With overnight temperatures in Little Rock projected to move as much as 12 degrees the weekend, the town hopes to cut back on the amount of homeless people who opt to remain on the streets from fear of abandoning their own pets.
Shelters in the city don’t allow animals.
Some homeless people say that the companionship of a pet is the thing that keeps them going each day, plus they aren’t inclined to give that up. It is a common reason given for why folks won’t visit immediately shelters.
That is the reason Tracy Roark, director of Little Rock Animal Village, is offering to house the pets of homeless individuals till the weather warms.
“We just want to make sure that, No. 1, individuals are using the heating channels and shelters, but as a animal person and as the animal side of the city, we stress about the creatures and want to make sure they’re well cared for and receive what they want,” Roark said.
The city’s Animal Village will house the critters, vaccinate them whenever they aren’t up on shots and look after any other medical needs.
“We have obtained a vet on staff, therefore it doesn’t cost anything. We’ve got donations from those that want to look after a lot of the things like ripped toenails, or even though it had a broken bone. It doesn’t cost anything additional to do all that stuff, so we’ll look after everything,” Roark said.
Animal Village has been supplying the support during chilly weather for a couple years. Last winter, the town did not undergo a major cold period, but a couple folks took advantage of the free home for their pets the year earlier, Roark said.
This season the town set out the term in a press release. As long as the temperatures reach the low 20s or below, Animal Village will give the service.
Little Rock is making four community facilities accessible from 9 a.m. to 6 pm as heating channels where people are able to get off the roads and from the cold. Foot and arm warmers, in addition to water and snacks, will be offered.
The shelters would be the Dunbar centre at 1001 W. 16th St., also the East Little Rock centre at 2500 E. Sixth St., the Southwest centre at 6401 Baseline Road and the West Central centre at 4521 John Barrow Road.
“We want to not only be a terrific town, but a terrific community, one where folks search for each other — especially the most vulnerable among us,” Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola stated.
Since the critters of people without houses are vulnerable to the arctic weather, Animal Village will react to calls for support for animals in need of shelter during regular business hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If a homeless person arrives at a shelter and needs to have a puppy picked up, he can contact city staff members at -LRB-501-RRB- 376-3067 or at -LRB-501-RRB- 371-4829, the press release stated.
Any pet that is sheltered for a homeless person at Animal Village is going to soon be returned to its owner once the temperature rises.
Chris Porter, the city’s homeless-services urge, can be reached in his office at -LRB-501-RRB- 379-1596 or by email at cporter@littlerock.gov for advice about other providers, such as 24-hour shelters that are readily available.
The city’s Jericho Way Day Resource Center is open 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during the nighttime, providing meals and other providers, for example help with getting identifications or getting in to shelters. The middle, at 3000 Springer Blvd., can be contacted at -LRB-501-RRB- 916-9859.
In addition to the services furnished by the town, The Van, a nonprofit homeless-advocacy team, has been launching two pet-friendly shelters from seven p.m. to seven a.m. during chilly weather at 2BC-A Different sort of Baptist Church and Levy Church. Transportation is available.
“If somebody needs within at night in this cold snap, then there’s space and transportation accessible,” The Van Executive Director Aaron Reddin wrote on his Facebook page. “We [The Van] have 2 emergency shelters available. No cash or ID required. Pet friendly. Nobody has been turned away and we’re never too full to accept individuals. We can place men and women in our warehouse if we have to. Just call us 501-955-3444 and we’ll get ’em in whenever they are prepared.”
Reddin later posted the group’s shelters are anticipated to shut tonight but burst Saturday and into next week because temperatures are predicted to stay in the teens overnight.
source http://www.thedogcouch.com/doorway-is-opened-by-animal-shelter-to-homeless-individuals-cold-pets/
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