Episode 34

full
Published on:

30th Nov 2023

Homelessness, Pets, and the PUPP Act with guest Christine Kim

Homelessness is a serious crisis in the United States, with the most recent report by the Department of Housing and Urban Development dated December 2022 finding over 580,000 unhoused people on a single night in January of 2022 (hud.gov). It is a sad reality that pet ownership by housing-insecure individuals and families is a significant obstacle to sheltering and affordable housing. The lack of affordable co-sheltering facilities and pet-friendly affordable housing can be the factor that keeps someone at risk in the streets.

From their website: "My Dog Is My Home's mission is to increase access to shelter and housing for people experiencing homelessness with companion animals. By securing their ability to maintain their most important relationships and find adequate shelter, we ensure every family’s right to build a home."

Founder Christine Kim shares with us the story of the organization, how it helps communities with co-sheltering and affordable housing initiatives, and her advocacy work with the Providing for Unhoused People with Pets (PUPP) Act, a federal bill to provide financial assistance to homeless service programs, shelters, and housing.

If you like our content, you can help spread our message by rating and sharing. Together we can make a difference for the people and animals in our communities.

https://www.mydogismyhome.org/

https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/hud_no_22_253

Mentioned in this episode:

Keep it Humane Podcast Network

The Animal Welfare Junction is part of the Keep It Humane Podcast Network. Visit keepithumane.com/podcastnetwork to find us and our amazing animal welfare podcast partners.

Transcript
DrG:

Hi and welcome to the Animal Welfare Junction.

2

:

This is your host Dr.

3

:

G and our music is written

and produced by Mike Sullivan.

4

:

Today we have a great guest.

5

:

We have Christine Kim, the

founder of My Dog is My Home.

6

:

Welcome, Christine, and

welcome to the Junction.

7

:

Christine Kim: Thank you

so much for having me.

8

:

It's really nice to be here.

9

:

DrG: To start, can you let people know

where did your story begin and how did

10

:

it bring you to where you are today?

11

:

Christine Kim: Sure.

12

:

Absolutely.

13

:

, so let's see.

14

:

I guess my story begins with

my dog is my home way before my

15

:

dog is my home was ever formed.

16

:

Um, I am a social worker by training.

17

:

So I got my Master's in social work,

, in more of the macro side of things.

18

:

And so that means more of the

program development and policy end.

19

:

, But when I graduated from school,

like I think every good social

20

:

worker, , should have a little

bit of direct experience or direct

21

:

service experience under their belt.

22

:

, and I was very young and inexperienced,

to be honest, you know, fresh out of.

23

:

Graduate school with no real,

, professional work experience

24

:

minus my field education.

25

:

So I did spend a couple of

years, , doing case management

26

:

in housing and homeless services.

27

:

And I'm really grateful for it

because I spent some time in, , some

28

:

really innovative programs in

Philadelphia and in Los Angeles.

29

:

And in both of those places I was

working with, , the People who were

30

:

experiencing street homelessness

that were identified by the city

31

:

as the most vulnerable individuals.

32

:

So like they were what you would call

like, quote, treatment resistant or

33

:

housing resistant, and they were also

frequent users of emergency systems.

34

:

So you know, These were like the 50

to 100 people most likely to die out

35

:

on the streets if something didn't

change and they didn't receive some

36

:

sort of service that stuck with them.

37

:

Um, so they were in and out of

emergency rooms, in and out of jails,

38

:

in and out of emergency shelters,

and for whatever reasons, whatever

39

:

services they were receiving.

40

:

Through those traditional or

conventional homeless services

41

:

systems was not working for them.

42

:

And so they would very often

end up back out on the street

43

:

in very vulnerable conditions.

44

:

And so in Philadelphia, it was

called, I want to say it was like

45

:

Project 75 or something like that.

46

:

And then in Los Angeles, it was called

Project 50 and it was You know, relatively

47

:

new model at that time to just do whatever

it took to get these people off the

48

:

streets and into housing and they were

using the city was using what is Called

49

:

a housing first approach harm reduction.

50

:

Um, so that means that they were not

required to be sober or go through any

51

:

sort of transitional emergency shelter

system where they could prove after X

52

:

amount of time that they were housing

ready, and then they could move into

53

:

their own permanent housing unit.

54

:

Um, they didn't have

to show that they were.

55

:

working towards getting a full time job

or, , saving money or anything like that.

56

:

It was just take you as you are and put

you into permanent housing and provide

57

:

support to you within that housing

so that you can address other mental

58

:

health, substance use, or, you know,

health issues that you're experiencing

59

:

while you were already in your own home.

60

:

And it was , highly

controversial at that time.

61

:

It still is.

62

:

, but it worked.

63

:

It worked.

64

:

It really, really worked.

65

:

And so those 50 to 7500 people that

were identified as most vulnerable,

66

:

most likely to die out on the streets.

67

:

The vast majority of them did

stay in housing successfully.

68

:

, and it's from that mentality.

69

:

Actually, that my dog is my home grew

out of that experience as a social

70

:

worker in homeless services, because

while I was steeped in this practice

71

:

of removing barriers for people, kind

of doing whatever it took for them

72

:

to get into housing, there seemed

to be one rule that just did not,

73

:

um, that did not make it into this

housing first harm reduction mindset.

74

:

And that was, if you have a pet, okay.

75

:

We can't help you.

76

:

It's like, like, we'll remove

all the other barriers, right?

77

:

Like, you don't have to be sober.

78

:

You don't have to do this.

79

:

You don't have to do that.

80

:

But if you have a pet, like, sorry,

that's just something we can't manage.

81

:

And that's just so You know, saying

it out loud and saying it now after

82

:

so many years and looking back on it.

83

:

I'm like, that's just ridiculous.

