Homeless with my Pet: Stories. My Dog is My Home and Found House 10th Anniversary

DrG: 00:00:20

Hi, and welcome to the Animal Welfare Junction.

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This is your host, Dr.

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G, and our music is written

and produced by Mike Sullivan.

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I was able to spend a few hours with

very lovely people from My Dog is My Home

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and from FoundHouse, these organizations

that are in the, in the business of

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helping people experiencing homelessness

or that are housing insecure and taking

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care of themselves and their animals.

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So, really important, work because

we care about the animals, but if

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we don't take care of the people

that care for these animals, then

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we're really not, not doing much.

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So this episode is going to

be, uh, several clips that I

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got during my experience at

that 10th anniversary reunion.

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So, uh, I'm going to say there's going

to be a lot of, uh, different audio,

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different, um, it's a little bit of

fuzziness and graininess and some

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of the things, but hopefully you're

going to get the, the information

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and understand the important

work that these groups are doing.

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So hope you enjoy this.

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I am here With Christine Kim

from My Dog is My Home and

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Garrett Parson from Found House.

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Thank you so much for inviting me

and this has been an amazing event.

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So can you let our listeners know

what the purpose of this event is?

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Christine Kim: It's our joint

10 year anniversary celebration.

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So both My Dog is My Home and the Pet

Support Program have been working for

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10 years to keep families together

with their animals because we recognize

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them as parts of our families.

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So we decided to join forces and

throw a big party, um, and to reflect

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on the places that we've been and

where we're hoping to go in the

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next 10, 20, 30 years and infinity.

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Yeah.

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DrG: Excellent.

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And during this event, we're going

to hear from different individuals

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that have been clients of yours.

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So what are, what are the things that

we're going to be hearing about today?

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Garrett Parsons: You're going to be

hearing really one, you know, what these

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people's experiences were, you know,

their lived experience, uh, with housing

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insecurity, with homelessness, with an

animal at their side, and how important

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that animal is to them in their life.

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Um, that's what you're

going to be hearing.

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DrG: And from what I understand,

the need is a lot bigger than

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what you guys can offer, right?

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Like, about how many people ask for help

and how many people of those can you help?

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Garrett Parsons: Yeah, at the

found house pet support program,

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we sheltered 131 animals last

year, but we had to say no to 618.

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So that just shows you right there that

we need to keep expanding and growing

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so we can keep more families together.

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DrG: So what is the purpose

of the pictures and the things

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that we're seeing here today?

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Christine Kim: Oh, well, actually, this

is where my dog is my home started.

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It was really with the storytelling

because we feel like that's

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really the most impactful.

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that we can do is to share people's

experiences and amplify their voices.

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Um, I'm a big nerd and I appreciate

research and I think that's super

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important, but honestly, when you

share data and reports and academic

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journals and stuff like that,

it is not half as impactful as

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somebody's true lived experience.

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Um, and so this exhibit, all the

photographs, all the stories are really

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about hitting people in their hearts.

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DrG: Anybody that's listening, how

can they support your programs?

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Garrett Parsons: Yeah, absolutely.

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You can go either to found house.

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org or the my dog is my

home website, which is

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Christine Kim: my dog is my home.

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org.

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Garrett Parsons: I

could have guessed that.

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Um, there are both functions on those

websites to donate to our organizations.

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DrG: So now I want to share

with you four stories that

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were shared during that event.

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Uh, so get your tissues ready

because they are definitely going

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to tug at your heartstrings.

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Leslie Hutchinson: My Dog is

My Home storytelling program

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is incredibly important.

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Always, policy and programs should

be influenced by the people who have

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had the experience in their lives

of being homeless with their pets.

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So we feel like this is one of

the most important parts of our

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program with My Dog is My Home.

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One of our storytellers isn't

here today, so someone else

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is going to share for them.

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But we're going to start

right now with Leslie.

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Leslie Hutchinson is an animal

advocate who loves to connect people

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and animals with resources they need.

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She has experienced homelessness

with her older cat, Punk, and has

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worked with Found House several

times to keep her family together.

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Welcome, Leslie.

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Applause

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Um, I'm Leslie.

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I was born and bred in Cincinnati.

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I'm 61 years young.

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Um, I left Cincinnati in

: 2015

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And when I was in Kentucky, I was working

for Subway, uh, food station, and on my

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way home one day, I'm out, listening,

and as I'm walking, I hear this meow.

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And the next thing I see is

this little black drowned rat.

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So I put her in my, in my backpack, and

I look around to see if anybody's out.

