Pet ownership and homelessness: a scoping review

ABSTRACT

Between 5 and 25% of people experiencing homelessness have pets. Pet ownership can have a range of impacts in the lives of people experiencing homelessness, which may mitigate or further complicate the many adversities they face. However, there is a need to better understand the benefits and challenges associated with pet ownership to determine how this group can be best supported. Accordingly, a scoping review was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar to address the question: What are the effects of pet ownership on people experiencing homelessness? All of the 18 reviewed studies used either qualitative or cross-sectional research designs. Three domains have been principally examined in relation to pet ownership and homelessness: (1) psychological health and purpose; (2) social support and connection; and (3) access to housing, employment, and service use. Physical health, violence, and crime were less frequently studied. Although the findings offer further support that there are both benefits and liabilities to pet ownership for people experiencing homelessness, there is a critical need for more rigorous research, including longitudinal and intervention studies. Recommendations for developing more pet-friendly services and using a strengths-based approach that considers animal companionship when working with people experiencing housing instability are also discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Homelessness
• pets
• human-animal relationship
• health and well-being
• review

Disclosure statement

Dr. Michelle Lem is the executive director of a community-based, non-profit organization that provides veterinary and human health services via a One Health model.

Notes on contributors

Nick Kerman is a PhD Candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa. He has published research in the areas of homelessness and housing, mental illness, and recovery.

Sophia Gran-Ruaz has Bachelor of Science degrees in Psychology and Biomedical Sciences from the University of Ottawa. She currently works in pharmaceutical market access consulting. She has published research in the areas of homelessness and biosimilar drugs.

Michelle Lem obtained a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in 2001, and founded Community Veterinary Outreach in 2003, a registered charity that provides accessible healthcare for pets and their owners through a One Health model of care. Michelle completed a MSc in Population Medicine from OVC in 2012, researching the impacts of pet ownership on street-involved youth. Michelle received her MSW degree from Carleton University in 2018, with a special interest in the link between human and animal violence, well-being in the veterinary profession, and One Health approaches to practice.

ORCID

Nick Kerman http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5219-0449