84

:

Like, I can't believe that, um, that that

was the mentality back then and still

85

:

very pervasive to this day, like my

dog is my home has accomplished a lot.

86

:

And I think we've shifted the

conversation a lot and brought a lot of

87

:

awareness, but there's still a ton of

work to be done around removing this.

88

:

No pets allowed barrier.

89

:

Um, so anyway, re rewinding back to more

than 10 years ago, before my dog is my

90

:

home was started, I was in Los Angeles.

91

:

Young social worker, um,

working in one of these housing

92

:

first harm reduction programs.

93

:

And there was this client

that I had who, um, was.

94

:

Newly moved into his housing unit.

95

:

And in order to even qualify for

our program, you have to have been

96

:

homeless for more than a year.

97

:

You have to have, you know, you have to

be one of these highly vulnerable people.

98

:

So that that often means you have a lot of

other like co occurring conditions, right?

99

:

Um, so he had newly moved into his unit.

100

:

And, , I was You know, just starting

to build a relationship with him and

101

:

one day he, confides in me that he has

a dog, a small white miniature poodle

102

:

in his own apartment, by the way, you

know, it's not like a congregate shelter.

103

:

It's his own apartment.

104

:

And I'm like, Hey, I get it.

105

:

I'm an animal person.

106

:

I, you know, my, my cats and dog when

I was, , going through hard times,

107

:

like they're what pulled me through.

108

:

, we have a no pets allowed

rule, but , as far as I'm

109

:

concerned, I didn't see anything.

110

:

You know, I don't know anything.

111

:

And so he, he continued to live

in his unit and like sneak his

112

:

dog in and out of the building

to take the dog out for walks.

113

:

But, um, you know, in these

programs, there are often two, three,

114

:

Sides of, , two kinds of staff.

115

:

There's your social services staff, like

your social workers, case managers, , and

116

:

then you have your property management

staff, which are the folks who are,

117

:

you know, the landlords, essentially,

, The property management eventually

118

:

caught wind that there was a dog in

the unit, because you can't keep it a

119

:

secret forever, unfortunately, like,

they did catch him on camera, kind of

120

:

coming to and from his unit, walking

his dog, they, , heard some barking

121

:

one day, and when they found out, they

really, they really went in hard, like,

122

:

unreasonably hard, in my opinion, where

they said, , You are breaking the rules.

123

:

You have two options here.

124

:

You could either stay here

and get rid of your dog, or

125

:

you can get out with your dog.

126

:

, And that was such a hard thing for

this person to hear who had waited

127

:

so, you know, this person had

experienced tremendous hardship and

128

:

loss and trauma and had waited so

long to have a place of their own.

129

:

And in this system that

was created to support him.

130

:

In ending his homelessness and to

facilitate recovery, like here we were

131

:

trying to, , separate him from his

family member who had helped him cope

132

:

through all of all of those hardships

and me being on the social services side.

133

:

, I really pushed back on the

property management, like, to the

134

:

point where I almost lost my job.

135

:

Like, I was like, this isn't right.

136

:

You know, we can't do this and I

had to find, I was like looking for

137

:

solutions, you know, because the,

the, the rule in plain black and white

138

:

was that there were no pets allowed.

139

:

And so I went looking for solutions.

140

:

And I'm like, there's gotta be

some way to , figure this out.

141

:

Like they either have to bend the

rule or like we have, I don't know,

142

:

you know, there's gotta be something.

143

:

So eventually I, um, led this

client through what is known as the

144

:

reasonable accommodation process.

145

:

So, this client did have a disability

and his animal obviously, , provided

146

:

him with emotional support.

147

:

Even though the dog wasn't trained

to do anything specific, Just

148

:

through nature of being his companion

animal, , that dog provided with him

149

:

with emotional support and allowed him

to fully use and enjoy that dwelling.

150

:

Um, and so, , according to the Fair

Housing Act and the rules around

151

:

reasonable accommodation, we put in the

request and the property manager had to be

152

:

educated around their obligations, , under

the law to accommodate this person and

153

:

their animal, despite the no pets lateral.

154

:

And eventually we won, like this

person was able to stay with their dog.

155

:

And through all of that, like it

really opened my own eyes around

156

:

the challenges of people who are

trying to seek any type of service.

157

:

It doesn't have to be It

can be permanent housing.

158

:

It can be emergency shelter.

159

:

It can be access to a medical clinic

can be mental health services.

160

:

You know, if you are experiencing

homelessness and you have an animal

161

:

and you, you either have nowhere

to put that animal, or you're not

162

:

willing to separate from them, then

your options are just extremely

163

:

limited in trying to access services.

164

:

, so my dog is my home grew out of that

experience and, we really at first really.

165

:

We just wanted to tell the story, right?

166

:

Like what, what is happening?

167

:

Like, what is the gap in services?

168

:

And why is it there?

169

:

And what is the impact on people

experiencing homelessness with animals?

170

:

And then also we wanted to push

back on this idea that people

171

:

experiencing homelessness are

undeserving of animal companionship,

172

:

which is still very pervasive today.

173

:

Um, but that.

174

:

That initial project that we got

off the ground, , My Dog is My Home

175

:

Storytelling Exhibit, it really laid

the groundwork for the non profit

176

:

organization which exists today.

177

:

So 10 years ago, the My Dog is My

Home Storytelling Exhibition launched,

178

:

it opened in November of 2023, so

really 10 years ago, , and it opened

179

:

here in Hollywood, in Los Angeles.

180

:

, And that traveled around for a

couple of years and did really well.

181

:

And then at a certain point we decided

we need to take this to the next level.

182

:

Like the stories are fantastic

and they do a lot to educate

183

:

people and inspire people.

