Today was a day of great fulfillment. I delivered a talk “Why the homeless don’t deserve their pets” at TEDx Mississauga, and it was one of many to come. The audience was full of love and support, everybody tuned in with tears and laughter. I shared what my dogs mean to me, what pets mean to the homeless and this organization I put forth to ensure we end pet poverty globally. Starting right here in Toronto, ON, Canada. The TEDx talk will be shared when it becomes available, in the meantime, please enjoy my thoughts on “Pet Ownership Amongst the Vulnerably Housed” from which the talk was derived.

Do you have a dog at home? Have you noticed, they’re awake before you, and it seems like they don’t fall asleep until after you? Every morning when I wake up, my dog is excited to see me. She can go from a dead sleep to out the door, tripping me on her way, in less than a minute.

What about, when you go to the bathroom, and you just need a few minutes to yourself. As a single mom, I hide in the bathroom, often, and my daughter barges in, "Mommy, make Cinderella’s shoe fit Barbie?" We all know, Cinderella’s shoe only fits Cinderella. Through the door left ajar by my daughter, there are eyes and ears peering into the bathroom. Privacy is over-rated in our home. My dog stares at me, and it’s as though she’s saying, "Good morning, mum, everything ok in there, you’ve been gone for 5 seconds and I’m getting worried!”

Her name is Malaika, she is a German Shepherd, rescued from a high kill shelter in Georgia. By high kill shelter, I mean, stray animals are picked up off the street, and have 5 days to be re-homed before they’re sentenced to euthanasia. Her life goal is to please me, and eat anything and everything in sight.

After a long day at work, I come home and throw my bag down at the door. “Hey babe, I’m home! Babe?” You know who comes running? My dog! Just imagine your partner greeted you at the door in the way your dog does? Sheer excitement, jumping you to kiss you from head to toe! I pat her head, her tail is wagging – I can’t help but leave my stress at the door. Find me a human, that appreciates you, like a dog would.

I lost my last dog to lymphoma in May 2018. Her name was Bella and she was an amazing German Shepherd as well. She had a rough bark and a big heart. Adopted when she was just over a-year-old. In her 8 years, she was my motivator. She saw me through my first job, she listened to me sob about my mistakes and celebrate my every success, and when my father passed away three days after my daughter was born – Bella was my grief counsellor, my emotional support, and my safe addiction - a deterrent from needing and fiending drugs or alcohol, she filled that void and she did so without judgement. She worked overnight emergency shifts with me to pay the bills, day shifts building our clinic, while still being best friend to my daughter – she was our cheerleader. She left an imprint on all the lives of those who had the pleasure of meeting her.

Pets bring an unquestionable appreciation, love, companionship and loyalty to our lives. Let’s not underestimate the power and privilege of pet ownership.

Did you know, about 10% of the vulnerably housed adults in Toronto own pets, currently estimated to be 9000 people, and 900 animals, amongst them. Many of these people with animals blatantly refuse individual housing, to stay on the streets with their pets. Have you walked past someone living on a Toronto street corner, with a dog leashed in one hand, and their sign asking for any help possible – and you cross the street to avoid walking past them?

It’s exactly what I did for many years. I felt threatened because I judged the pet owner, and as a veterinarian, all I could think of was, you don’t deserve the animal. You can barely feed yourself, without my help. I’ll help you, I’ll take your dog to a local shelter. It’s probably harbouring some parasites, it’s intact (meaning not spayed or neutered). YOU are the reason our world is overpopulated with animals, surely you can’t afford the vet so you don’t deserve the pet.

I met a man at a local homeless shelter, he transformed my way of being so judgemental, to someone who now makes a difference in the lives of the vulnerably housed in Toronto. His name is John, and his dog Muñeca. They stay at a local homeless shelter together, one of few permanent shelters that allows pets to stay with their owners.

When I adopted Malaika, I was asked my occupation and salary, I was asked for a veterinary reference and a fenced yard, amongst many other pre-requisites. Potential adopters are screened, and judged, without consideration of extenuating circumstances. As a professional in the field of veterinary medicine, I appreciate the screening for responsible pet owners. Unfortunately, John would never meet their criteria.

Muñeca goes everywhere with John. Neither Malaika or Muñeca have been in a fenced yard (it really doesn’t matter that I have one) – both are exercised thoroughly, Muñeca probably way more. Both our dogs have shared off our plates, literally. I have sat on the shelter floor with John and Muñeca, as they shared fast-food chicken out of the same box. My daughter and I, nothing but humbled. For what it’s worth, I would give John an exemplary veterinary reference.

