Addressing leisure interest conflicts surrounding the transgressive human-animal relationships of unhoused people and their pets

Abstract

ABSTRACT Pet ownership is an important leisure activity for unhoused people, yet housed people at leisure often disapprove. Reviewing literature from leisure studies and beyond, I consider the tension surrounding this practice through the lenses of critical leisure, multi-species perspectives, and the capabilities approach. I examine (1) how people at leisure react to unhoused pet owners, (2) how pet ownership impacts wellbeing and leisure activities while unhoused, (3) whether the human leisure benefits produced also serve the animals involved, and (4) what actions and attitudes are necessary to alleviate the conflicting leisure interests produced by unhoused pet ownership. Housed people at leisure assume the unhoused cannot care for a pet when they “cannot even take care of themselves.” However, these pets generally receive good care, and unhoused pet owners also perceive practical and emotional benefits, though empirical evidence for these benefits is still lacking. While the everyday challenges faced by unhoused pet owners are apparent, more research is needed to assess the physical, psychological, and social benefits they experience by participating in leisure through pet ownership. To address this leisure conflict, animal-accommodating shelter services must be provided, and the public must better understand the relationship between unhoused people and their pets.