184

:

But there's always this lingering question

after people have been educated, like,

185

:

okay, now we know what the gap is.

186

:

What can we do about it?

187

:

And that's where my dog is my home.

188

:

The nonprofit really kicked into gear.

189

:

DrG: I am so glad that the story had a

happy ending because I'm listening to your

190

:

story and I am suffering here thinking oh

my god this guy ended up in the street or

191

:

he died or the dog got given away and I'm

like just waiting for you to say something

192

:

like that so I am so Excited that it ended

up well and that it is a good story behind

193

:

the inspiration behind the mission, right?

194

:

Like not everything has to be

this horrible thing happened.

195

:

So this is where we're at.

196

:

That is a, that is an amazing story

because yeah, I know that there are a lot

197

:

of people that abuse the whole emotional

support animal thing, but there are so

198

:

many people that do need their animals.

199

:

, you know, I work, I work all day, I come

home, and my cats are here to receive me,

200

:

right, like, judgment free, they're like,

I mean, yes, they're cats, so they're

201

:

like, feed me, and pet me, and, and be

my, be my person, , but, there's so much

202

:

to be said about the unconditional love

that the animals give you at the end of

203

:

the day, and you can talk to them, and

you can, even just petting them, , you

204

:

just feel relaxed, and feel, feel at

home, And actually, I really love the

205

:

name of your organization, My Dog Is

My Home, because it's kind of like the

206

:

heart is where the home is, and heart

is where my, or home is where the heart

207

:

is, home is where my dog is, right?

208

:

Christine Kim: Yeah, that's exactly right.

209

:

I mean, I'm so glad that you mentioned the

name and that you like it, because, um,

210

:

It's a, it's a little bit of a misnomer.

211

:

Like I love, I love our name too.

212

:

Um, but there are times when I'm like,

geez, maybe we should undergo like a

213

:

rebranding process or something like

that, because the, the name of it makes

214

:

it sound as though we're, um, like an

animal rescue organization, rescue and

215

:

adopt out dogs or something like that.

216

:

, and people don't understand right

off the bat that we are actually.

217

:

Almost entirely made up of people

from the human services side who like

218

:

really value that human animal bond.

219

:

Um, but thank you for saying,

for the positive feedback.

220

:

It really makes

221

:

DrG: me, yeah.

222

:

I loved it when, you know, I, I met you

at the, , found house, , open house.

223

:

With, , Garrett, who was a guest on

my podcast, , a few months ago, and I

224

:

really liked the name back then, because

again, it's kind of like wherever my dog

225

:

is, that's where home is, um, you know,

I feel about it with my cats, wherever

226

:

my cats are, that's where home is.

227

:

So I, I really love the name.

228

:

So my, my, my opinion,

keep it because it's gold.

229

:

Christine Kim: Ah, thank you.

230

:

DrG: Uh, but yeah, one of the, one of

the questions that people, you know, I

231

:

hate people that are judgmental because

nobody knows what they would do if they

232

:

were faced with a situation, right?

233

:

Like, it's really easy to say somebody

should do this or shouldn't do that.

234

:

When you've not been on their shoes,

but I guess the underlying question

235

:

is, why should a person experiencing

homelessness or poverty have a pet?

236

:

Christine Kim: Well, I think

the easy answer is that.

237

:

, The size of your paycheck, or whether

or not you have a literal home,

238

:

like a roof and four walls, , that

does not determine how much you love

239

:

your animal, or how devoted you are

to their care and their wellness.

240

:

, in fact, we see in studies that people

experiencing homelessness Take great

241

:

care of their animals and oftentimes

those animals are really well socialized

242

:

and there are some studies actually

that look at actual body condition

243

:

of the animals that end up in these

like street clinics, um, street vet

244

:

clinics, their body condition is great.

245

:

You know, um, I think people sacrifice

a great deal in order to care for their

246

:

animals and they often even feed their

animals before they feed themselves.

247

:

Um, so I think that.

248

:

Judging somebody immediately

based on their housing

249

:

situation is completely unfair.

250

:

, I also think that Homelessness and housing

insecurity is a lot closer to us than we

251

:

realize or than we are willing to admit.

252

:

Um, it's a very common experience across

all races and genders and age groups.

253

:

, even if you don't experience homelessness,

In the traditional way that people

254

:

think of homelessness like out in the

street or in your car, somebody, you

255

:

know, will experience homelessness or

some version of housing insecurity.

256

:

And if not somebody you directly

know, then someone who you know,

257

:

who they know, you know, like it's

not that far removed from you.

258

:

I think there were some recent

articles that had come out, trying

259

:

to quantify how many people are

actually like close, you know, living

260

:

on the edge of housing insecurity.

261

:

And, um, the statistic was very alarming.

262

:

It's like one in four Americans is just

a couple of paychecks away from, From

263

:

homelessness or housing and security

like one medical emergency or you know

264

:

some other some other disaster on that

same scale could put you out and those

265

:

things are really unpredictable like you

can't help it if you were hit by a car

266

:

one day or something to that effect um

and so the whole us and them mentality

267

:

I think is incorrect to begin with and

the fact of the matter is, , we are all

268

:

very close to homelessness and so many

of us have companion animals whom we love

269

:

and so putting yourself in the shoes of

somebody experiencing homelessness with

270

:

their companion animal like that could

very easily be you or someone you know.

271

:

DrG: I saw on the on your website that

about a discussion of a book called

272

:

My Dog Always Eats First and I think

that that's great because I have met

273

:

people that literally live by that.

274

:

, that they will feed their dogs,

feed their cats, feed their

275

:

animals before they eat themselves.

276

:

Sometimes they'll have to go to food

banks to take care of themselves,

277

:

sometimes they'll just have like ramen

or cereal or something just to make

278

:

sure that the animals are taken care of.