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I mean, it's storming,

storming, nobody's out.

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Put her in my backpack, and

start walking home with her.

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And she kept trying to get out

and I kept calling her a punk.

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So that's how she became named Punk.

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I forgot my pictures today.

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Sorry.

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Well, 2017 I came back to Cincinnati,

moved in with some friends.

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Punk got to go with me.

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I moved into my own place

through GCD and Excel.

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It went up in smoke two weeks

after I moved in due to a tenant.

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Ended up staying in a hotel.

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Went to stay with other friends.

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and ended up having to leave there

because I wasn't on the lease.

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Now, through this all, I got Punk

with me and I've got a killer case

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worker named Caleb Breland through G.

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C.

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B.

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Who's no longer there.

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She introduces me to Garrett at

the laundromat in Walnut Hills.

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And I'm tripping.

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I don't want to give my cat up.

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I've had none of these other animals at

other times when, you know, things happen.

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I have a dog that she's

found and he had to go.

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So I really didn't want to do it,

but my tent where I was staying was

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basically half a mile from the shelter.

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So I'd get, I'd go down

every day to see Punk.

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During her first visit,

she got sick on me.

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They took her out of her kennel, gave her

her own office, put her name on the door.

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And I think Garrett had to take

her to the vet like three times.

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And he wouldn't call me until

he got her back there because he

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knew that I would have lost it.

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That would have been the end of

me standing here today, honestly.

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She is everything to me.

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I have two more now on top

of her, but she's everything.

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Got housed in a, in a living, I was

living with other people in a sexual

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offending building, but I needed a place

to stay because I wanted my cat back.

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Went, stayed there, ended up

having to have surgery on both

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of my legs, ended up in a nursing

home, couldn't take Punk with me.

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So, of course, Garrett

comes to the rescue again.

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He has Punk that time

for about four months.

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And at that time I couldn't go visit

her because of my legs and everything.

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And, um, I was in a nursing home.

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So he'd send me pictures, and she was

actually in foster back, back then.

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She was actually not down at the shelter.

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Get a job with a nanny, get my cat back.

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Go to Indiana.

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It doesn't work out.

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Call GCD.

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They can't get me back to Cincinnati.

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Call Garrett.

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They send a taxicab costing 200 to

get me back to Cincinnati with my cat.

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They leave, they leave the shelter

open an extra hour so I can deliver

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Punk to make sure she's taken care of.

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Now, the first time I went to

the tent, I actually tried to

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make an outdoor litter box.

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She disappeared on me that first night,

and I was on a main street, and I

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really thought I was going to lose her.

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At 3 o'clock in the

morning she shows back up.

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And since then, I'm, I panic.

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I mean, if she's in another room

and I don't see her here, I panic.

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But, got her back after that

situation, ended up in another housing

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situation that didn't work out.

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And where I'm at now, I've been

for two years, thanks mostly

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to Garrett and the Found House.

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I still have Punk.

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I have a two year old male named

Peep who walks around my house.

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They're both my cats.

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They're both solid black.

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And her name is Peep, and she peeps

when she walks around the house.

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And she's as mean as a snake.

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You can't pick her up.

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You can't pet her.

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Unless she wants you to, and then

she'll come over and love on you.

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And now I have a third cat who

just, my daughter just decided

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to bring straight to my house.

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And of course, Punk, my oldest, doesn't

like anybody, but she tolerates on them.

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Garrett's getting ready to take the

third cat for me to get it fixed.

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But without the found house,

I wouldn't have my cat.

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I'm also on a site called Next Door.

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And I advocate a lot for the found house.

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I mean, somebody will say,

I'm not ready to be homeless.

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And it's like, uh uh.

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You need to call this person.

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If they can't do something, they'll

at least send you somewhere else.

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And now I'm trying to get as many

resources as I can, because as soon as I

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left Thursday, I got a phone call on my

messenger, a messenger saying, Hey, this

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girl's getting put out of her apartment.

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What does she do?

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She has two cats.

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And these are just people that I know from

the street or from my, from my networking.

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And I do what I can.

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You know, I've got people that help me.

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If I can help them, just like

doing this, Punk has been in.

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This was done in a 2023 calendar

actually for the found house.

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She's December for 24

25 calendar for Paws.

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She's done a channel 12 news report

and this is the second event she's

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done here and anything this man needs.

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I even opened my home to strangers

if they need some place because I

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keep an extra couch because I been

there And I didn't, I've never been

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homeless due to drugs or anything else.

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It's just been two bad situations.

