Homeless dogs in Scottdale, Ariz., will soon have a new place to seek refuge, thanks to a local farm that specializes in horse therapy.
The “Almost Home Dog Hotel,” created by Hunkapi Programs Executive Director Terra Schaad, will provide pet guardians experiencing homelessness with a safe place to leave their beloved canine companions while they receive treatment and focus on getting back on their feet.
Schaad noted that many shelters and treatment programs do not allow people to bring their companion animals with them.
“One of the many barriers to [homeless people] seeking treatment or getting into housing was if they had a pet,” Schaad told AZFamily. “We knew that we could answer that call.”
The dogs will have rooms at the farm. A renovated barn on the property will soon be able to house between 12 and 15 dogs, and their care will be integrated with their guardians’ treatment.
The ultimate goal is reuniting the dogs and their pet parents.
“Get the human well and get the human stable,” Schaap told 12 News. “And we can take care of their dogs here as a community and have them ready and prepared to return to their [guardian].”
The dogs can stay for 12 weeks for guardians seeking treatment from Community Bridges, Inc, a local program helping people detox from opioids or alcohol. Midwestern University will provide wellness checks for the dogs. The city of Phoenix also is partnering on the project too.
This heartwarming story reminds us that it’s important to look out for both animals and their guardians during these difficult times.
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Thank you so much for the help you are giving to these poor canines while their owners attempt to regain their footing in a most trying time.
God bless you for the fine things you are doing. I will not forget this nor will those you assist.
what does LFT mean?
VERY SWEET. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS KINDNESS SHOWN TOWARDS THE LOYAL LOVING POOCHES.
Bravo DOG HOTEL…
Great! But what happens to those dogs after the 12 weeks are up and the humans are still addicts, as will usually happen? Even those humans who seem, or pretend, to recover, will usually revert to their old behavior.
OMG! God bless you! It’s really very impressive mission to think about homelesse’s pets. I wish somebody does that in my county.
I wonder if the covid pushers are proud of themselves for all of the suffering they’ve caused, even to innocent dogs, so used to being loved and cared for in their safe homes. Now their homes can’t be afforded by their people, because of covid tyranny. Funny how teachers, librarians and other public employees get to stay home and have a year-long vacation while being paid their usual salaries, taxpayer funded of course. I’d bet most of love the whole mess. This whole covid business is the crime against humanity of the century. Biden, Harris, Gates, Fauci, Xi, et al, have hell to pay as their Karma.
Meant “…most of THEM love…” of course, and thank goodness for people like this in the video who are giving those poor dogs a safe place to stay.
What a wonderful and generous offer. There is certainly a need for this kind of service. Thank you for stepping up.
What a wonderful initiative. Great idea.
moche
If I lived there I would volunteer. What an excellent idea. What a hard decision to stay and be abused or leave one’s dog or other animal behind. Thanks to this wonderful and creative woman. Save a dog and their person gets saved too.
Fabulous. Thank you.
The ‘Almost Home Dog Hotel’ is a much needed and admired idea!
Many thanks to these very fine folks!