If you’re a pet lover like I am, you’ll understand this deeply. I’ve had dogs my entire life, and right now my world revolves around a 6‑year‑old, 125‑pound Rottweiler named Harli. She’s my baby girl. She eats everything in sight, rolls in anything that smells terrible, hates baths, sneaks onto my couch, barks at every leaf that blows by, and sheds like it’s her full‑time job. She can be a handful, but she’s also my protector, my best friend, and part of my family. I couldn’t imagine life without her.
A few years ago, I had to move, and finding a place that would accept her was nearly impossible in Owensboro. Plenty of landlords allow pets for a fee, of course, but very few allow her breed or size. Housing options were scarce. I remember telling myself I wouldn’t live anywhere that didn’t allow her, and I certainly wasn’t giving her up. But then reality set in. I have a son, and I had to face the possibility that I might have to surrender my dog to secure a safe place for my family. It was one of the hardest thoughts I’ve ever had. Thankfully, I found a place just in time. But that experience opened my eyes. For many people, the choice isn’t that simple, and often, it isn’t a choice at all.
Many people are surprised to learn that one of the barriers individuals face when seeking shelter isn’t fear, pride, or resistance to help; it’s their pets. At both the Daniel Pitino Shelter and St. Benedict’s Shelter, we see this truth every day. For countless people experiencing homelessness, a pet is not “just an animal.” A pet is the one constant in a life marked by instability, loss, and hardship. When someone has lost their home, their support system, their sense of safety, and sometimes even their sense of self, their pet becomes the last piece of family they have left.
For someone living on the streets, a pet offers unconditional love in a world that can be harsh and unforgiving. A pet provides emotional safety, comfort, and companionship when human relationships have broken down or disappeared. A pet gives structure to the day, someone to feed, someone to walk, someone who depends on them. That responsibility can be life-saving. We’ve heard people say, “I have to stay clean for my dog,” or “He’s the only reason I keep going.” A pet can be protected at night, warmed in the cold, and a reminder that they still matter to someone. When the world turns its back, a dog stays. When trust is shattered, a dog remains loyal. When someone feels invisible, a dog sees them.
This truth has been especially close to our hearts lately with the recent passing of Herman, St. Benedict’s beloved shelter dog. Herman wasn’t just a pet; he was family to our guests and staff. For more than a decade, he greeted people at their lowest moments, offering comfort without judgment and companionship without conditions. His life was a testament to the healing power animals bring into the lives of people who feel forgotten. Losing him reminded us just how deeply pets can anchor someone’s hope, and his memory helped inspire this column.
This is why so many people experiencing homelessness refuse shelter if it means surrendering their pets. It isn’t choosing homelessness. It’s choosing love, the one thing that has remained constant in a life full of loss. We’ve met individuals who have slept under bridges, in tents, in abandoned buildings, or in the woods, not because they didn’t want help, but because they refused to abandon the one creature who has never abandoned them. When you understand the depth of that bond, their decision makes perfect sense.
At the same time, many shelters, including ours, are unable to accept pets. This isn’t due to a lack of compassion; it’s due to real limitations. Shelters must consider allergies, safety concerns, liability issues, space constraints, and the well-being of all residents. Many guests have trauma histories, medical conditions, or fears that make proximity to animals difficult. Others may have pets that are reactive, unvaccinated, or unable to safely coexist in a communal environment. These realities make it impossible for most shelters to responsibly house animals, even when we deeply understand how important they are to the people who love them.
Still, at the Daniel Pitino Shelter, we believe dignity means honoring the whole person, including the relationships that keep them going. When someone arrives with a pet, what they’re really bringing is their last source of stability, hope, and emotional connection. Their pet may be the only reason they’re still fighting. Recognizing that truth helps us serve our community with deeper compassion and greater understanding.
And this is where our supporters play such an important role. When you donate food, volunteer your time, give financially, or simply share our mission with others, you help us create a place where people can find safety, stability, and a chance to rebuild even when they must make heartbreaking choices about their pets. Your support allows us to meet people where they are, honor the bonds that matter most to them, and offer care that sees the whole person, not just their circumstances.
As of now, we cannot accept pets, and often when we turn away the pet, the person goes with them. We can accept service animals because they have specialized training and perform medical tasks; pets, on the other hand, become a significant liability. Even my own dog can act unpredictably around strangers or large groups of people. For this reason, we simply cannot accept pets at this time.
However, we are always exploring collaborations and partnerships with groups, individuals, and local animal shelters to find solutions or resources for people experiencing homelessness who have pets. We want to remove as many barriers as possible, and we know that creative partnerships may be the key to helping more families, human and animal, stay together.
At St. Benedict’s and the Daniel Pitino Shelter, we are actively exploring grants and possibilities to accommodate pets in the future. We want to be a refuge for all and remove as many barriers to accessing our services as possible. Pets are a barrier, and if we could safely take them, it would open the door for many who desperately need help. We know the therapeutic value of a pet and the strength of the bond between a person and their animal. In the meantime, we try to support those who have had to give up their pets by having a shelter pet, an animal trained and temperament tested to be safely around many different people.
The next time you see someone experiencing homelessness with a pet, know that what you’re witnessing is not irresponsibility. It’s devotion. It’s loyalty. It’s love in its purest form. And with your help, we can continue to be a place where love is respected, understood, and met with compassion.
If you are someone who can foster a pet, know of a resource that supports pet owners, or believe you may have a collaboration or partnership that could help individuals experiencing homelessness with pets, we would love to hear from you. Please reach out to me directly at [email protected]. Together, we can remove barriers and keep more families human and animal together.
Written by
Harry E. Pedigo MSSW, MHFAI, CENM
Executive Director
St. Benedict and Daniel Pitino Shelters