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And when I hear people talk

about the drugs and everything,

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it's not always the case.

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And you guys, and people have to never

judge a book or never judge a cover.

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Always read the book because you

never know what you're going to find.

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And like I said, I'm so

glad to be part of this.

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And I'm so glad you

guys all showed up too.

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I will keep advocating for at

least another 30 years because

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I know I'm going to need her.

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My mom's 88, still works four

days a week, raises dogs.

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I mean, this is how much

of an animal family I am.

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And she just lost an 18

year old dog the other day.

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And a friend of mine passed away and

she's like, well, one of my dogs died.

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And I'm like, okay, well that's not

the same as a person, but I get it.

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That's your, you've had him for 18 years.

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So I, I get it.

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So again, thank you guys, and I will

send this off to the next person.

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Sorry if I talk too long.

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Lauren Parsons for Steven: Hey everyone.

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Um, so like Shoshana

said, my name is Lauren.

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I am a social worker.

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I work at Over the

Rhine Community Housing.

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Uh, we are a non profit, pet inclusive,

affordable housing provider here

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in the neighborhood that you're

in right now, over the Rhine.

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Um, and this is Stephen

and his dog, Future.

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So, Stephen was really sorry he couldn't

make it today, but he would be honored to

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be able to share his story with you all.

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Stephen survived some significant

trauma, including being in

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a terrible accident in 2019.

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Following this and a series of challenges

that led Steven to lose his housing, he

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said, I went from living with a friend to

living on the street with Future in tow.

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He was four.

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He's my little warrior.

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Unflappable and steady

and by my side everywhere.

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I had never been homeless before and I

truly did not understand homelessness.

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I never considered all the ways a

person could become homeless in a flash.

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So I got an education in

homelessness with my dog.

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All I had was Future,

and all he had was me.

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And because I was triggered by

losing everything in my life,

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we really needed each other.

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I could look in his little face and see

that he looked stressed and worried, and

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I would tell him how much I loved him

and that we would always be together.

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I would never leave him if it

meant sleeping on the street.

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Well, guess what?

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We were sleeping on the street,

in a sleeping bag, with cardboard

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boxes like out of a movie.

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I'm no spring chicken,

and it was winter time.

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Unable to find shelter for me and

Future, I would stay with a friend

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here or there for a few nights, then

maybe a hotel room when I had some

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money, and then back on the street.

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All stability was gone,

but we were together.

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I could see the stress on his face,

wondering what was going on, but in those

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moments, I would attempt to reassure

him that everything would be okay.

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Nothing could have prepared me for all

that would happen living day to day, place

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to place, as a homeless person with a dog.

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We were not allowed in many

businesses, hotels, or stores, which

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made things much more difficult.

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Every day was a battle to survive.

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After sleeping outside behind a church

downtown, I went to the VA, and I was

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introduced to my social worker there, Amy.

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Amy was so instrumental in helping me

navigate the obstacles and agencies

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on my journey that would eventually

get me and Future off the street.

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She was able to help

me get a bed at the V.

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A.

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Dormitory at Goodwill and also

introduced me to Garrett Parsons, who

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worked diligently to get Future a spot

at the found house during this time.

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Being separated from him was so

difficult for me and was also hard

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on him, but it was necessary for us

both to ultimately get stable housing.

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I was able to visit with Future

every week, and the people at Found

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House were kind and understanding.

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Future was well cared for

during his stay at the shelter.

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And in reference to Future's name, Stephen

said, The only way to describe how I

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felt the day that he was born is that I

looked at him and he was so wonderful.

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I felt this burst of pure joy, and I knew

my future would be better than my past.

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I almost called him Wonderful

and then decided on Future.

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Two syllables are easier than three.

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And so I'm proud to also now call

Steven and Future tenants of ours.

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Um, they moved into our apartment,

um, in our new building called

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the Barrister Apartments downtown

here earlier this spring.

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Um, and so this picture is actually,

I think Garrett took this the

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day the two of them moved into

their new apartment together.

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So, um, Thank you for letting

me share this with you.

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Jillian McMillian: Our next

storyteller is Jillian McMillian.

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She's an advocate for

human and animal rights.

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She's, uh, and for the Human Animal Bond,

a co sheltering enthusiast, and last but

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not least, a volunteer and storytelling

advocate with My Dog is My Home.

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Jillian is a person with lived

experience in homelessness,

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the loss of emotional support

to cats during homelessness

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and mental health conditions.

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Jillian used all of her experiences to

get certified in cat behavior, to advocate

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with her full heart, and to continue

to learn how to fight for the needs

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of many who haven't yet found a voice.