279

:

And that's something that, a lot of

people that are in better situations.

280

:

I don't know that they would consider

doing that, you know, like just

281

:

having their having their animal eat

first before before they do, but in

282

:

in the whole thing about judgment

is I even in what what I do, right?

283

:

My primary job is spaying and neutering.

284

:

Why?

285

:

Because I want to decrease the intake

of animals to shelters because I don't

286

:

think that the shelter overcrowding right?

287

:

Is the problem is the result of a problem.

288

:

The problem is the

increased number of animals.

289

:

So I think that, you know, with every

problem, there's there's always a

290

:

source and kind of with homelessness.

291

:

People are thinking of the homelessness

and the homeless person as the

292

:

problem, but that's not the problem.

293

:

That's the result of the problem,

whether it be, you know, a loss of

294

:

a job or, uh, you said mental health

disease or addiction, different problems.

295

:

That's the actual problem.

296

:

And then the homelessness is

the unfortunate result of it.

297

:

Christine Kim: Yes.

298

:

Um, completely.

299

:

I think what's also very important

for people to realize is that, um,

300

:

and there's a huge proportion of

people experiencing homelessness that

301

:

are made up of women and Children.

302

:

And the number one cause of

homelessness among women and

303

:

Children is domestic violence.

304

:

Um, so it's not that somebody has

some sort of moral failing and they

305

:

didn't manage to work hard enough

or save enough money or they were

306

:

irresponsible with their funds.

307

:

Like it's, um, it's a real social

problem that goes much that, you

308

:

know, where the moral failing kind

of mentality is just incorrect.

309

:

We also know that

housing and homelessness.

310

:

Like, the, the real underlying

issue is, beyond domestic violence,

311

:

is the lack of affordable housing.

312

:

There's just really not enough affordable

housing in order to curb homelessness.

313

:

And so we actually know

what the solution is.

314

:

It's affordable, supportive housing.

315

:

And it, it's kind of mind blowing to

say that there is such a clear solution

316

:

for what seems like a complex problem.

317

:

Um, but that is actually the case.

318

:

Like we, we know, you know, scholars

know and understand what the problem

319

:

is and that there, and there are

large scale models that show that if a

320

:

community invests in affordable housing

and actually housing their homeless

321

:

folks, like homelessness goes away.

322

:

DrG: Now, do you see a lot

of homeless people that resist

323

:

being moved into, into housing?

324

:

Like, are there people that just

prefer to just be in the streets?

325

:

Christine Kim: Um, it's a

tricky question to answer.

326

:

So that so yes, the answer to that is yes.

327

:

And that's because there are barriers to

housing and also significant trust that

328

:

needs to be built up in communities.

329

:

And, um, You know, in communities

that have suffered a lot of trauma and

330

:

are and people who are experiencing

homelessness because of systems that have,

331

:

um, that they feel have betrayed them.

332

:

so to address the barrier question,

you know, um, one of those barriers

333

:

is that no pets allowed rule.

334

:

And so.

335

:

Particularly out in California and some

of the West Coast states, you know,

336

:

there are 3 barriers that have been

identified, , that really stop people

337

:

from accessing emergency shelter or

other types of programs that would,

338

:

, successfully end their homelessness.

339

:

And those are partners,

possessions and pets.

340

:

So really, among the three top

barriers, pets is one of the big ones.

341

:

Um, so partners is, you know, that that

one sort of self explanatory, right?

342

:

Like, if a system is made for single

adults to serve single adults, but

343

:

somebody has a partner, even if they're

not married, um, they still don't

344

:

want to be separated from who they

perceive to be their family member.

345

:

It's their chosen family,

much like pets, right?

346

:

And so, um, the system needs to

accommodate that and figure out

347

:

how to serve those people together

or that family unit together.

348

:

The possessions issue, like, if they're

only allowed, you know, One bag of stuff.

349

:

, and they've been accustomed to carrying

around everything that they own, and

350

:

they don't want to leave their, you know,

even if the service provider perceives

351

:

it to be like dirty garbage, like they

don't want to leave that stuff out on

352

:

the streets, because that's all they own,

353

:

.

If that's all that is standing between a person and a safe place to sleep or

354

:

their own home, , take their stuff with

them, you know, like, just take their

355

:

stuff and learn how to deal with it.

356

:

And then, of course, there's the pets

issue, like, if all that's standing

357

:

between somebody and a place of their

own is their pet, like, Take their pet,

358

:

you know, like when you, when you boil

it down and you can really identify what

359

:

the big barriers are , it becomes much

clearer what we need to do to remove

360

:

those, um, those extraneous rules to

really end someone's homelessness.

361

:

DrG: And I, I get really annoyed

when people are like, well, I don't

362

:

want pets, like landlords say, I

don't want pets because they're going

363

:

to destroy the place or whatever.

364

:

And I think that children are more

destructive, even people in general, are

365

:

more destructive than animals even are.

366

:

Like, it's rare that you're going

to see animals that are just tearing

367

:

the place just to tear the place up.

368

:

So I think that there's a huge

misconception with landlords about

369

:

the reasons why they won't accept

pets or the ones that accept pets that

370

:

choose to have only certain breeds or

only small dogs and not large dogs.

371

:

I, I moved into an

apartment several years ago.

372

:

And I had this large Great

Dane, who's a couch potato.

373

:

And the landlord was like,

no, Great Danes are dangerous.

374

:

I was like, are you kidding me?

375

:

First, no, they're not.

376

:

But second, you've never met my dog.

377

:

My dog is not an aggressive dog.

378

:

My dog is a blood donor.

379

:

My dog loves everybody.

380

:

And they were like, no, it's not.

381

:

It's not acceptable because it's a big

dog and we perceive it as a danger.

