Petco Place is one of two homeless shelters in the US that offer housing to both individuals and their pets. This innovative shelter recognizes that an estimated 5 – 10% of homeless people have pets, and many turn down housing in favor of keeping their only companions.
While some may argue that human life is more valuable, and that sustaining a pet is detracts from saving another human, a friend of mine presented a different take on the issue. She has a thought-provoking argument:
“It shouldn’t be an either-or situation. Homeless people lose just about everything. That pet is often the last living thing that they love and that loves them back. Losing the pet would be like losing a family member. Having a pet causes no harm to other residents. Even Obama’s plan to end homelessness emphasizes allowing pets in shelters. I do not believe in any way that animals are as important as human life—no contest. But often those furry creatures go a long way in sustaining a human life.
For more information about the Petco Foundation, see http://www.epath.org/services/Petco.php
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