DILEMMAS ASSOCIATED WITH REHOUSING HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPANIONANIMALS

66 individuals were given a questionnaire during their initial visit t o a veterinary clinic for homeless pet owners. Among the 35 men and 31 women, 32 had been homeless for 6 mo. or less and were termed the acu tely homeless subgroup, and 34 had been homeless multiple times or for more than 6 mo. and were termed the chronically homeless subgroup. In responding to the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale, both men and wo men participants had significantly higher mean scores on attachment to their pets than did the scale's standardization population. Participa nts did not differ from the normative sample of adults on the Beck Hop elessness Scale. Both men and women participants stated a preference f or being rehoused. 93% of men and 96% of women said that housing would not be acceptable if pets were not allowed. 61% of the men and 33% of the women stated they would be willing to live anywhere pets were all owed except in a shelter. Reluctance to live in a shelter was signific antly greater among chronically homeless men than other subgroups, and they also had low desire to be rehoused. A majority of the participan ts had been refused housing because they had pets. Attempts to rehouse homeless individuals who have pets are likely to be unsuccessful unle ss accommodation for pets is included.