Hi, and welcome to the Animal Welfare Junction. This is your host, Dr. G, and our music is written and produced by Mike Sullivan. I was able to spend a few hours with very lovely people from My Dog is My Home and from FoundHouse, these organizations that are in the, in the business of helping people experiencing homelessness or that are housing insecure and taking care of themselves and their animals. So, really important, work because we care about the animals, but if we don't take care of the people that care for these animals, then we're really not, not doing much. So this episode is going to be, uh, several clips that I got during my experience at that 10th anniversary reunion. So, uh, I'm going to say there's going to be a lot of, uh, different audio, different, um, it's a little bit of fuzziness and graininess and some of the things, but hopefully you're going to get the, the information and understand the important work that these groups are doing. So hope you enjoy this. I am here With Christine Kim from My Dog is My Home and Garrett Parson from Found House. Thank you so much for inviting me and this has been an amazing event. So can you let our listeners know what the purpose of this event is?

It's our joint 10 year anniversary celebration. So both My Dog is My Home and the Pet Support Program have been working for 10 years to keep families together with their animals because we recognize them as parts of our families. So we decided to join forces and throw a big party, um, and to reflect on the places that we've been and where we're hoping to go in the next 10, 20, 30 years and infinity. Yeah.

Excellent. And during this event, we're going to hear from different individuals that have been clients of yours. So what are, what are the things that we're going to be hearing about today?

You're going to be hearing really one, you know, what these people's experiences were, you know, their lived experience, uh, with housing insecurity, with homelessness, with an animal at their side, and how important that animal is to them in their life. Um, that's what you're going to be hearing.

And from what I understand, the need is a lot bigger than what you guys can offer, right? Like, about how many people ask for help and how many people of those can you help?

Yeah, at the found house pet support program, we sheltered 131 animals last year, but we had to say no to 618. So that just shows you right there that we need to keep expanding and growing so we can keep more families together.

So what is the purpose of the pictures and the things that we're seeing here today?

Oh, well, actually, this is where my dog is my home started. It was really with the storytelling because we feel like that's really the most impactful. that we can do is to share people's experiences and amplify their voices. Um, I'm a big nerd and I appreciate research and I think that's super important, but honestly, when you share data and reports and academic journals and stuff like that, it is not half as impactful as somebody's true lived experience. Um, and so this exhibit, all the photographs, all the stories are really about hitting people in their hearts.

Anybody that's listening, how can they support your programs?

Yeah, absolutely. You can go either to found house. org or the my dog is my home website, which is

my dog is my home. org.

I could have guessed that. Um, there are both functions on those websites to donate to our organizations.

So now I want to share with you four stories that were shared during that event. Uh, so get your tissues ready because they are definitely going to tug at your heartstrings.

