Dogs provide critical support for homeless people, study finds

University of BRISTOL, press release issued July 25, 2023 bristol.ac.uk

Homeless people and their dogs have a mutually beneficial relationship, with the dogs providing critical support for their owners' emotional and mental health while owners make every effort to protect the dog and meet their welfare needs, new research has found. The study, by academics at the University of Bristol Veterinary School and published in the Zoophilologica Polish Journal of Animal Studies, highlighted the importance of making sure there are sufficient services available for homeless people with animals and that allowing dogs to remain with their owners could improve engagement with charity services.... The researchers found dogs provided similar benefits as dogs owned in households, but additionally owners believed dogs helped with their routine, assisted them through mental health issues and gave continuous emotional support.... Owners noted difficulties accessing long- and short-term accommodation, and services, such as shops....Dr Nicola Rooney, Senior Lecturer in Wildlife and Conservation at Bristol Veterinary School and one of the paper's authors, added: "Dogs can play an incredibly important role in enhancing mental health, and this study shows this is equally true for the homeless community.