City Arrests Homeless Man and Locks Up His Dog

Police in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania seem to think that arresting a homeless man and then kidnapping his dog is the appropriate response to homelessness.

After arresting disabled veteran Timothy Thomas for public intoxication, they also incarcerated his dog and companion of 10 years, B.C. (short for "Blue Chip"), in the Harrisburg Humane Society. B.C.'s bail is set at over $1,000. What's funny is that the people at the Humane Society seem to think that by chatting with Timothy before returning B.C., they'll help ensure that this doesn't happen again, as if the arrest and kidnapping are the real issues.

I'd love to know what brand of fairy dust they will sprinkle over Timothy's head when they speak with him, so I can use it to whisk away all social injustice. First, how about the police stop arresting him for drinking and reading (yes, drinking and reading), and don't kidnap his dog again. In social work, stealing from clients isn't usually the best way to build relationships. Clearly, what would help avoid a similar situation in the future is a home for Timothy and B.C., who currently live out of Timothy's car or stay with friends.

I have mixed feelings, however, about pets and homelessness. On the one hand, I have seen my fair share of shelters and most of them have been barely safe for humans, let alone animals, which connects this to a larger issue of shelter safety. But on the other hand, being homeless doesn't mean that a person cannot take care of his pet. Timothy, for example, does not abuse B.C. and he's able to feed him. The unfortunate reality is that homeless shelters, except for a rare few, don't allow animals; thus many people have had to make a choice between a roof over their head and the street. Surrendering a pet to an animal shelter can also mean a death sentence, since about half of all shelter animals are euthanized.

Becoming homeless is a crisis and a series of potential traumas in the making. Which potential trauma would you choose? Sleeping on the street with your closest friend in the world, or sleeping in a shelter, knowing that you have had to say, perhaps, the hardest goodbye of your life and you are now alone. It takes a lot of integrity to choose the street, I think. It means putting love before material comfort.  It's an injustice that people are forced to choose between a bed and a friend.

If you are interested in helping pets of the homeless, please support Feeding Pets of the Homeless, a national organization that provides free food and veterinary services to pets of the homeless. You can also find out how to start your own collection site. Plus, you can read the American Humane Pets and Women's Shelters (PAWS) Program startup guide. While it is geared toward shelters for survivors of domestic violence, it provides ideas for how to make a shelter pet-friendly. We would love to hear from you about your efforts.

As for Timothy and B.C., it seems that through the generosity of community members, he will be able to get his dog back. But here's to hoping someone helps them find a home as well.

Photo credit: Beverly & Pack