My Dog is My Home storytelling program is incredibly important. Always, policy and programs should be influenced by the people who have had the experience in their lives of being homeless with their pets. So we feel like this is one of the most important parts of our program with My Dog is My Home. One of our storytellers isn't here today, so someone else is going to share for them. But we're going to start right now with Leslie. Leslie Hutchinson is an animal advocate who loves to connect people and animals with resources they need. She has experienced homelessness with her older cat, Punk, and has worked with Found House several times to keep her family together. Welcome, Leslie. Applause Um, I'm Leslie. I was born and bred in Cincinnati. I'm 61 years young. Um, I left Cincinnati in 2015 for a couple years. And when I was in Kentucky, I was working for Subway, uh, food station, and on my way home one day, I'm out, listening, and as I'm walking, I hear this meow. And the next thing I see is this little black drowned rat. So I put her in my, in my backpack, and I look around to see if anybody's out. I mean, it's storming, storming, nobody's out. Put her in my backpack, and start walking home with her. And she kept trying to get out and I kept calling her a punk. So that's how she became named Punk. I forgot my pictures today. Sorry. Well, 2017 I came back to Cincinnati, moved in with some friends. Punk got to go with me. I moved into my own place through GCD and Excel. It went up in smoke two weeks after I moved in due to a tenant. Ended up staying in a hotel. Went to stay with other friends. and ended up having to leave there because I wasn't on the lease. Now, through this all, I got Punk with me and I've got a killer case worker named Caleb Breland through G. C. B. Who's no longer there. She introduces me to Garrett at the laundromat in Walnut Hills. And I'm tripping. I don't want to give my cat up. I've had none of these other animals at other times when, you know, things happen. I have a dog that she's found and he had to go. So I really didn't want to do it, but my tent where I was staying was basically half a mile from the shelter. So I'd get, I'd go down every day to see Punk. During her first visit, she got sick on me. They took her out of her kennel, gave her her own office, put her name on the door. And I think Garrett had to take her to the vet like three times. And he wouldn't call me until he got her back there because he knew that I would have lost it. That would have been the end of me standing here today, honestly. She is everything to me. I have two more now on top of her, but she's everything. Got housed in a, in a living, I was living with other people in a sexual offending building, but I needed a place to stay because I wanted my cat back. Went, stayed there, ended up having to have surgery on both of my legs, ended up in a nursing home, couldn't take Punk with me. So, of course, Garrett comes to the rescue again. He has Punk that time for about four months. And at that time I couldn't go visit her because of my legs and everything. And, um, I was in a nursing home. So he'd send me pictures, and she was actually in foster back, back then. She was actually not down at the shelter. Get a job with a nanny, get my cat back. Go to Indiana. It doesn't work out. Call GCD. They can't get me back to Cincinnati. Call Garrett. They send a taxicab costing 200 to get me back to Cincinnati with my cat. They leave, they leave the shelter open an extra hour so I can deliver Punk to make sure she's taken care of. Now, the first time I went to the tent, I actually tried to make an outdoor litter box. She disappeared on me that first night, and I was on a main street, and I really thought I was going to lose her. At 3 o'clock in the morning she shows back up. And since then, I'm, I panic. I mean, if she's in another room and I don't see her here, I panic. But, got her back after that situation, ended up in another housing situation that didn't work out. And where I'm at now, I've been for two years, thanks mostly to Garrett and the Found House. I still have Punk. I have a two year old male named Peep who walks around my house. They're both my cats. They're both solid black. And her name is Peep, and she peeps when she walks around the house. And she's as mean as a snake. You can't pick her up. You can't pet her. Unless she wants you to, and then she'll come over and love on you. And now I have a third cat who just, my daughter just decided to bring straight to my house. And of course, Punk, my oldest, doesn't like anybody, but she tolerates on them. Garrett's getting ready to take the third cat for me to get it fixed. But without the found house, I wouldn't have my cat. I'm also on a site called Next Door. And I advocate a lot for the found house. I mean, somebody will say, I'm not ready to be homeless. And it's like, uh uh. You need to call this person. If they can't do something, they'll at least send you somewhere else. And now I'm trying to get as many resources as I can, because as soon as I left Thursday, I got a phone call on my messenger, a messenger saying, Hey, this girl's getting put out of her apartment. What does she do? She has two cats. And these are just people that I know from the street or from my, from my networking. And I do what I can. You know, I've got people that help me. If I can help them, just like doing this, Punk has been in. This was done in a 2023 calendar actually for the found house. She's December for 24 25 calendar for Paws. She's done a channel 12 news report and this is the second event she's done here and anything this man needs. I even opened my home to strangers if they need some place because I keep an extra couch because I been there And I didn't, I've never been homeless due to drugs or anything else. It's just been two bad situations. And when I hear people talk about the drugs and everything, it's not always the case. And you guys, and people have to never judge a book or never judge a cover. Always read the book because you never know what you're going to find. And like I said, I'm so glad to be part of this. And I'm so glad you guys all showed up too. I will keep advocating for at least another 30 years because I know I'm going to need her. My mom's 88, still works four days a week, raises dogs. I mean, this is how much of an animal family I am. And she just lost an 18 year old dog the other day. And a friend of mine passed away and she's like, well, one of my dogs died. And I'm like, okay, well that's not the same as a person, but I get it. That's your, you've had him for 18 years. So I, I get it. So again, thank you guys, and I will send this off to the next person. Sorry if I talk too long.

