With horses though you can get grass livery very cheap if you look, so chuck them in a field.  Or loan them for 6 months and re-evaluate the situation.  I could never sell my dogs, they might have to live with another family member temporarily until I can look after them, but I'd never sell them - they are mine and I guess it's selfish but I would not like them to love anyone else?

> My son's GF told me that they "street people" get £10 a week extra to look after their dogs. She says thats why they get them and it helps out rescue centres (now she is in Kent) I had never heard of that but she swears its the truth? Anyone else heard that?

Errr where are they supposed to recieve this £10 a week from? Sorry but thats a myth, it IS one i have heard before (varying sums, various permuations of the tale) but.. its not true. As far as it helping out rescues.. again mmm... no.

Rough sleepers sometimes wound up homeless already owning a dog, others get them for some of the same reasons but 'magnified' much more, as we do.. for companionship, for unconditional love, for someone who will always be there so you wont ever be alone.. for protection (actual or perceived). Think of what your dog gives you..

Now think how much MORE valuable that would be to you if you lived a life where 99% of the population at BEST ignore you... and at worst... well lets not go there huh.

Fortunately Id think most people on this board cannot imagine fully the utter awfulness of being a rough sleeper and having absolutely no one to turn to, no friendly faces, no kind words.. nothing.

Wish Id had a dog at the time, believe me!

The horrible flip side is, with a dog on the streets your opportunities for shelter and recieving help are even further reduced, most shelters wont allow dogs in, theres no one to leave a dog with as there really is NO ONE you would trust (and I have haerd it over and over again where people have.. and never seen their dog again). Added to that, its bad enough being homeless in the eyes of most of the population - you arent wanted anywhere.. add into that the recent and ever increasing anti dog feeling, whereby dogs are not allwed in anywhere, or through shopping malls or on buses or trams... (you try and get round the shopping areas of your local town with a dog, wont be allowed in any of the covered shopping centres!).. It really does become you and your dog v the rest of the world.

So, back to the point.. no, theres no £10 a week allowance for having a dog, not from the authorities nor anywhere else ive ever heard of. There ARE some charities, mostly London based, who will offer free vet treatment, usually in the form of clinics arranged at the few dog friendly shelters, for the basic stuff - worming, flea treatment etc. I believe some of these will provide collars/leads/coats etc also but I am not even aware of any that do this as a full time week in week out thing, more like a specific 'event' a few times a year.

So this is not why homeless people get dogs. (Its not tosay some wouldnt if there WAS such an allowance... some people will do anything especially when desperate).

Back to the original question - no, I would never sell my dogs.

I would do my damndest to keep my dogs with me and IF it came about that they would be better off elsewhere, I would seek temporary foster homes for them, firstly with friends or their breeders, then id search further perhaps with some rescues.. as a final resort I would rehome them if it were in their best interests.

Selling them though.. never.

I can't imagine ever feeling so desparate that I'd want to sell my dog. Like someone else said, I'd starve myself first! But if it came down to feeding my children or my dog, then my children would come first, obviously. I can't imagine ever reaching this point though, and for that I'm grateful. What a horrible position to be in.

That is what i thought but Sophia says its part of the "dole" I dont know whats is called now. By Street people in Canterbury they are usually playing instruments and begging. (I did think it was odd but I had not heard it before).

> but Sophia says its part of the "dole"

Sorry but she is totally wrong. benefits are payable at set amounts & there are no add ons for dogs etc etc The amount people who are effectively NFA(No Fixed abode)is the same or less than someone living at an address

As I said I thought it was off but you I cant call my sons GF an idiot I have got some tact!! Not a lot but Im learning!

LOLOL perhaps she is er Mistaken ;-)

You are not going to believe this but in the Medway area a one off youth fund was given to help young people care for their pets! Its on the youth Fund benefits web site its finished now but in 2007 it was the recipient of a couple of thousand. I think it was through youth clubs and things, Sophia's Mum being a teacher could have heard of this, its developed into an urban myth possibly!!?? I havent found hide nor hair of it in any other county, never heard of youth funds before did you?

So not directly for the homeless then ? I've heard of Youth Funds & the Medway is still involved

No youth based, but I can understand where Soph got it from now! We were wandering through Canterbury and I noted that all the "beggers, street performers" had dogs, She commented that was because they got £10 a week to feed them and it reduces dogs in rescue centres. As I said I have some tact but did feel it was an odd thing to do but she was convinced so i didnt argue.

> They keep me sane, and are the only ears I can freely talk to, without it being used against later.

Ain't that the truth!