Having a pet can be expensive, but being able to access health care for your pet should not be a luxury. Around 25 per cent of unhoused people have a companion animal that supports them . Beyond the social benefits of living with a pet, the connections that companion animals provide can lead to positive physical and psychological benefits , assist in recovery from addiction and lead to better emotional and mental health for unhoused people .
However, having a pet can sometimes prevent individuals from accessing critical services , health care and community spaces. Taking pets to the vet can be expensive, and hospitals and many short-term shelters do not accept animals. Finding pet-friendly housing options can be very difficult, while those that are available are typically priced higher than other rental units, creating a challenge for those with lower incomes.
While people dealing with homelessness face a wide array of struggles, ‘One Health’ clinics can be an important way to provide health care to both unhoused people and their pets. There have been unprecedented increases in the number of people experiencing homelessness, with an increase of 32 per cent between 2020 and 2023 in Greater Vancouver alone, according to the Homelessness Service Association of BC . Owning a pet can make it difficult to care for yourself.
Pet owners in particular face challenges getting their animal vaccinated , or having to choose between feeding pets or themselves . Pets are frequently not .