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Jillian plans to use her certification

to assist in furthering the fight for

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the human animal bond and the rights to

keep full families together and housed.

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Thanks, Jillian.

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I'm gonna have to give you

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Ok, you're gonna have to

give me a minute here.

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I'm a bit of a mess.

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Like, constantly.

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Like, all the time.

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This is normal.

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Um, my story is a bit different,

um, I decided on writing a letter, I

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can't even, what did I do that for?

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I decided to write a letter to

my pets because unfortunately

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they didn't come home with us.

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Okay, here we go.

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Good luck to you guys.

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Dear Wasabi, Sashimi, and Kitsune KitKat,

I'm in hope that this letter reaches your

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hearts in a way that can heal all of us.

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I still remember when you

became part of our family.

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Wasabi and Sashimi, when you came to us,

Sai was about a year old, give or take.

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Sai is my daughter.

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She's my daughter.

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Um, it was around two thousand, uh,

two hundred, Oh my god, it's one thing.

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Two thousand ten.

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We had recently come out of homelessness

when we heard that you were born.

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: 00:16:53

When my sister Elaine told us that

you were old enough to leave the

310

: 00:16:55

nest, we hustled out miles, miles, and

miles away in our dodgy little Mazda.

311

: 00:17:01

We came, we went, and we got

you to come home with us.

312

: 00:17:05

You made our hearts full.

313

: 00:17:07

It was incredibly warming to see whenever

we came home from being out for the day.

314

: 00:17:11

It was a little bit of a sobbing, a

tale of heartbreak, of excitement.

315

: 00:17:14

Sometimes he would run to the food

bowl and start eating while meowing,

316

: 00:17:18

and there's nothing like the sound of

a cat meowing while they're eating.

317

: 00:17:29

What really, really gets me is that

Saya still remembers that at age 15.

318

: 00:17:36

Even though she wasn't even

two yet when that had happened.

319

: 00:17:39

And my dear Shin, when you were

decided, you would plop down onto

320

: 00:17:45

your side and just start purring.

321

: 00:17:47

How could we not pet you when you

look like a fluffy, vibrating pillow?

322

: 00:17:51

The two of you really make the perfect

beginning to the perfect feeling

323

: 00:17:57

of wholeness in our whole family.

324

: 00:18:00

It was me, a single mom with a complex

PTSD, a curious daughter, miles away from

325

: 00:18:06

a family we already felt rejected from.

326

: 00:18:09

We were on our way, on our own, in

many ways, until we united with you.

327

: 00:18:15

Your existence made me feel

loved, accepted, and worthy

328

: 00:18:18

of being loved and needed.

329

: 00:18:20

I still look at old pictures

of you two, cuddled up.

330

: 00:18:23

Shimi, you were the brunt.

331

: 00:18:24

Wasabe, you were the big one.

332

: 00:18:26

But by the time we moved to our

next apartment, which was bigger,

333

: 00:18:29

in Sayville, two years later,

Shimi, you were the big one.

334

: 00:18:34

When I was having symptoms of depression,

the two of you became my safe place.

335

: 00:18:39

When I was anxious, both of you

would take your positions on me,

336

: 00:18:42

wouldn't move until I moved you.

337

: 00:18:44

Even then, you would make your

way back to me or would stay

338

: 00:18:47

close until I was still again.

339

: 00:18:49

Wasabi, you were also

an anxious one yourself.

340

: 00:18:52

You would climb up on me and stay

on my chest as if to calm me.

341

: 00:18:56

And within recent years, I

realized what you were doing.

342

: 00:19:00

You were syncing heartbeats with me

so we could calm together, bringing

343

: 00:19:04

us both to a resting heart rate.

344

: 00:19:08

In the midst of our time in Seville.

345

: 00:19:10

There was a period of my life where

I was having suicidal thoughts, but

346

: 00:19:13

because of you, I wouldn't make a plan.

347

: 00:19:16

I was mostly bed bound.

348

: 00:19:18

I say mostly because I would

only get up to go to the

349

: 00:19:20

bathroom and feed you and Saya.

350

: 00:19:23

At that time, I only ate because

I needed to eat something.

351

: 00:19:26

Something in my stomach to take my meds.

352

: 00:19:29

Yeah, I was that bad.

353

: 00:19:31

I entered a stage of chronic

suicidal ideation because I couldn't

354

: 00:19:35

bear the thought of loosing you.

