INNOVATE - Street Veterinary Program Helps Homeless With Pets

Elica Health Centers’ Wellness Without Walls program brings medical care to the homeless living on the streets, and in September of this year, they expanded the program to also include veterinary care.

(Elica Health Centers)

For the estimated 5-10% of homeless people owning pets - and up to 24% in some parts of the country - lack of transportation and cost prevents them from getting health care for their animals.

Dr. James Reynolds, recently retired from private practice, is Elica Health’s veterinarian on the streets of Sacramento, California.

While some may believe the homeless should not be able to have pets if they can’t care for them properly, studies have shown those with animals fare better than those without.

“They are loving companions to these people. They are their comfort, and their responsibility. They offer unconditional love. The bonds are very strong,” Reynolds told the Sacramento Bee.

In the first couple of months providing veterinary care, the pilot project has treated close to 200 animals suffering everything from wounds to fleas.

The goal of the program is not just to ensure the street pets are healthy.

Elica Health also hopes the program will increase the number of those willing to get help for themselves - hard to reach individuals may be more open to receiving assistance themselves when their pets are also being cared for.

Another aim is to improve the health outcomes of pets and people by preventing them from passing conditions between each other.

Elica’s team is also working to designate some of these pets as “emotional support animals,” which would make them eligible to accompany their owners into housing.

“Pets are an important part of the emotional health of these people,” Dr. Matthew Gibson, a family medicine and psychiatry specialist and medical director for Wellness Without Walls, told the Sacramento Bee. “In many instances, they will be starving themselves but make sure their animal is fed.”

The company believes the street veterinary program may be the first one of its kind in the country.

Read the entire story.

RESEARCH - Homeless Youth With Pets Less Likely to be Depressed, Use Hard Drugs

Pets are proving to be a viable form of protection for street youth – a buffer against everything from loneliness to substance abuse.

And authors behind the research out of the University of Guelph's Ontario Veterinary College shows having a pet even sees high-risk youth three times less likely to suffer from depression.

Sadly, those same pets often pose a roadblock to services sorely needed by street youth who – when pushed – will choose caring for their companion over pursuing their own well-being, says lead author Michelle Lem.

Michelle Lem DVM, MSc

"These pets are their only friends, the only way they've experienced unconditional love without judgement. These pets have saved their lives in many cases," Lem says. "By asking them to give up their pets to access the shelter, what you're doing as a social service provider is saying, 'I don't understand your relationship' and often it pushes people away."

That can often see a youth pitched further into struggles on the streets – an unfortunate and avoidable plight according to authors of the report recently published in the journal Anthrozoos.

Lem hopes a little understanding goes a long way and that the findings encourage agencies to reconsider the role a pet plays for a youth and more importantly to accommodate them when they reach out for help.

"They can't access shelters, they can't access some addictions treatment, they can't go into hospitalization, so they (pets) are barriers to accessing services,” said Lem, director of Community Veterinary Outreach, a volunteer group that provides veterinary services to homeless people in cities like Toronto, Guelph and Ottawa. “What we're trying to show is, yeah, they are barriers, but they also have some very positive impacts."

The study focused on 198 street youth (in Toronto, Ottawa, Kingston and Hamilton) in homeless shelters and drop-in centres. Of those 100 did not have pets and 98 did.

Those without pets were three times more likely to suffer from depression and those with pets less inclined to engage in risky behaviours like hard drug use, according to the findings.

The flip-side, however, saw pet ownership, albeit offering physical and psychosocial benefits, as an impediment to a youth’s ability to access a shelter bed for the night, housing, employment opportunities and other crucial social services.

The findings are no surprise to veteran social worker, Michelle Peterson.

As a front-line worker with street youth for many years, she saw many cases where pets gave a troubled youth purpose – to protect and care for a vulnerable animal – and often reduced chances of them being involved in risky behaviour.

Owning a pet also allowed some to provide a living being with the kindness and compassion they were denied. That rat, cat or dog, for instance, might represent “family” for a vulnerable teen and satisfy the “intrinsic need to lavish love on something that loves you unconditionally,” Peterson says.

“A lot experienced poor care in their own families and there is something magical that happens when they are able to care about something, when they can do what they wish happened to themselves. Often they take better care of their pet than themselves.”

She says some teens would make a pet a priority – some opting to feed a pet before themselves – and how simply having responsibility of ownership helped them steer clear of trouble.

“They have to keep it together to take care of their pets,” she says. “The pets definitely come first.”

Peterson, too, hopes more agencies find ways to offer services to youth who come with extra four-legged baggage. “They already have barriers with poverty but then you throw animals in and it creates more challenges,” she says.

While health benefits of pet ownership have long been recognized in other studies involving seniors who live alone, for instance, this is the first to look at how the bond benefits street youth.

