Exploring strategies for pet owners experiencing homelessness: A rapid scoping review

Abstract

Abstract Approximately 10% of homeless individuals keep pets, but little information exists on specific interventions for this population. The aim of this rapid review is to describe what is currently known about intervention strategies for improving the health of homeless pet owners and their companion animals to identify knowledge gaps and inform future research and interventions. A database search of PubMed and Embase was conducted, and relevant articles were divided into primary research studies and “white papers” reporting proposed or attempted interventions, with each group analyzed separately. Common intervention strategies found across the literature were then summarized in narrative form. Nineteen articles fit the inclusion criteria, including 6 original research studies, 9 case reports and 4 narrative reviews. From analysis of these articles, 5 common intervention strategies emerged, including: (1) Free veterinary clinics, (2) Joint human/animal clinics, (3) Stigma reduction, (4) Interdisciplinary relationships and (5) Pet-friendly lodging. Studies on this population exhibited significant heterogeneity, and further program evaluation is needed to recommend intervention best practices. Joint human/animal clinics and interdisciplinary partnerships are promising avenues for evaluating interventions and improving health outcomes.