355

: 00:19:36

I couldn't imagine a world where Sai

would be safe with a family member or

356

: 00:19:43

my best friend, but I could only see

darkness when I imagined you without me.

357

: 00:19:49

I would frequently have vivid,

intrusive thoughts imagining terrible

358

: 00:19:52

tragedies that could happen and

see the two of you roaming desolate

359

: 00:19:56

streets aimlessly trying to survive.

360

: 00:19:59

The very thought of you not

having me to care for you and

361

: 00:20:03

keep you safe shook me to my core.

362

: 00:20:05

It was scarier than death.

363

: 00:20:11

And what, and it's kept, it's what kept

me from making the irreversible decision

364

: 00:20:16

to leave this earth by my own hand.

365

: 00:20:19

And of course, the journey through this

season of ideation was rough, but it

366

: 00:20:23

helped keep me fighting for you, for

Saya, and for this beautiful family.

367

: 00:20:28

Shortly after, I

registered you all on ESA.

368

: 00:20:33

com, uh, org.

369

: 00:20:36

Everybody, ready?

370

: 00:20:38

Scam!

371

: 00:20:41

Just in case something would happen to

me or there was an emergency, this way

372

: 00:20:45

emergency services would know to look

for you or where you belong, but yeah.

373

: 00:20:49

Scam.

374

: 00:20:51

As I healed, Shimi became the

protector and Sabi, you became

375

: 00:20:55

the analyzer and the healer.

376

: 00:20:57

Shimi, I vividly remember how alpha you

became when my alpha sister came over.

377

: 00:21:03

It was like a showdown.

378

: 00:21:04

The only thing we were missing

were the tumbleweeds blowing by.

379

: 00:21:07

And the growling you would

do, and the hissing you did.

380

: 00:21:11

Hiding underneath the couch as if

to watch Alicia's every single move.

381

: 00:21:17

It was only every time that she came by.

382

: 00:21:20

And it would only happen

when she came over.

383

: 00:21:23

I knew it was a battle of who's

in charge of protecting us.

384

: 00:21:26

When KitKat came to us, Shami

and Sabi were not happy at all.

385

: 00:21:32

Not at first.

386

: 00:21:33

But eventually you let her in and treated

her as if she were your own little baby.

387

: 00:21:38

Kit, you were mostly with Saya.

388

: 00:21:40

You were her emotional support.

389

: 00:21:42

The way you would meow was so adorable.

390

: 00:21:45

You sounded like you were saying, Meow!

391

: 00:21:49

We had a little joke

that you were part of.

392

: 00:21:51

We would say, What do we want, Kit?

393

: 00:21:54

Cat?

394

: 00:21:54

When do we want her?

395

: 00:21:55

Meow!

396

: 00:21:59

I miss your big paws on my face.

397

: 00:22:01

Whenever I picked you up for some reason,

you needed to put a paw on my cheek.

398

: 00:22:05

And it was always cold, but very warm.

399

: 00:22:08

The three of you really

completed our family.

400

: 00:22:11

And I miss sleeping with you.

401

: 00:22:13

The positions you took, when I would

climb into bed, you would pin me down.

402

: 00:22:17

And if I moved, one of you would

go flying, so I just stayed still.

403

: 00:22:22

It was nice and warm, and I felt

my safest with you in my bed.

404

: 00:22:27

There were quite a few things

that led us to part ways.

405

: 00:22:31

One of which is that the emergency

shelter that we moved into refused

406

: 00:22:34

to acknowledge the rights we had as a

family, and that's for us to be together.

407

: 00:22:41

We had to put you with a foster,

and during the time between: 2018

408

: 00:22:46

and 2020, I felt lost without you.

409

: 00:22:49

There were times when I would wake up

in the middle of the night thinking

410

: 00:22:51

that you were pinning me down in the

bed, but and then I realized it was

411

: 00:22:54

just a heavy spot in my comforter.

412

: 00:22:58

Shimi, when I found that you passed away

at the foster's home, I felt so sick, like

413

: 00:23:03

my life and Sia's life had been taken.

414

: 00:23:06

Then to think about what you were

all going through there, and I

415

: 00:23:10

wasn't around to protect you.

416

: 00:23:12

I felt guilty for years after.

417

: 00:23:14

Even now, I still picture

how terrified you were.

418

: 00:23:17

I know logically it's not my fault, but

I still carried the weight emotionally.

419

: 00:23:22

And I fought like hell for you.

420

: 00:23:24

Even still, I look for Sabi

and Kit online, pet pages, or

421

: 00:23:28

groups on Facebook all the time.