382

:

So, I mean, it's very.

383

:

Breedist of some of these landlords,

uh, and I don't know, they're, they're

384

:

barriers made for no, no solid reason.

385

:

Christine Kim: Yeah, I agree.

386

:

And that's why my dog is my home really

loves to showcase examples of programs,

387

:

either whether they be emergency

shelters or housing, permanent housing

388

:

developments that , um, that exist to

serve people experiencing homelessness.

389

:

Like, what are the programs that

are actually inclusive of pets?

390

:

Like all different kinds without

the weight restriction or the breed

391

:

restriction and how's it going for

them and there are model programs

392

:

that have been doing this for a

really long time, like a decade

393

:

or longer, and they don't have.

394

:

The problems that, like, the landlords

are making up in their brains about,

395

:

like, every dog attacking every child

and, you know, like, their, their unit

396

:

being in shambles and things like that,

um, and so it's really important work

397

:

for us to be able to, , shine a light

on the programs that have taken the

398

:

risk, the step forward and the risk,

honestly, and then to show that, you

399

:

know, it's not going to end soon.

400

:

The, the world is not going to end if you

start allowing dogs into your program.

401

:

And in fact, it can really enrich the

services that you provide because now

402

:

you're providing the safe place for

a person and their animal and it is

403

:

trauma informed because you're taking

into account like that they need that

404

:

animal to cope with their trauma.

405

:

, But also I wanted to touch on

something that you said in that like.

406

:

It's breedist really for landlords and

housing developers to have rules around

407

:

like we will accept, you know, small

dogs under 35 pounds, but we won't accept

408

:

this like a gentle giant of a great Dane

that just sits on the couch all day.

409

:

Um, there, there is this growing

discussion in animal welfare and

410

:

specifically in the pet inclusive

housing movement, drawing that

411

:

connection between breed restrictions

and racism and, you know.

412

:

What what that connection is and what

it boils down to, like, when you strip

413

:

away all the academic language and the

jargon, um, and all the statistics and

414

:

numbers, which is all very important.

415

:

Of course, like, I value the academic

discussion, but what it really comes

416

:

down to is that, low income people of

color with certain types of large dogs.

417

:

Just cannot find places to

live, and that is racism.

418

:

DrG: Yeah, no, absolutely.

419

:

I mean, again, it's like we, we're

taking groups, whether it be groups of

420

:

people or groups of animals, and we're

just judging them as a group instead

421

:

of judging as individuals, which we

all should be judged as individuals.

422

:

So, , when did My Dog is My Home get

started, um, and where did you start from?

423

:

Christine Kim: Yeah, we just celebrated

our 10 year anniversary, or I should say

424

:

we We kicked off our 10 year anniversary

celebration, um, because it was at this

425

:

time in 2013, , that our My Dog is My Home

storytelling exhibit launched out of, , a

426

:

small museum in Los Angeles called the

National Museum of Animals and Society.

427

:

And that was the beginning of my dog is

my home really the storytelling exhibit.

428

:

, and then in 2016, we incorporated

as a nonprofit in New York City.

429

:

And so we have 2 flagship locations.

430

:

We started in Los Angeles with our

storytelling, and then we incorporated

431

:

as a nonprofit in New York City.

432

:

And that's.

433

:

Those are still the two places where

we have the most presence and, um,

434

:

the two places where we are digging

our heels in the hardest because

435

:

those are also the two places that

have the largest homeless population.

436

:

And so we think that if we can transform

or see progress in these two systems,

437

:

which we are, then these are model

places for the rest of the country.

438

:

DrG: California and New York.

439

:

Are you still only in those places or

have you spread out to other locations?

440

:

Christine Kim: We work

wherever we, we are invited.

441

:

So we're national in scope.

442

:

Um, we have projects in various

locations and have worked in various

443

:

locations across the United States.

444

:

, and so where we actually

met, um, we, we love Ohio.

445

:

Um, we recently had an open house in

Cincinnati, Ohio, and we also spent some

446

:

time, um, In Toledo several years ago,

working closely with Dr Janet Hoyt Gerlock

447

:

and the University of Toledo, . And it's

sort of by invitation, if there is a

448

:

community that is not Los Angeles or New

York City that shows that there's some

449

:

readiness to explore this issue, , and

there's somebody there who's really

450

:

interested in having us come and talk with

them or to work with them on a project.

451

:

We will go there.

452

:

Absolutely.

453

:

Like, we think it's important to

show that, pet friendly policies and

454

:

homeless services works in many different

communities and at many different scales

455

:

and it's also really, really, it can be

customized based on what that community

456

:

needs because no two communities are

alike and they have different needs.

457

:

, and so we are very adaptable and we

travel to wherever we are invited to work.

458

:

DrG: I love it sounds

like cultural competence.

459

:

I love that.

460

:

I love the term cultural competence I

use it whenever I can, because I think

461

:

that people miss on the fact that you

have to be aware of the needs of every

462

:

individual location and community

that you're going to so that you can

463

:

properly address their needs, right?

464

:

Not be like, I'm here and I'm going

to help you with what I think you

465

:

need more, you tell me what you need.

466

:

And then here are the resources.

467

:

Christine Kim: Right.

468

:

Yes.

469

:

Yeah, exactly.

470

:

And I think for the most part,

communities hate it when you're like,

471

:

well, this thing works in, you know,

over here and they're like, well,

472

:

that's great, but we're not over there.

473

:

DrG: And one of the things when you

know when we were talking with Garrett

474

:

about what found house does, which is

an amazing program, but they are kind

475

:

of like the boots on the ground, they're

actually dealing with the individuals

476

:

and they're providing the housing,

and then that's not what you guys do.

477

:

You guys do more of the support

of organizations like that.

