I know it is meant as a tear-jerker so that people will give more money, but it is cruelty to the dogs, because they don’t get to live a happy and healthy lives! “Money for the dog” — bullshit! “Money so I can buy some booze, smoke some pot, and snort some coke” is more like it…
The city should take these dogs away from these people and give them loving and caring homes. I don’t care if the people who have these dogs are attached to them, the dogs are living beings and have a right to live a better life than that.
This article appears in Apr 10-16, 2008.
Amen. I will carry dog biscuits with me in case I run across this type of situation. No spare change for you.
As a dog lover, I am appalled that bums use dogs for this purpose under the guise of protection. Everytime I see that poor Shepherd with the Tim’s cup in its mouth, I want to kick his owner right in the nuts.
Yeah, I know who that guy is with the Shepherd with the Tim’s cup. He’s not homeless, he’s paying for his cigs and coffee and dope by panhandling. He’s not in need at all. He’d rather spend his time on the streets, than go out and look for an actual job. I guess being a hustler doesn’t pay his bills anymore. Don’t give that dude a cent.
In Ontario, I’ve seen quite a few “homeless” with dogs. These dogs actually looked very well taken care of and I would guarantee that they were better treated than some of the dogs you see coming into shelters; abandoned and abused dogs who came from “seemingly” nice homes. Some “beggars” are also very well off. Don’t let the clothes and the look fool you. Met one guy who was on the streets all day, then would take the bus back home in the evening to his suburban house. Yes, it’s a ploy to get money from people. But I agree with Senor, don’t give money, give dog biscuits!
I’d be very interested to see some statistics on how many of the people who claim to be homeless, and in need of “spare change,” actually are.And some stats on how many young people are homeless because they fled their homes out of some misguided sense of rebellion; on how many unemployed people are unemployed because they don’t want to work. Do people who choose to be homeless deserve our sympathy? Do people who could work, but choose not do, deserve our “spare change”?
Perhaps they are trying to supplement their welfare checks…
The dude with the Shepherd is NOT trying to supplement anything but his vices, I know this for a fact.
Now I really want to go kick that leeching, lazy cocksucker in the balls. Most of us have to work our arses off for everything we have and that cunt wants a free ride???? That poor dog is probably embarrassed by the company he keeps. For every real street person, I’m sure there’s a dozen bogus ones, all ready to give you a sob story to part you from your bucks. Bastards.
It’s sad really… that dog probably loves him to death, unconditionally… now that’s loyalty!!
One thing that needs to be said … Animal cuelty laws are scrap!!
Mortimer, i have been interested in the same…pop panhandlers into google and ull prolly find more than u care to read on the subject
I agree with the comments here! And I especially like the idea of giving dog treats and not money. While working on the waterfront last summer, I saw a lot of the same panhandlers who were” travelling across Canada” with their pets. Well, that’s all well and good, but when you run out of money when travelling, get a job and save up so you can TAKE CARE of the dog and not drag it around in the rain with no food until you can move on! I’m sorry, but if these people choose to travel, why should I fund their trip? And why would they ever think it’s ok to drag an animal around with them,considering most pet dogs live better and happier as creatures of habit? And why, oh why, would they ever think it’s my responsibility to feed their dogs by way of change too? I think taking dogs away from these people is a good idea.
I proudly tell the “homeless” people YES when they ask if I have spare change. Every time I say that it catches them off guard and I have yet to hear them come out and say “Can I have some?”. They just expect you to give when they jingle the cup and say the 3 magic words “Any Spare Change”. And if for some reason I can’t provide money then cigarettes will suffice to them.
I really don’t understand how any of you can talk about this subject with such authority.First, dogs are not like babies. I’m sorry but they are not. A dog is a dog and a baby is a baby. Second, it is very convenient that all of these homeless people seem to be scam artist in the eyes of you people.
Peggy, I think a lot of people have seen the same “homeless” faces in Halifax for a very long time. Long enough to see that their sob stories don’t hold water. I’m talking about the whole spectrum of homelessness in Halifax too. There are people who beg for change to supplement their income/welfare/EI etc, there are those who are there to feed their addictions, more than a few young kids who go home and sleep in a comfortable bed at night. There are also several homeless in Halifax who are genuinely in need too. It’s just hard to tell the difference. It’s also hard for some people to part with their hard earned money thinking it is going to something good, only to have been taken advantage of and it be spent on something else entirely. Further, bring another life into the mix (the dog) and it adds to the insult. If they cannot provide for themselves, why do they try to take care of another living thing?It’s not that people are being heartless, they just don’t want to be scammed. In that case, don’t you think it’s better that people give their money (and tax dollars) to programs that they know are going to help people in the ways they want them helped? Isn’t giving change just providing a niche for the homeless (and the scammers) to exploit and survive in?
Too bad downtown businesses couldn’t have a collection box in their stores for the truly needy via the Sally Ann or city shelters, I would certainly donate to that. But to have some lazy prick trying to part me from my hard earned cash so he can go suck on a can of Lysol or shoot up is something I will not be part of.
Peggy,Scam artists or not, forcing the dogs to sit out in the cold with a cup perched in their mouths isn’t right. I have heard of people on welfare in other cities getting their pets taken away from them for the simple fact that it is not the tax payers responsibility to pay for the supplies needed to take care of the animals and it isn’t fair for the animals to live in substandard conditions. The city should take these dogs away from these people for the same reasons…
On my 15min walk to work downtown I encounter between 3 and 7 panhandlers. They are still there when i’ve finished my 7hr day and am walking home. I often wonder if they’ve pulled in more that day than I have working my ass off.