Originally published in Pet Partners Newsletter, Vol. 6, No. 1, 1996

by Terry Albert

Animal-Assisted Activity (AAA) visits to families who are temporarily homeless can be very rewarding while presenting unique challenges. This issue has some tips and insights on preparing for this type of visit.

Adults in a shelter for homeless families are often reluctant to open up and talk to visitors. Carolyn Currey and her golden retriever Casey visit single mothers with children in the shelter managed by her church's Interfaith Council. Currey is able to form ongoing relationships with the people she visits since they are in the church's shelter for about three months. This is in contrast to families you would meet at a crisis center, where they stay only about 72 hours, and are in transition to more permanent housing facilities.

Currey points out that most shelters do not allow families to bring their pets, and seeing the visiting animal can bring up sad feelings about the animals, they had to give up. Elizabeth Teal, an animal behavior counselor who coordinates the ASPCA's visiting pet program in Manhattan, NY, counsels about what type of conversions you have with a homeless child or adult. He or she may mention a pet they had. Asking where it is now may cause a lot of sadness. A better question would be "Tell me about your dog," so the person could talk about happy times without having to deal with the loss. Respect their individual needs, and don't talk down to children, who are often wise beyond their years.

On the other hand, the dog can be a good conversation opener, giving people something to talk about and focus on other issues. Pet Partner teams help break through a reluctance to talk by providing nonjudgmental contact. Because you are not an authority figure who will be making decisions about their future, you may be easier to talk to.

Children who are in shelters for the homeless are emotionally fragile. During visits, it is important that they are not treated as merely an adjunct to the mother, or as an object to be dealt with or categorized. These children are often wary of adults. Often they have been removed from school and are not getting the social interaction they normally would. AAA visits give them the chance to participate in everyday experiences that they may not have had recently, like walking a dog or playing fetch.

Though some generalizations can be made, says Currey, expect the unexpected when visiting children. For example, boys tend to be more active with her dog, playing fetch and running. Burning up pent-up energy by playing with the dog is a great stress reliever. Girls tend to want to sit and quietly pet the dog. But remember that many, especially inner city children, have never seen a dog except for a watch dog, attack dog, or a stray, and they are frightened. Don't force these children to interact with the animal. When they are ready, they will approach on their own, and may reap benefits merely from watching a short distance away.

In a shelter situation there is often lots of loud noise and activity gong on, so you need to have an especially steady animal. Currey's golden retriever, Casey, in nine years old and has calmly accepted having his tail stepped on, among other incidents. As with any children who are at risk, you should be prepared for acting-out behaviors. This may include striking out at your animal teammate. Some children are overactive, some are overly subdued and quiet.

It is not necessary to have an active session with every child. Elizabeth Teal tells of a little boy who sat silently for a half hour with his arms around her dog. This quiet comfort time may be enough. Asking "How many paws does the doggie have?" or "Can you pet his soft fur?" may be asking too much of kids who just need a friend, not a lesson.

Teal points out that visiting with a pet that was adopted from a shelter can transmit a very positive message, and inspire hope for better days in young hearts. It gives extra synergy to the interaction between the children and the animal. Teal recalls her adopted dog Jango sitting between two little girls who spent their time whispering in his ears.

Give though to how you present yourself. Wearing uniforms can cause a lot of anxiety when visiting people who are homeless. Teal once wore here ASPCA uniform on a visit, and she immediately realized that the kids were frightened by her and her dog appearing in the context of an "officer."

You may find yourself feeling guilty because you have more material wealth than the people you visit. Teal points out that there will always be those that have more than you do, and those that have less than you do. At the same time, it would not be appropriate to wear overly expensive jewelry or clothes where you could appear to be flaunting your money. Be who you are, and don't apologize for it, but be sensitive to the feelings of others. Basic cleanliness and neat appearance for yourself and your animal teammate is always important, but will be especially noticed by others in this environment as an expression of your respect for those you visit, whatever you wear.