422

: 00:23:31

Today, I do my best to honor every,

honor you in everything I do.

423

: 00:23:36

And today, Sai and I are now housed in

a huge apartment with Sai's big brother.

424

: 00:23:41

We've been out of the shelter

almost four years now.

425

: 00:23:44

I completed school for cat behavior

and hopes to use my certification

426

: 00:23:48

to prevent what has happened to us

from happening to other families.

427

: 00:23:52

I've been part of an organization

that shares the same value of

428

: 00:23:56

keeping families together, like ours.

429

: 00:24:00

My dog's my home, yes.

430

: 00:24:02

Thank you.

431

: 00:24:04

Don't mind if I do.

432

: 00:24:08

And with their encouragement, I'm still,

I'm able to tell my story to further

433

: 00:24:12

fight for the families like ours.

434

: 00:24:15

You now have two fuzzy kitty

siblings named Cowboy and Bebop,

435

: 00:24:19

and I think you'd love them.

436

: 00:24:21

Cowboy is almost human, where Bebop, we're

still kinda unsure that she's from Earth.

437

: 00:24:28

We adopted them as soon as we felt strong

enough and safe enough to love again.

438

: 00:24:33

I still am riddled with guilt

at times and wonder if you

439

: 00:24:37

miss us as much as we miss you.

440

: 00:24:39

We'll always look for you.

441

: 00:24:41

And I hope wherever you

are, you are happy and safe.

442

: 00:24:44

I dream about you often.

443

: 00:24:46

And Shimi, rest well.

444

: 00:24:48

May we meet again.

445

: 00:24:51

Thank you.

446

: 00:24:56

Ryan Smith: Ryan Smith is going to join

us to talk about his experience of being

447

: 00:25:00

homeless with his dogs Crimson and Sable.

448

: 00:25:03

Some of you already got to meet Crimson

and Sable when they were running around.

449

: 00:25:06

I'm sure there will be time

to meet them again, um, after

450

: 00:25:09

Ryan is done with his story.

451

: 00:25:12

Hi.

452

: 00:25:12

My name is Ryan Smith and these are my two

girls you've met, uh, Sable and Crimson.

453

: 00:25:19

We are here today to share a story only

because in: 2022

454

: 00:25:26

We found the house full of

remarkable, loving, caring, honest,

455

: 00:25:32

compassionate and devoted people.

456

: 00:25:38

Our genesis family.

457

: 00:25:41

We recently found out that we

had family all over the world and

458

: 00:25:46

that we were invited to attend

the anniversary celebration to be

459

: 00:25:50

introduced to all our relatives.

460

: 00:25:53

I never knew our family was so huge.

461

: 00:25:56

I couldn't believe it.

462

: 00:25:58

We not only found housing, we

now have a home to call our own.

463

: 00:26:03

I was originally born in Middletown, Ohio.

464

: 00:26:07

Sable and Crimson are sisters born

in Simpsonville, South Carolina.

465

: 00:26:12

One year apart, they both had the same

mother, whose name was Delightful.

466

: 00:26:18

But, different daddies,

even in the fur world.

467

: 00:26:23

Sable's father's name was Rascals,

and Crimson's father's name was

468

: 00:26:28

Elvis, from Memphis, Tennessee.

469

: 00:26:31

I got a Sable March the 1st, 2016.

470

: 00:26:35

42 days later, I started a series

of surgeries for colon cancer, which

471

: 00:26:40

resulted in 8 procedures from April

of: 2016

472

: 00:26:48

Crimson came along a leap a year later.

473

: 00:26:51

January 10th, 2017, Sable and Crimson,

my fur children, my pride and joy.

474

: 00:27:00

Since I started a family, I've had many

life changing medical issues, rejections,

475

: 00:27:07

disappointments, and obstacles in our way.

476

: 00:27:10

However, through it all, Sable and

Crimson has stayed right by my side.

477

: 00:27:16

Here are some of the things my

Children and I have had to endure

478

: 00:27:20

in order to remain a family.

479

: 00:27:22

And it has all been worth it.

480

: 00:27:24

From South Carolina, after recovering

from surgery, relocated, we

481

: 00:27:28

relocated to Lebanon, Tennessee,

in order to be near my family.

482

: 00:27:33

And it was great.

483

: 00:27:34

I had not seen my older

brother in over 19 years.

484

: 00:27:38

And I contacted him and asked if it

would be okay to come and was there

485

: 00:27:43

anything that I could do for him.

486

: 00:27:45

While I was there, he replied, All I want

is some of your good home cooked meals.