By Nadia Moharib

Nadia Moharib is an animal lover who has adopted everything from birds to hamsters, salamanders, rabbits, fish and felines. She has written about all-things-pets for years and was a long-time editor of a pet magazine in a daily newspaper which featured a Q & A column, Ask Whit, penned by her pooch (ghost written, of course.) The serial dog owner lives in Calgary, Alberta and most days can be found at a dog park picking up after her rescue pooch, Scoots.

Will North American Shelters Run Out of Dogs?

The National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA) aims to decrease the euthanasia of adoptable pets in American shelters. In order to be effective, they need greater knowledge of the pet marketplace. Recently NAIA conducted some research on shelter dogs. It is difficult to quantify the number of animal shelters in the United States, estimates range from 3,500 to 6,000.1

Several decades ago overpopulation was an issue across the United States however it has been eliminated in several regions. Now that shelters are feeling less pressure from canine overpopulation their roles are changing. In order to continue to offer dogs to the public some shelters are now importing dogs 1. The public safety issues of importing dogs will be discussed in a future InfoStream article.

Why are shelters running low on dogs? NAIA President, Patti Strand believes that one cause the American Kennel Club (AKC). The AKC encourages thoughtful selection of pets, sterilization of all dogs not intended for breeding, and highlights the commitments required to be a responsible dog owner. While the lack of dogs has been noticed across Canada and the United States, animal rights groups are still trying to eliminte American dog breeders. The main issue with this is that it is nondiscriminatory and negatively affects both responsible and irresponsible breeders. Strand said, "These extreme animal rights groups have become so ideological and irrational that they would rather risk importing rabid dogs from Asia and Africa than support humane, responsible breeding in the U.S. so consumers can purchase the dog of their choice from a responsible and in many cases regulated American breeder." 2 

   

Dr. Emily Weiss from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) writes, “I do not think pets should be just for certain people (those who can afford a puppy from a high-end responsible breeder, for example), but for all people who want to care responsibly for a pet. The crisis is that we are running out of puppies! There are many communities that simply do not have juvenile dogs entering their sheltering system. This is great news!! And, this is the source of my concern. So here is where the crisis is – when there is a need, the void is usually filled. How do we want the void left by the lack of puppies to be filled? I know one thing we can all agree on, we sure do not want it filled by puppy mills and those who breed with no understanding of the importance of early socialization, proper nutrition and the like.” 3

Interview with Jenn Nyhof - Innovation Showcase Scholarship Nominee

Jenn Nyhof was one of the Innovation Showcase Scholarship Nominees at the Western Adjudication Event. Nyhof is from Thompson, Manitoba and is currently a 4th year veterinary medicine student at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan. She is the President of the University of Saskatchewan One Health Club, and am a founding member of The A.C.H.O.I.C.E. Program. Read more about Nyhof’s nomination here.

InfoStream (IS): The pet experience is clearly very important to you. Tell us more about how this came to be.

Jenn Nyhof (JN): I have always had a passion for working with people and animals. I was able to fully appreciate the importance of the human-animal bond about 10 years ago, after grieving the loss of a pet. Also, having worked throughout Canada’s North for the past 8 years, I realized that as a veterinarian, I would have the opportunity to be a leader in the community, and advocate for human and animal health and welfare.

IS: Tell us about the A.C.H.O.I.C.E. Program. What should we know about it?

JN: On any given day, individuals and families across the country are in crisis, or are dealing with an emergency situation. With the knowledge that many Canadian households have at least one pet, it can be assumed that many people who are in crisis are pet owners. Pets may provide emotional support, comfort, companionship, and a sense of security and safety. The benefits of pet ownership are especially important during stressful times.

It is vital that those in crisis seek out assistance as they work towards the successful resolution of their situation. While individuals and families seek assistance, they may have to relocate from their homes, or they may be unable to care for their pet temporarily. It may be difficult for those in crisis to make suitable arrangements for their pets. Further, pet owners may be reluctant to deal with a crisis unless they can be assured that their pet will be safe and well cared for. Failure to consider pets during a crisis or emergency may be a barrier to ensuring the safety of families.

Last year, The University of Saskatchewan offered funding to students for the purpose of carrying out projects that emphasized the One Health concept. This was a key opportunity for us to identify solutions to assist those in crisis. We were privileged to receive this funding, and used it to create the framework for the A.C.H.O.I.C.E. Program. The Program framework was developed following extensive consultation with stakeholders, and serves as an evidence-based model.

