m. Pacific
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10:00 a.m. Central
11:00 a.m. Eastern
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