Homelessness remains a major social challenge in the United Kingdom, affecting nearly 0.5% of the population. Within this group, dog ownership is common and has been linked to significant psychological and social benefits, such as reducing loneliness, depression, and substance misuse. However, it can also exacerbate hardship by restricting access to housing and support services.
Published in Anthrozoös, the study by Louise Scanlon and colleagues used semi-structured interviews with 20 homeless or vulnerably housed dog owners to explore how people experience and describe their bond with their pets. Through thematic analysis, the researchers identified several key motifs: dogs as kin and emotional anchors, the sense of mutual rescue, and the pain of anticipatory grief when imagining life without their companion animal.
Participants frequently described their dogs as family members and emphasized the emotional stability and purpose they provided. Many credited their dogs with helping them “stay alive,” framing their relationships as mutually life-saving. Yet, this powerful attachment also had a cost—owners reported being denied shelter, healthcare, and other services because they refused to give up their dogs.
The findings underscore a moral and policy challenge: while the human–dog bond enhances wellbeing and responsibility, it can also reinforce systemic exclusion. The authors advocate for greater accommodation of pets in homelessness support services to preserve the welfare and dignity of both humans and animals involved.
This research offers rare insight into how dogs can serve as both emotional lifelines and barriers for marginalized individuals, highlighting the need for more compassionate and inclusive social welfare frameworks.
Source: Scanlon, L., Hobson-West, P., Cobb, K., McBride, A., & Stavisky, J. (2020). Homeless People and Their Dogs: Exploring the Nature and Impact of the Human–Companion Animal Bond. Anthrozoös, 34, 77–92. Published June 2, 2020.