A.C.H.O.I.C.E. stands for Animal Care and Housing for Owners in Crisis or Emergency Situations. This Program is designed to be a national, non-profit, charitable organization. Through the provision of resources, The A.C.H.O.I.C.E. Program will allow for the temporary care and housing of pets. As well, through advocacy, education, and the provision of grants, the Program will assist pet owners with safety planning, emphasize the need to consider pets as a part of any crisis management process, and assist other organizations in their quest to foster the human-animal bond.

Currently, the Program is in Phase 1 of implementation. It is hoped that the program will be fully operational as of 2017.

IS: Tell us about the One-Health Initiative that the A.C.H.O.I.C.E. Program encompasses.

JN: The One Health Initiative involves the use of a multi-disciplinary, collaborative approach when working toward solving problems. It focuses on the connections between human, animal and environmental health. When the framework for The A.C.H.O.I.C.E. Program was designed, we developed a video to highlight the importance of using a One Health approach.

IS: Is there an experience that helped you see the importance of the A.C.H.O.I.C.E. Program? What in your history has taken you to where you are now?

JN: About 7 years ago, I heard the story of a young woman in a Northern community who had been a victim of abuse. After exhausting all the resources she had available to her, she made the tough decision to relinquish her dog to a local humane society. She was devastated, but she felt she had “no choice” but to give up her pet permanently. At that time, I was working as a public health practitioner. I felt as though there had to be a way to help those in need. Having now entered the field of veterinary medicine, and with the One Health concept in mind, the A.C.H.O.I.C.E. Program represents a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people and animals.

IS: What are the most critical problems faced by pet owners in a crisis?

JN: Domestic Violence Example:

In 2000, the Ontario SPCA contacted various women’s shelters, with the purpose of examining the relationship between domestic violence and animal cruelty. 43% of those surveyed indicated “concern over their pet’s welfare had prevented them from leaving an abusive situation sooner”. Some victims of domestic abuse delayed seeking help because they were concerned about the well-being of their pet.

Further, some of the individuals who make the decision to leave an abusive situation end up losing their pet as a result. Victims of domestic abuse have reported trying, unsuccessfully, to find homes for their pets while they sought assistance. References:

• Daniell C. Ontario SPCA’s Women’s Shelter Survey Shows Staggering Results. The Latham Letter. 2001; XXII(2):16-7.
• McIntosh SC. The links between animal abuse and family violence, as reported by women entering shelters in Calgary communities. 2004.
• Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, Safe Pet Program. 2007.

Medical Care Example:

Studies show that when a strong human-animal relationship exists, an individual may delay seeking medical care, may fail to follow medical advice, and may be reluctant to leave substandard housing conditions, if it interferes with the human-animal bond. References:

• Morley C, Fook J. The importance of pet loss and some implications for services. Mortality 2005; 10(2):127-43.
• Siegel JM. Stressful life events and use of physician services among the elderly: the moderating role of pet ownership. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1990; 58(6):1081-6.
• Smith B. The ‘pet effect’. Health related aspects of companion animal ownership. Australian Family Physician. 2012; 41(6):439-42.

Homelessness Example:

Of the 28,500 people in Canada who are homeless at a particular point in time, approximately 2,900 of these individuals are considered “unsheltered”. Because pets are often not considered when assistance programs are designed, homeless individuals may avoid entering transitional housing because of pet ownership. References:

• Gaetz S, Donaldson J, Richter T, Gulliver T. The State of Homelessness in Canada. 2013. Canadian Homelessness Research Network Press.

Summary:

During a crisis situation, pet owners may go through a decision-making process (Figure 1). If those in crisis decide to seek assistance, but if limited financial resources or social supports are available, the human-animal bond may not be preserved. If those in crisis delay seeking help, they may remain in unsafe situations. This may have adverse effects on both human and animal health.

Figure 1: Decision Tree, and Possible Outcomes, for Pet Owners in Crisis

IS: How are these problems currently being handled?

JN: A number of excellent assistance programs are currently in place. For example, the Calgary Humane Society offers a PetSafe Keeping Program. This Program offers support to victims of domestic violence. The A.C.H.O.I.C.E Program is designed to complement and enhance the Programs that are currently in existence. The A.C.H.O.I.C.E. Program will also provide assistance to those living in under-serviced areas throughout the country.

IS: How will the program be funded? Are there any sponsors?

JN: To date, the Program has received funding from private, individual donors. A GoFundMe campaign has been established. We are applying for additional funding by way of federal and provincial grants. A 60 second promotional video is currently being developed, with the goal of soliciting donations from sponsors.

IS: Looking into the future, what are your ultimate goals for the A.C.H.O.I.C.E. Program?

JN: Once the Program is fully operational, the A.C.H.O.I.C.E. Program will enhance human and animal health and welfare, emphasize the importance of the human-animal bond, promote autonomy and empowerment, and foster collaboration amongst stakeholders.