Hey everyone. Um, so like Shoshana said, my name is Lauren. I am a social worker. I work at Over the Rhine Community Housing. Uh, we are a non profit, pet inclusive, affordable housing provider here in the neighborhood that you're in right now, over the Rhine. Um, and this is Stephen and his dog, Future. So, Stephen was really sorry he couldn't make it today, but he would be honored to be able to share his story with you all. Stephen survived some significant trauma, including being in a terrible accident in 2019. Following this and a series of challenges that led Steven to lose his housing, he said, I went from living with a friend to living on the street with Future in tow. He was four. He's my little warrior. Unflappable and steady and by my side everywhere. I had never been homeless before and I truly did not understand homelessness. I never considered all the ways a person could become homeless in a flash. So I got an education in homelessness with my dog. All I had was Future, and all he had was me. And because I was triggered by losing everything in my life, we really needed each other. I could look in his little face and see that he looked stressed and worried, and I would tell him how much I loved him and that we would always be together. I would never leave him if it meant sleeping on the street. Well, guess what? We were sleeping on the street, in a sleeping bag, with cardboard boxes like out of a movie. I'm no spring chicken, and it was winter time. Unable to find shelter for me and Future, I would stay with a friend here or there for a few nights, then maybe a hotel room when I had some money, and then back on the street. All stability was gone, but we were together. I could see the stress on his face, wondering what was going on, but in those moments, I would attempt to reassure him that everything would be okay. Nothing could have prepared me for all that would happen living day to day, place to place, as a homeless person with a dog. We were not allowed in many businesses, hotels, or stores, which made things much more difficult. Every day was a battle to survive. After sleeping outside behind a church downtown, I went to the VA, and I was introduced to my social worker there, Amy. Amy was so instrumental in helping me navigate the obstacles and agencies on my journey that would eventually get me and Future off the street. She was able to help me get a bed at the V. A. Dormitory at Goodwill and also introduced me to Garrett Parsons, who worked diligently to get Future a spot at the found house during this time. Being separated from him was so difficult for me and was also hard on him, but it was necessary for us both to ultimately get stable housing. I was able to visit with Future every week, and the people at Found House were kind and understanding. Future was well cared for during his stay at the shelter. And in reference to Future's name, Stephen said, The only way to describe how I felt the day that he was born is that I looked at him and he was so wonderful. I felt this burst of pure joy, and I knew my future would be better than my past. I almost called him Wonderful and then decided on Future. Two syllables are easier than three. And so I'm proud to also now call Steven and Future tenants of ours. Um, they moved into our apartment, um, in our new building called the Barrister Apartments downtown here earlier this spring. Um, and so this picture is actually, I think Garrett took this the day the two of them moved into their new apartment together. So, um, Thank you for letting me share this with you.