487

: 00:27:51

Labor Day, September 2021, we

arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio,

488

: 00:27:56

and we've been there ever since.

489

: 00:28:00

My brother, due to medical

issues, was allergic to my girls.

490

: 00:28:04

I was forced to leave my girls with

a relative in Middletown, Ohio.

491

: 00:28:09

He asked me just to move in with

him, and we, and I found two jobs.

492

: 00:28:15

And actually met my property

manager on my way to work one day.

493

: 00:28:19

I walked out of the Sunoco and I was

trying to get into her car by accident.

494

: 00:28:25

We both were riding in hybrids, blue.

495

: 00:28:28

And, uh, she said, what

are you trying to do?

496

: 00:28:31

Why are you in my car?

497

: 00:28:33

We connected instantly.

498

: 00:28:35

She called my girls

two little house shoes.

499

: 00:28:39

I was my brother's caregiver

the last ten months of his life.

500

: 00:28:44

Living with him and even

while living in my car.

501

: 00:28:48

He asked me to leave because of a

disagreement between me and his woman.

502

: 00:28:53

I deal with no hesitation.

503

: 00:28:55

Well, property taxes were, uh,

paid current in Middletown, so

504

: 00:28:59

the girls had to go from there.

505

: 00:29:02

Snow and ice everywhere.

506

: 00:29:03

Two jobs.

507

: 00:29:04

Boarding the dogs.

508

: 00:29:06

When I,

509

: 00:29:09

When it, When could it

was rough, I don't know.

510

: 00:29:13

dogs.

511

: 00:29:13

When I could, it was rough,

but we stayed together.

512

: 00:29:16

I was given three referrals,

nothing for Sable and Crimson.

513

: 00:29:21

I could have packed them in a tote

bag and they would have never knew

514

: 00:29:24

they were with me sleeping in the

car at a nearby family dollar, uh,

515

: 00:29:31

which went on for quite some time.

516

: 00:29:34

We met an older lady who

would wave at us and speak.

517

: 00:29:37

I love your dog.

518

: 00:29:38

She was saying.

519

: 00:29:40

She would eventually offer us

warmth, a place for me to take a

520

: 00:29:44

shower, change clothes and rest.

521

: 00:29:47

We had to go sometimes.

522

: 00:29:49

Other times we could hang out for a day.

523

: 00:29:51

She was on government rental assistance.

524

: 00:29:54

It wasn't permanent, but it gave

me enough time to meet our hand

525

: 00:29:58

up, not our hand out, Garrett.

526

: 00:30:01

He told me I could bring the girls to

him, but there was no room in the kennel.

527

: 00:30:07

But then he would keep them in his

office until something became available.

528

: 00:30:11

He met the girls.

529

: 00:30:14

I put a pee pad on his floor.

530

: 00:30:16

I signed some forms and was

given a copy of my responsibility

531

: 00:30:20

and visitation rights.

532

: 00:30:23

Genesis, a real family.

533

: 00:30:26

Finally a safe place for my girls

while I put our lives back together.

534

: 00:30:35

My Sable and Crimson had

on to go to the second day.

535

: 00:30:40

They charmed the way into

Garrett's heart and his apartment.

536

: 00:30:45

Garrett was very impressed by the girls

health, their demeanor, and mannerism,

537

: 00:30:52

which made me feel as tall as a giraffe.

538

: 00:30:55

Because I was feeling like a

total failure about what the

539

: 00:30:59

girls had been going through.

540

: 00:31:02

What a year.

541

: 00:31:04

Garrett had their vaccinations

completed and also had them chipped.

542

: 00:31:09

Sable and Crimson love the beauty shop

. That's at the top of my daddy do list.

543

: 00:31:16

We moved in our apartment and

were reunited in April,: 2022

544

: 00:31:23

I was later informed at the end of

May that due to sleeping in my car

545

: 00:31:28

and a history of DVTs I had developed.

546

: 00:31:32

18 superficial blood clots in my

left leg and 8 DVTs in my right leg.

547

: 00:31:39

I couldn't walk.

548

: 00:31:40

I was scheduled for a

,: 2022

549

: 00:31:45

I was released from the

,: 2022

550

: 00:31:50

After my surgery, I was asked

to complete a wellness check

551

: 00:31:55

on my brother by his daughter.

552

: 00:31:57

I along with the Chevy

police in Cincinnati, Ohio

553

: 00:32:01

discovered him deceased in his

,: 2022

554

: 00:32:08

After I came home, I secured employment

with the all inclusive radical

555

: 00:32:13

ministry, but due to problems with

my legs, other health issues and

556

: 00:32:19

contracting COVID, not to mention that

in December, our apartment had flooded.

