As a city worker, I encounter the homeless and their pets on a daily basis. I see homeless people with three or four animals, helpless in every season and every element, with no means to adequately take care of them. These pets, just like their owners, have no homes and no guarantee of a next meal. This is not fair to the animals that, just because their owners are houseless, they should have to live houseless as well.

Homelessness is a complicated issue, and this petition does not intend to demonize those affected by it. However, the welfare of pets cannot be overlooked. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), over 6.5 million animals enter U.S. animal shelters every year. Many of these animals originate from homeless individuals who were unable to properly care for them.

This petition calls for the implementation of regulations that restrict homeless individuals from owning pets if they do not have suitable housing, a secure food supply or access to veterinary care for these animals. Our goal is not only to safeguard the welfare of these pets, but also to help homeless people, by reducing the burdens they carry during such a difficult stage in their lives.

We ask for your support to help ensure that every pet in our city is well-fed, properly housed and given the medical attention it deserves. Please sign this petition and contribute to a future where every pet is well taken care of and every individual understands the responsibilities of pet ownership.