Our next storyteller is Jillian McMillian. She's an advocate for human and animal rights. She's, uh, and for the Human Animal Bond, a co sheltering enthusiast, and last but not least, a volunteer and storytelling advocate with My Dog is My Home. Jillian is a person with lived experience in homelessness, the loss of emotional support to cats during homelessness and mental health conditions. Jillian used all of her experiences to get certified in cat behavior, to advocate with her full heart, and to continue to learn how to fight for the needs of many who haven't yet found a voice. Jillian plans to use her certification to assist in furthering the fight for the human animal bond and the rights to keep full families together and housed. Thanks, Jillian. I'm gonna have to give you Ok, you're gonna have to give me a minute here. I'm a bit of a mess. Like, constantly. Like, all the time. This is normal. Um, my story is a bit different, um, I decided on writing a letter, I can't even, what did I do that for? I decided to write a letter to my pets because unfortunately they didn't come home with us. Okay, here we go. Good luck to you guys. Dear Wasabi, Sashimi, and Kitsune KitKat, I'm in hope that this letter reaches your hearts in a way that can heal all of us. I still remember when you became part of our family. Wasabi and Sashimi, when you came to us, Sai was about a year old, give or take. Sai is my daughter. She's my daughter. Um, it was around two thousand, uh, two hundred, Oh my god, it's one thing. Two thousand ten. We had recently come out of homelessness when we heard that you were born. When my sister Elaine told us that you were old enough to leave the nest, we hustled out miles, miles, and miles away in our dodgy little Mazda. We came, we went, and we got you to come home with us. You made our hearts full. It was incredibly warming to see whenever we came home from being out for the day. It was a little bit of a sobbing, a tale of heartbreak, of excitement. Sometimes he would run to the food bowl and start eating while meowing, and there's nothing like the sound of a cat meowing while they're eating. What really, really gets me is that Saya still remembers that at age 15. Even though she wasn't even two yet when that had happened. And my dear Shin, when you were decided, you would plop down onto your side and just start purring. How could we not pet you when you look like a fluffy, vibrating pillow? The two of you really make the perfect beginning to the perfect feeling of wholeness in our whole family. It was me, a single mom with a complex PTSD, a curious daughter, miles away from a family we already felt rejected from. We were on our way, on our own, in many ways, until we united with you. Your existence made me feel loved, accepted, and worthy of being loved and needed. I still look at old pictures of you two, cuddled up. Shimi, you were the brunt. Wasabe, you were the big one. But by the time we moved to our next apartment, which was bigger, in Sayville, two years later, Shimi, you were the big one. When I was having symptoms of depression, the two of you became my safe place. When I was anxious, both of you would take your positions on me, wouldn't move until I moved you. Even then, you would make your way back to me or would stay close until I was still again. Wasabi, you were also an anxious one yourself. You would climb up on me and stay on my chest as if to calm me. And within recent years, I realized what you were doing. You were syncing heartbeats with me so we could calm together, bringing us both to a resting heart rate. In the midst of our time in Seville. There was a period of my life where I was having suicidal thoughts, but because of you, I wouldn't make a plan. I was mostly bed bound. I say mostly because I would only get up to go to the bathroom and feed you and Saya. At that time, I only ate because I needed to eat something. Something in my stomach to take my meds. Yeah, I was that bad. I entered a stage of chronic suicidal ideation because I couldn't bear the thought of loosing you. I couldn't imagine a world where Sai would be safe with a family member or my best friend, but I could only see darkness when I imagined you without me. I would frequently have