478

:

So how would, how do you work

with these groups to provide them

479

:

the resources that they need?

480

:

Um, I, I believe that you call

it to build their capacity.

481

:

Christine Kim: Yeah, that's right.

482

:

I'm really glad you brought that up

because there's always some confusion

483

:

around, , the work of My Dog is My

Home, and even though it seems pretty

484

:

straightforward when we say, like, we

exist to increase access to shelter

485

:

and housing for people experiencing

homelessness with pets, so then we always

486

:

have to further, further elaborate that

we are not The direct service providers,

487

:

we are not directly operating the

shelter or the housing program for the

488

:

people, , and having it be pet friendly.

489

:

We are working to transform that system.

490

:

So we're working with the existing.

491

:

Providers of emergency shelter and

housing to transition them to or

492

:

to help them help support them in

adopting those pet friendly policies.

493

:

, so it's, it, it takes the shape of a lot

of different, in a lot of different ways.

494

:

, so one thing is just

plain and pure education.

495

:

, just letting them know that.

496

:

There are pet friendly programs that exist

already and that have been doing this

497

:

for a long time, goes a really long way.

498

:

, you'd be surprised at how many programs

just think it's absolutely impossible.

499

:

And then when they find out that

there are programs that have been

500

:

doing this, they're like, Oh, okay,

so it's not impossible, that's great.

501

:

Um, and then being able to

share, um, we're not at a point.

502

:

Right now where we can say we have

best practices in co sheltering

503

:

people and animals together because

there just isn't enough like program

504

:

evaluation and research, but there

are these like emerging and promising

505

:

practices and we can share with them

what those are and, um, even put

506

:

them in touch with the providers that

have been doing it for a long time.

507

:

Um, kind of.

508

:

Give them the national view of what

we've seen in different places or in

509

:

different programs so that they can

pick and choose what works for them.

510

:

Um, so that's on the education side.

511

:

There's another piece of it.

512

:

That is about plugging

them into the network.

513

:

Um, so, and of course, all of these types

of programs overlap with each other.

514

:

You know, they're never a clear

cleanly in their own silos.

515

:

But we hold these we hold these

events called open houses.

516

:

, and that's really about showcasing a

model and then bringing the community

517

:

together to learn from that host site.

518

:

So, for example, in Cincinnati, we

partnered with a really wonderful

519

:

nonprofit called found house, and

they operate a day shelter and, um,

520

:

a brand new permanent , supportive

housing site that houses about I'm

521

:

going to say about 30 families or so.

522

:

, and both their day shelter and

their permanent supportive housing,

523

:

, building is completely pet inclusive.

524

:

And so what we did with found house.

525

:

was, , we, we opened up their facility

and we invited other providers of

526

:

shelter and permanent housing that are

in that local area to come in and like

527

:

learn from their model and, and be like,

Hey, like, not only is it possible,

528

:

but like you can see day to day how

it operates and you can learn from the

529

:

people who operate it day to day, like

what it actually takes and what the

530

:

real challenges are versus like the.

531

:

The fake ones that are made up in people's

minds, you know, um, and then with that

532

:

network, you know, people are able to

share with each other what's going on.

533

:

Like, are they, are they

implementing co sheltering?

534

:

Are they taking the next steps?

535

:

What problems are they running into?

536

:

, Also, another nice thing about

that network is that we're bringing

537

:

together sort of the animal folks

and the human services folks and

538

:

that partnership is really necessary

for co sheltering to be successful.

539

:

, so that.

540

:

That network and those partnerships

kind of form organically when we bring

541

:

those those partners together or those

organizations together at our open houses.

542

:

So there's the network piece.

543

:

And then there's the more like nitty

gritty technical assistance piece.

544

:

And that's where we provide that.

545

:

That one to one support more, more

intensively to a single organization.

546

:

So if the education piece, if the network

piece, , if those things are not enough

547

:

for a program to feel like they are ready

to take the next step, my dog is my home.

548

:

can be there to support them

more intensively through

549

:

like customized training.

550

:

We can even weigh in on a policy

that they're trying to develop.

551

:

We can also try to, , help build out

their, their resource library so that

552

:

in the event that an animal comes in

and does need a veterinary checkup or

553

:

a rabies, you know, shot or something,

um, we can identify like, oh, this

554

:

partner would be good for that.

555

:

Like let's, let's build that

relationship and have you two connect.

556

:

Um, so those are.

557

:

Some of the ways in which my

dog is my home builds capacity.

558

:

DrG: A few weeks ago.

559

:

I, I spoke with Dr.

560

:

Michael Blackwell and we were talking

about the importance of one health

561

:

and we were discussing about the, the

importance of the veterinarian and being

562

:

part of family practice medicine, right?

563

:

So you have the pediatrician,

you have the, family doctor for

564

:

the adults, and then you have the

veterinarian for the animals because

565

:

everybody is part of a family.

566

:

And I really like that that approach.

567

:

And he was saying that the the problem

is that there is a need for systems

568

:

that we are lacking systems and

that we need to find these systems.

569

:

And I saw that that's part of

what you are proposing as well

570

:

is just developing systems.

571

:

So what what systems do you feel

that we are lacking and, and that

572

:

we are we need to be moving towards?

573

:

Christine Kim: Yeah, I mean much like Dr.

574

:

Blackwell, I think housing is

very much applicable to that One

575

:

Health model or like we can think

of it in the same One Health way.

576

:

I know for.

577

:

For public health folks, or maybe I'm

painting to with a too broad of a brush,

578

:

but like I hear people talk about one

health a lot in terms of like large

579

:

scale, you know, like like zoonotic

diseases and things that travel between

580

:

people and animals in the environment.

581

:

And I think if you apply it on

like a really micro scale to the

582

:

individual, um, this fits very much

within the One Health framework.

