Street-Involved Youth and Their Animal Companions—Stigma and Survival

Abstract

Companion animal ownership by those who are homeless or vulnerably housed has been criticized as inappropriate, for if someone cannot care for themselves, they must certainly not be able to care for an animal. However, our understanding of this unique human–animal relationship is growing, and we are furthering our knowledge of both the benefits and liabilities which animal companions confer upon their human guardians who are marginalized by community and society. Among street-involved and homeless youth, the need for the benefits of animal companionship is even more pronounced. Street-involved youth often come from experiences of abuse, trauma, and neglect into the street where further victimization is almost inevitable. Companion animals help youth not only to mitigate the stresses of street life, but they also offer youth the opportunity to experience the compassionate side of humanity in a way that no human has ever shown them. In this chapter, we will explore how animal companions are a form of social capital for street-involved youth, learn how human–animal attachment impacts the lives of youth, and apply the One Health model to wholly understand these unique human–animal relationships. To do this, this chapter will draw on my experience, observations, and reflections as a veterinarian working with homeless and vulnerable pet owners for over a decade with Community Veterinary Outreach, my graduate research with street-involved youth who own pets, as well as existing and emerging literature on homeless and street-involved youth, and human–animal interaction.