After I lost Bella, waking up in the morning, in a quiet home was painful. She was the reason I woke up on time. For John, Muñeca’s companionship is the only reason he wakes at all. There is no room or reason to pass judgement as we both make great pet keepers, John even better than I.

Pawz 4 Cause is an initiative to end global pet poverty. In doing so, vitality is brought to people through managing their pets care. The pilot project, supported by empathetic veterinary staff, behavioural specialists, lab representatives, drug and food representatives, fellow veterinarians lending me surgical space and of course my own expertise. In one weekend, 17 patients were examined and vaccinated, and any necessary diagnostics such as blood work and biopsies were performed at a pop-up clinic at a local homeless shelter.

Muñeca presented at the pop-up clinic with eyes so loyal to and protective of John, and John so emotionally bonded to his little girl. On physical exam, Muñeca had a lump on one of her breasts. She was an intact female. The mass was biopsied, John waited for what seemed like forever, to reach a diagnosis of breast cancer. Muñeca potentially didn’t have long to live, and when John found out, he was petrified. The Pawz 4 Cause initiative promised to make a difference for Muñeca.

Muñeca needed to be spayed and the tumor removed. With generous donations of veterinary time and space, this was made possible. On the drive to the hospital, John explained his story, how he ended up in vulnerable housing, the family he had, the life he experienced. It could happen to any of us. John slept across the chairs in the waiting room as Muñeca underwent surgery. Muñeca was his responsibility, and all he had left from his past, she gives him purpose and accountability. He had no reason to return to the shelter, no reason to live, if Muñeca wouldn’t make it through the surgery. Upon recovery, we all went out for dinner. I have never been thanked like I was thanked that evening. We didn’t just save Muñeca, we saved John too.

John and Muñeca were removed from the shelter soon after and I heard they were nowhere to be found. My heart was heavy for them, and I kept in touch with the shelter with hopes of their return.

Eight months later, I received a call from the shelter, John and Muñeca had returned – they were living out of a tent in a forest. He was jumped, and stabbed in the face for his shoes, and their tent set to flames but John only returned to the shelter when he was worried about Muñeca’s paw. I hurried to the shelter to see them. Her paw was fine, though she decided she wanted a belly rub, and I’m glad she did. I checked her belly for where I removed the mass. To my discontent, I felt up and down her belly, and found five more masses. As I looked up, John already had tears in his eyes. “Dr. Nadia, please, no. I will save my every nickel of panhandling for you, I can’t lose her. She is all that I have”. Muñeca was no longer in remission.

We drove to the clinic the very next day. John shared the story of his recent attack, Muñeca watched the attack until John yelled her to get away, promising her he would find her. When he was left to die, blood dripping down his face, his teeth in his palm, his shoes torn off his feet- all he could do was yell for Muñeca. I can’t even duplicate the fear and sadness he demonstrated in his call. She came running to him, reuniting like they were separated for years. Thankfully she returned, as his reason for just being had dissipated in her absence.

When we reached the clinic, we screened for any cancerous spread. She was clear for surgery to have a radical mastectomy. As we put her under, I noticed her multiple broken teeth, John explained Muñeca was kicked in the face by a security guard. A security guard? Someone who we’ve entrusted to protect us. My faith in humanity, you can imagine is long gone. Then I saw John gowned, masked and capped to observe the surgery, not leaving Muñeca’s side. Surgery went well, radical mastectomy and necessary dental repairs.

Speaking to John on Muñeca’s recovery, I asked myself, why don’t the vulnerably housed deserve to keep their pets? I realized he’s the perfect pet owner. She is his purpose, reason, and responsibility. He is compassionate and loving. They are inseparable companions. The benefits of pet ownership. Thanks to John, my faith in humanity was restored.

My purpose in this world is to bring veterinarians together, with love, to provide collaborative, judgement free, compassionate access to veterinary care to the homeless population globally, bringing vitality to all pets and people, like Muñeca and John. I write and speak of veterinary access for the vulnerably housed and I invite you to consider what you do for a living and for fun. Consider the time spent on social media, in front of the tv, gaming on your phones (hiding in the bathroom). You’d be surprised how much time you can create when looking at your schedule authentically. Schedule time to give forward. Find your passion and share it, in any capacity you are able.