vivid, intrusive thoughts imagining terrible tragedies that could happen and see the two of you roaming desolate streets aimlessly trying to survive. The very thought of you not having me to care for you and keep you safe shook me to my core. It was scarier than death. And what, and it's kept, it's what kept me from making the irreversible decision to leave this earth by my own hand. And of course, the journey through this season of ideation was rough, but it helped keep me fighting for you, for Saya, and for this beautiful family. Shortly after, I registered you all on ESA. com, uh, org. Everybody, ready? Scam! Just in case something would happen to me or there was an emergency, this way emergency services would know to look for you or where you belong, but yeah. Scam. As I healed, Shimi became the protector and Sabi, you became the analyzer and the healer. Shimi, I vividly remember how alpha you became when my alpha sister came over. It was like a showdown. The only thing we were missing were the tumbleweeds blowing by. And the growling you would do, and the hissing you did. Hiding underneath the couch as if to watch Alicia's every single move. It was only every time that she came by. And it would only happen when she came over. I knew it was a battle of who's in charge of protecting us. When KitKat came to us, Shami and Sabi were not happy at all. Not at first. But eventually you let her in and treated her as if she were your own little baby. Kit, you were mostly with Saya. You were her emotional support. The way you would meow was so adorable. You sounded like you were saying, Meow! We had a little joke that you were part of. We would say, What do we want, Kit? Cat? When do we want her? Meow! I miss your big paws on my face. Whenever I picked you up for some reason, you needed to put a paw on my cheek. And it was always cold, but very warm. The three of you really completed our family. And I miss sleeping with you. The positions you took, when I would climb into bed, you would pin me down. And if I moved, one of you would go flying, so I just stayed still. It was nice and warm, and I felt my safest with you in my bed. There were quite a few things that led us to part ways. One of which is that the emergency shelter that we moved into refused to acknowledge the rights we had as a family, and that's for us to be together. We had to put you with a foster, and during the time between 2018 and 2020, I felt lost without you. There were times when I would wake up in the middle of the night thinking that you were pinning me down in the bed, but and then I realized it was just a heavy spot in my comforter. Shimi, when I found that you passed away at the foster's home, I felt so sick, like my life and Sia's life had been taken. Then to think about what you were all going through there, and I wasn't around to protect you. I felt guilty for years after. Even now, I still picture how terrified you were. I know logically it's not my fault, but I still carried the weight emotionally. And I fought like hell for you. Even still, I look for Sabi and Kit online, pet pages, or groups on Facebook all the time. Today, I do my best to honor every, honor you in everything I do. And today, Sai and I are now housed in a huge apartment with Sai's big brother. We've been out of the shelter almost four years now. I completed school for cat behavior and hopes to use my certification to prevent what has happened to us from happening to other families. I've been part of an organization that shares the same value of keeping families together, like ours. My dog's my home, yes. Thank you. Don't mind if I do. And with their encouragement, I'm still, I'm able to tell my story to further fight for the families like ours. You now have two fuzzy kitty siblings named Cowboy and Bebop, and I think you'd love them. Cowboy is almost human, where Bebop, we're still kinda unsure that she's from Earth. We adopted them as soon as we felt strong enough and safe enough to love again. I still am riddled with guilt at times and wonder if you miss us as much as we miss you. We'll always look for you. And I hope wherever you are, you are happy and safe. I dream about you often. And Shimi, rest well. May we meet again. Thank you.

