The study highlighted the importance of making sure there are sufficient services available for homeless people with animals and that allowing dogs to remain with their owners could improve engagement with charity services. The researchers found dogs provided similar benefits as dogs owned in households, but additionally owners believed dogs helped with their routine, assisted them through mental health issues and gave continuous emotional support. Owners noted difficulties accessing long- and short-term accommodation, and services, such as shops, due to their dog, and generally only entrusted other individuals to look after their dog in urgent cases. 

All the dogs received veterinary care as needed, were treated against parasites, and fed adequately. The main concern expressed by owners was providing somewhere warm enough and large for their dog to sleep, but the research team suggest access to a safe place to avoid frightening stimuli may also be important. During the interviews many owners used the dog to help facilitate a discussion about themselves, allowing them to open up about the difficulties of their past, and future.

 Read the full University of Bristol news item

'“A Part of Me.” The value of dogs to homeless owners and the implications for dog welfare' by Chelsie Bailey, Jo Hockenhull and Nicola Rooney in a special issue of Zoophilologica Polish Journal of Animal Studies [open access]