583

:

So we're talking about an individual

person and their animal and the home that

584

:

they live in or like the lack of a home.

585

:

Um, so still, it's still, you

know, Person's health, animal

586

:

health, environmental health,

person, animal, environment.

587

:

Um, and that system very

much needs to change.

588

:

So I'm talking about the

homeless services system.

589

:

And encouraging that system to understand

animals as a part of the family unit.

590

:

, and that people and animals

need to stay together.

591

:

Um, and if we're talking about person

centered, holistic services that

592

:

are trauma informed, like A hundred

percent, they should be thinking about

593

:

animals as a part of that system.

594

:

DrG: Yeah, he mentioned about if a

social worker is not thinking about

595

:

the animal part of that family,

they're not doing their job, right?

596

:

Like, basically, you know, you're, you're

trying to help this family with whatever

597

:

issues they have, but you are neglecting

the, the animal part of the family.

598

:

Then, you know, that perhaps there's more

education needed in the, , in the system

599

:

to be able to, to approach the,

the true entire health needs of

600

:

the, of the family as a unit.

601

:

Christine Kim: Yeah, I agree.

602

:

I think, , there's much more education

now around animals, , animals and

603

:

social work, broadly speaking.

604

:

, I think it has not been a part of

traditional social work education,

605

:

and now we're seeing, , Definitely a

broadening of that understanding, , but

606

:

still there are only a handful of

schools that really teach that or

607

:

even have like a couple of electives

that address animals and social work.

608

:

And so some of the big programs are like

the University of Tennessee, where Dr.

609

:

Blackwell is, of course, right?

610

:

So the University of Tennessee's

veterinary social work program is amazing.

611

:

Um, University of Denver's School of

Social Work, their, their human animal

612

:

interaction program is also amazing.

613

:

And then there are a couple of other

places that really have taken up

614

:

that, that mantle and run with it.

615

:

Um, and it's a very exciting time to

be a social worker that is interested

616

:

in also like seeing animals as a part

of that system, because there's more

617

:

education than ever before about,

you know, that human animal bond.

618

:

DrG: And there's so much room to grow.

619

:

And it like, it's almost like.

620

:

Sky's the limit right now because there,

there's so much, so many opportunities.

621

:

I work with a lot of rural communities.

622

:

, and I do work with some groups

that primarily help homeless

623

:

people or, , individuals that

are, , house insecure and it's.

624

:

You know, I look at them with, yes,

we're bringing you spay and neuter

625

:

services, or we're bringing you, you

know, a rabies vaccine or whatever,

626

:

but in the grand scheme of things, am

I helping you, like, yes, I'm helping

627

:

you not have more puppies, but you're

still going to have issues feeding your

628

:

pet or treating your pet for fleas,

which your pet has fleas, you have

629

:

fleas, you know, like that zoonotic

component and, and just the, um, Yeah.

630

:

The concern of people with an injured

sick animal that then that's going

631

:

to cause depression and anxiety.

632

:

And we have to start thinking even

people that don't like animals.

633

:

They need to understand the importance

of the animals for that person.

634

:

So you may not like dogs and that's fine.

635

:

You don't have to have a dog,

but you need to understand the

636

:

relationship and how that helps.

637

:

Physical health.

638

:

I know that there was research recently

about how owning an animal decreases

639

:

the risk of heart disease, heart

attacks, diabetes, obesity, and then

640

:

from a mental health perspective.

641

:

It's so good for people that are isolated

from society, but yet they have an animal

642

:

to, to give them a reason to wake up, you

know, like a reason to get something done.

643

:

Perhaps that reason to get a job,

that reason to try to find something

644

:

as opposed to just giving up

because it's just for themselves.

645

:

Right.

646

:

You also work with advocacy work.

647

:

And I know that you are very

involved with the PUPPs Act.

648

:

So can you describe what the PUPPs Act is?

649

:

Christine Kim: Yes, the PUP Act is,

it's an acronym, it start, it stands

650

:

for Providing for Unhoused People

with Pets Act, so P U P P Act, , and

651

:

it was introduced for the second

time this summer, , June of:

652

:

Congress, Congressman Crow, , out

of Colorado and, , three other,

653

:

.

, members of, , of Congress, , Adam Schiff, Nancy Mace and Brian Fitzpatrick.

654

:

So when it was introduced, it was, uh, and

it still is, of course, a bipartisan bill.

655

:

, and what it does in essence is it creates

a 5 million dollar fund per fiscal

656

:

year from 2024 through 2028, , to be

administered by the USDA in consultation

657

:

with housing and urban development.

658

:

So on the federal level, this pool

of money would be available to,

659

:

um, providers of emergency shelter

and permanent supportive housing to

660

:

expand their animal accommodations.

661

:

So it's a fund that is supporting

homeless services programs, shelters

662

:

and housing, , to have, you know, animal

components to their program by either,

663

:

, acquiring or rehabbing or retrofitting

property for animal housing, , to pay

664

:

for the veterinary or training , , needs

for animals, , or to pay for the

665

:

training of staff and volunteers, , in

order for them to run these programs

666

:

that co shelter or co house people

experiencing homelessness with their pets.

667

:

And that would be.

668

:

a huge, like a huge development in

this movement to co shelter and co

669

:

house people and animals together.

670

:

It's modeled off of a really

successful program and legislation

671

:

in the state of California.

672

:

, it's called the pet assistance and

support program, or that's what it

673

:

turned into once the law was passed.

674

:

, and the pet assistance and support program

was, Very similarly, a fund that was,

675

:

, administered by the state's department

of, , housing and community development.

676

:

And it did the same thing, except

it was only for emergency shelters.