Ryan Smith is going to join us to talk about his experience of being homeless with his dogs Crimson and Sable. Some of you already got to meet Crimson and Sable when they were running around. I'm sure there will be time to meet them again, um, after Ryan is done with his story. Hi. My name is Ryan Smith and these are my two girls you've met, uh, Sable and Crimson. We are here today to share a story only because in 2022 we met Garrett Parsons. We found the house full of remarkable, loving, caring, honest, compassionate and devoted people. Our genesis family. We recently found out that we had family all over the world and that we were invited to attend the anniversary celebration to be introduced to all our relatives. I never knew our family was so huge. I couldn't believe it. We not only found housing, we now have a home to call our own. I was originally born in Middletown, Ohio. Sable and Crimson are sisters born in Simpsonville, South Carolina. One year apart, they both had the same mother, whose name was Delightful. But, different daddies, even in the fur world. Sable's father's name was Rascals, and Crimson's father's name was Elvis, from Memphis, Tennessee. I got a Sable March the 1st, 2016. 42 days later, I started a series of surgeries for colon cancer, which resulted in 8 procedures from April of 2016 and ended in May of 2018. Crimson came along a leap a year later. January 10th, 2017, Sable and Crimson, my fur children, my pride and joy. Since I started a family, I've had many life changing medical issues, rejections, disappointments, and obstacles in our way. However, through it all, Sable and Crimson has stayed right by my side. Here are some of the things my Children and I have had to endure in order to remain a family. And it has all been worth it. From South Carolina, after recovering from surgery, relocated, we relocated to Lebanon, Tennessee, in order to be near my family. And it was great. I had not seen my older brother in over 19 years. And I contacted him and asked if it would be okay to come and was there anything that I could do for him. While I was there, he replied, All I want is some of your good home cooked meals. Labor Day, September 2021, we arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio, and we've been there ever since. My brother, due to medical issues, was allergic to my girls. I was forced to leave my girls with a relative in Middletown, Ohio. He asked me just to move in with him, and we, and I found two jobs. And actually met my property manager on my way to work one day. I walked out of the Sunoco and I was trying to get into her car by accident. We both were riding in hybrids, blue. And, uh, she said, what are you trying to do? Why are you in my car? We connected instantly. She called my girls two little house shoes. I was my brother's caregiver the last ten months of his life. Living with him and even while living in my car. He asked me to leave because of a disagreement between me and his woman. I deal with no hesitation. Well, property taxes were, uh, paid current in Middletown, so the girls had to go from there. Snow and ice everywhere. Two jobs. Boarding the dogs. When I, When it, When could it was rough, I don't know. dogs. When I could, it was rough, but we stayed together. I was given three referrals, nothing for Sable and Crimson. I could have packed them in a tote bag and they would have never knew they were with me sleeping in the car at a nearby family dollar, uh, which went on for quite some time. We met an older lady who would wave at us and speak. I love your dog. She was saying. She would eventually offer us warmth, a place for me to take a shower, change clothes and rest. We had to go sometimes. Other times we could hang out for a day. She was on government rental assistance. It wasn't permanent, but it gave me enough time to meet our hand up, not our hand out, Garrett. He told me I could bring the girls to him, but there was no room in the kennel. But then he would keep them in his office until something became available. He met the girls. I put a pee pad on his floor. I signed some forms and was given a copy of my responsibility and visitation rights. Genesis, a real family. Finally a safe place for my girls while I put our lives back together. My Sable and Crimson had on to go to the second day. They charmed the way into Garrett's heart and his apartment. Garrett was very impressed by the girls health, their demeanor, and mannerism, which made me feel as tall as a giraffe. Because I was feeling like a total failure about what the girls had been going through. What a year. Garrett had their vaccinations completed and also had them chipped. Sable and Crimson love the beauty shop That's at the top of my daddy do list. We moved in our apartment and were reunited in April, 2022. I was later informed at the end of May that due to sleeping in my car and a history of DVTs I had developed. 18 superficial blood clots in my left leg and 8 DVTs in my right leg. I couldn't walk. I was scheduled for a thrombectomy on June 15, 2022. I was released from the hospital on June 16, 2022. After my surgery, I was asked to complete a wellness check on my brother by his daughter. I along with the Chevy police in Cincinnati, Ohio discovered him deceased in his apartment on June 18, 2022. After I came home, I secured employment with the all inclusive radical ministry, but due to problems with my legs, other health issues and contracting COVID, not to mention that in December, our apartment had flooded. In the midst of the pandemic COVID 19. Recovering from a thrombectomy, my depression would set back in, and if it couldn't get any worse, I totally drifted into a very dark place, which I couldn't get out of. And by April the 29th, 2022, my big brother Garrett picked up the two girls, and I was admitted into Beckett Springs Psychiatric Hospital for 30 days. While I was there, my new family took care of the girls until I arrived back home. It was back to my old self again. We moved into our present apartment in December 2023, and we have been there ever since. Sable and Crimson, I hate to brag, but I have 26 plus a few more reasons that my children, that my fur children have given to me. A. They are right. We found our family ancestry. B. They believe in me more than I did myself. C. They comfort me and they console me. D. They're dedicated to me. E. They energize me and they are excellent children at all times. They are faithful, grateful, and they taught me humility. When we didn't have anywhere to go, the letter I will come back to at the very end. J. They jolted me back to life physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. That's why I'm here today. They are kind. They are loyal. They have excellent manners. They never talk back. They obey me. Part of me is hard to stop boasting. Thank you. They quiet. They are quiet, and they quietly, they re, they respect me and they respond to my every call as they serve me. T. They taught me the true meaning of unconditional Love U. They understand me. V. They value me. They are the reason why I live, move, and have my very being today. They are my X, not like the ex, but they ex out all the hurt and pain I have experienced in my life. Y is represented in our story as only a symbol for the homeless people with fur children. My children are zealous. Thanks for allowing us to share our story. The letter I, our reasons for being homeless with fur children, infinity. Thank you.

So I hope that those stories made you think. Um, things to learn from it is to not be so judgmental and to understand the importance of the animals. You know, all the people that say, if you can't afford your animal, don't have it. How can you look at these people and tell them you don't deserve an animal? You don't deserve that dog or that cat that, that fills your heart and keeps you going. I mean, literally to, as you heard, some of them get up each day just because of that dog or cat that is there. So if you are so inclined, visit the pages for the hosting organizations for My Dog is My Home, mydogismyhome. org and foundhouse. org. Learn about them and see if there's something that you can, that you can do. They, of course, always need donations, but if you can't donate, there's, there's always ways to help by sharing the information, by letting people know. So thank you so much for spending this time, for listening to these stories, and as always, thank you for listening, and thank you for caring.