557

: 00:32:25

In the midst of the pandemic COVID 19.

558

: 00:32:30

Recovering from a thrombectomy,

my depression would set back in,

559

: 00:32:35

and if it couldn't get any worse,

I totally drifted into a very dark

560

: 00:32:39

place, which I couldn't get out of.

561

: 00:32:43

And by April the 29th, 2022, my big

brother Garrett picked up the two girls,

562

: 00:32:49

and I was admitted into Beckett Springs

Psychiatric Hospital for 30 days.

563

: 00:32:54

While I was there, my new family took care

of the girls until I arrived back home.

564

: 00:32:59

It was back to my old self again.

565

: 00:33:02

We moved into our present

apartment in December: 2023

566

: 00:33:06

we have been there ever since.

567

: 00:33:08

Sable and Crimson, I hate to brag,

but I have 26 plus a few more

568

: 00:33:15

reasons that my children, that

my fur children have given to me.

569

: 00:33:20

A.

570

: 00:33:21

They are right.

571

: 00:33:22

We found our family ancestry.

572

: 00:33:25

B.

573

: 00:33:26

They believe in me more than I did myself.

574

: 00:33:30

C.

575

: 00:33:31

They comfort me and they console me.

576

: 00:33:34

D.

577

: 00:33:35

They're dedicated to me.

578

: 00:33:38

E.

579

: 00:33:38

They energize me and they are

excellent children at all times.

580

: 00:33:43

They are faithful, grateful,

and they taught me humility.

581

: 00:33:48

When we didn't have anywhere

to go, the letter I will

582

: 00:33:52

come back to at the very end.

583

: 00:33:55

J.

584

: 00:33:56

They jolted me back to life physically,

spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.

585

: 00:34:02

That's why I'm here today.

586

: 00:34:05

They are kind.

587

: 00:34:07

They are loyal.

588

: 00:34:08

They have excellent manners.

589

: 00:34:10

They never talk back.

590

: 00:34:12

They obey me.

591

: 00:34:13

Part of me is hard to stop boasting.

592

: 00:34:15

Thank you.

593

: 00:34:16

They quiet.

594

: 00:34:17

They are quiet, and they quietly, they

re, they respect me and they respond

595

: 00:34:23

to my every call as they serve me.

596

: 00:34:27

T.

597

: 00:34:28

They taught me the true meaning

of unconditional Love U.

598

: 00:34:33

They understand me.

599

: 00:34:35

V.

600

: 00:34:36

They value me.

601

: 00:34:38

They are the reason why I live,

move, and have my very being today.

602

: 00:34:43

They are my X, not like the ex,

but they ex out all the hurt and

603

: 00:34:49

pain I have experienced in my life.

604

: 00:34:52

Y is represented in our story as

only a symbol for the homeless

605

: 00:34:57

people with fur children.

606

: 00:35:00

My children are zealous.

607

: 00:35:03

Thanks for allowing us to share our story.

608

: 00:35:05

The letter I, our reasons for being

homeless with fur children, infinity.

609

: 00:35:13

Thank you.

610

: 00:35:20

DrG: So I hope that those

stories made you think.

611

: 00:35:22

Um, things to learn from it is to not

be so judgmental and to understand

612

: 00:35:28

the importance of the animals.

613

: 00:35:29

You know, all the people that say, if you

can't afford your animal, don't have it.

614

: 00:35:34

How can you look at these people and

tell them you don't deserve an animal?

615

: 00:35:37

You don't deserve that dog or

that cat that, that fills your

616

: 00:35:40

heart and keeps you going.

617

: 00:35:42

I mean, literally to, as you heard, some

of them get up each day just because

618

: 00:35:48

of that dog or cat that is there.

619

: 00:35:50

So if you are so inclined, visit the

pages for the hosting organizations

620

: 00:35:55

for My Dog is My Home, mydogismyhome.

621

: 00:35:57

org and foundhouse.

622

: 00:35:59

org.

623

: 00:36:00

Learn about them and see if there's

something that you can, that you can do.

624

: 00:36:04

They, of course, always need donations,

but if you can't donate, there's,

625

: 00:36:08

there's always ways to help by sharing

the information, by letting people know.

626

: 00:36:12

So thank you so much for spending

this time, for listening to these

627

: 00:36:15

stories, and as always, thank you for

listening, and thank you for caring.