Homeless person and two dogs

[Greydove28]

Just walked past a homeless person with two dogs. One a v expensive dog. Aibu to wonder how they afford it?

So maybe they had two dogs and they had the clothes before they became homeless - or a charity gave them the clothes for the 'expensive'dog?
At least you had a busy day out judging people less fortunate than yourself!

Cherrypies, sorry but what does your story have to do with the OP's post?

The vast majority of dogs stolen are not stolen by homeless people or people pretending to be. They are stolen to sell on, to breed from or for fighting.

Cherrypies

Pointing out how judgemental the OP has been is reflection, not judgement.

OP asked how the homeless person 'can afford' an expensive dog - they've assumed the OP has chosen, once homeless, to buy an expensive dog, without stopping to think that the owner may have had the dog before being homeless, or perhaps rescued the dog, or a dozen other situations.

They're implying the homeless person deserves negative judgement, and turned nasty when called out on it.

"We had lots of pet owners (dogs, cats, rabbits, lizards and snakes) present to our homeless team."
And what happens to these animals?. Isn't there a responsibility to make sure they are looked after? It's just cruel to the animal.

Hey OP, maybe they should eat the dog. Would that make you happy?

Note. I'm not being serious as I think this is a goady wind up post

I give about £200 per year to a local homeless charity and do about 4 shops a year for the food bank. Although I give to the homeless and hard up I don’t think all of them are saints and I don’t think they should have dogs. Sorry

A lot of homeless in our local city have dogs. They look miserable, cold, shivering and probably hungry. It's just wrong.

@TabbyMumz have you ever stopped to talk to any of these homeless individuals in your city? Or just walked by and judged?

I think we know.

I'm not actually sure the term homeless is apt for many of the people that spend their days sitting in doorways, appearing to be homeless, as many are not. Many have homes that they return to after a days begging, and many are there as a lifestyle choice, as have already been offered places to stay but dont want them.

"Or just walked by and judged?"
I do judge the lifestyle they have given their dogs, as it's not fair on the animal.

I do judge the lifestyle they have given their dogs, as it's not fair on the animal.

But fine for the homeless person?

Maybe he feels obliged to come up with something that people will consider legitimate because of people who are so quick to police whether the money is going somewhere 'worthy' or not.

Oh the good old lifestyle choice, again.

Muminabun. For all your super terrific virtue signalling. Have you truly considered why they might have a pet?

From before they were homeless. For protection. For comfort. For warmth. And use, for begging appeal. On this thread alone, people have admitted they'd give to a person with an animal. If that means money for them, then great. But often, it means that the animal eats better than the human.

"TabbyMumzhave you ever stopped to talk to any of these homeless individuals in your city? Or just walked by and judged?"
Whether I have or I havent is irrelevant...the dogs are still miserable, shivering and cold.

I never give to anyone with animals

I’m not suggesting that homelessness is in anyway a desirable state, but I think a lot of those dogs are probably much happier than those with owners out at work most the day, or abandoned to the back yard.
I think the relationship between a homeless person and a dog is closest to what it would have been when we initially domesticated them - they where used to alert humans to danger, in exchange for food and protection. The expression 2 dog night refers to how many dogs you needed to keep warm at night, meaning it was cold.
They might look a bit rough and ready, but I bet they much prefer having their constant companion and a purpose, than being bored shitless In an unstimulating, artificial environment.
Just offering an alternative perspective, not romanticising homelessness.

Interesting how your more concerned for the dogs state than the human.

Also the dog is more than likely keeping them homeless as it's quite rare for accommodations to take pets. One minute on this forum it's 'I'll die before I give away my dog' and the next it's 'homeless people shouldn't have dogs'. Can't win.

I used to have two pedigree cats. I adopted them from a shelter at a ripe old-age as nobody else wanted them. £50 donation for the pair.

A year later I was on benefits due to illness and being unable to work. I struggled to pay my rent some months but to an onlooker, I had two £500 cats. Appearances can be deceptive.

A dog is usually for protection in London, if you ever get on friendly terms with someone genuinely homeless & ask them. They get bought a lot of dog food & I've never seen one look neglected or skinny. . A lot of small breeds get dumped because people buy them on a whim then lose interest. Maybe he found it dumped. There's a charity that gives free vet care to dogs belonging to homeless people. For the Love of Dogs Paul O'Grady did a session with them near Battersea (not sure if it was Battersea linked but assume so if it was on the programme).

Mumsnet you can remove this

😂

Imagine if MNHQ removed every thread that didnt go the way the OP expected

I never give to anyone with animals

Why not? What makes them less worthy of help?

You don’t want to give homeless people money, then don’t. But for gods sake don’t ask how/why they might have an animal or why they have a phone or what they spend the money only.
If you’re genuinely interested then Shelter or similar websites have FAQs for that kind of thing.
‘Expensive’ dog 😳