677

:

It paid for emergency shelters to be able

to have like this animal component to

678

:

their, to their homelessness programs,

to their emergency shelter programs.

679

:

And Over two cycles of funding, they

distributed the state distributed

680

:

15 million worth of funds to various

emergency shelters across the state in

681

:

order to remove that barrier that no pets

allowed barrier because now, you know,

682

:

we're pulling out of the stops here.

683

:

We need to remove this barrier.

684

:

We need to get people off the street.

685

:

And it was hugely successful.

686

:

There was there were way more

applicants for that money.

687

:

Then there was actually

money to go around.

688

:

So like clearly the homeless services

programs understood the value of this and

689

:

like wanted that because if their goal is

to end homelessness and to remove barriers

690

:

so that people can access their programs,

they're like, oh yeah, we, we need that.

691

:

Um, so now this is on the

federal level, not just for one

692

:

state, but on the federal level.

693

:

And we're really, really hopeful, , that

it passes because our strategy is

694

:

to , have this be a part of the farm

bill and the farm bill only comes up

695

:

every so many years for renegotiation.

696

:

, and so we are really trying to

seize the opportunity now, , to

697

:

have this pass, , and to have this

be a part of the farm bill package.

698

:

DrG: I think it's, it's cool that it's

bipartisan, because, , this is one

699

:

of those things, , animal welfare,

especially companion animal welfare,

700

:

seems to transcend political barriers.

701

:

So it doesn't matter which side you're on.

702

:

you may agree and disagree with, with

different things as far as ownership,

703

:

but in the end, everybody feels that

people's animals need to be taken care of.

704

:

Christine Kim: Yeah, I agree.

705

:

I, I know, um, people have a lot of

feelings about Congress right now,

706

:

it seems like a hot mess, but I think

there's still some hope to be had.

707

:

, I agree with you that companion animal

welfare is still one of those things

708

:

that, , people can reach across the aisle

and, like, agree to work on something.

709

:

DrG: So, one of the things that also

you mentioned on the, on your site

710

:

is that you guys do, like, research.

711

:

So, what kind of research do

you, uh, do you work with?

712

:

Christine Kim: Yeah, um, this was

something that was really important

713

:

to my dog is my home when we first

launched because we were always

714

:

getting asked, like, how big is this

problem really, you know, like, there

715

:

was a scope question, , because.

716

:

Like, we had to do a lot of convincing of

programs that this was a legitimate issue,

717

:

, and we didn't have a great answer for them

at that point, like, counting the number

718

:

of people experiencing homelessness,

period, is like a very difficult research

719

:

question, , and then understanding from

that, , Who among people experiencing

720

:

homelessness has a companion animal

is also like, that's very difficult.

721

:

, but among the existing tools that

we have to measure homelessness We

722

:

are advocating for those research

tools or those data collection tools

723

:

to include questions about animal

companions , and we've been successful

724

:

in a couple of different places.

725

:

There was a study that came out

a couple of years ago in Los

726

:

Angeles that, , used what, what is

known as the point in time count.

727

:

It's an annual count of people

experiencing homelessness and

728

:

every community has to do it.

729

:

That's a, that's a federally mandated

thing that every community has to do.

730

:

, so in Los Angeles, , if there's this,

, and in any community, but you know,

731

:

the study took place in Los Angeles.

732

:

If there's this annual count of people

experiencing homelessness already,

733

:

like, why not just add a question?

734

:

Like, do you have a pet, you know,

to that to that existing survey?

735

:

And so they did.

736

:

And, um, the results from

that are really interesting.

737

:

They took an average over three

years, , of asking that question.

738

:

And I think the average came out to about

12 percent of people experiencing street

739

:

homelessness did have a pet, , and.

740

:

And so it's not, it's also interesting

that it's like, not the huge numbers that

741

:

people are thinking, you know, so I think

one fear that programs have is that if

742

:

they start allowing clients to bring in

their dogs and cats and other companion

743

:

animals, like it's just going to be an

utter zoo in their complete chaos, right?

744

:

And it's like, no, you know, we're talking

about like 12 percent of people here.

745

:

It's not going to be.

746

:

What you think it is.

747

:

, and then there are also questions around.

748

:

So outside of counting and like

understanding how many people experiencing

749

:

homelessness have companion animals.

750

:

, we want to really dig into research

on What programs and policies and

751

:

standard operating procedures exist

and what works well, and, , what

752

:

is the impact or outcomes of those

programs and policies and SOP's?

753

:

Um, so there was some research that was

done, in partnership between My Dog

754

:

is My Home and the Animals in Society

Institute years ago that looked at four

755

:

different programs that are inclusive

of people and their animals in shelter.

756

:

And we looked at, you know, like, what are

the practices, and just documenting them.

757

:

That was really the goal of the research.

758

:

And then After having documented some

of those, practices and procedures,

759

:

we hope that we can do more of that,

but we also hope to go beyond that

760

:

where we can start evaluating those

programs and understand like what is

761

:

the impact and what's working well.

762

:

We just really want to push the

conversation to the point where

763

:

we have best practices that we can

promote, which we don't have right now.

764

:

DrG: Yeah, I like that because I'm a,

I'm a numbers nerd, like I love research.

765

:

And I think that it's really

important when you're starting to

766

:

know what your start point is and

then be able to, to demonstrate how

767

:

your program is changing things.

768

:

So that especially if you're

going to have people that are

769

:

going to be investing into it.

770

:

And, supporting they can see, okay,

this is where, where my grants are

771

:

going like this is how we are changing.

772

:

And then that also inspires other

locations to be able to do similar

773

:

things or, you know, they, they may

think they may be in a rut and feel

774

:

like there's nothing I can do about it.

775

:

And then they hear or they see the

research and they're like, Hey, maybe

776

:

there is something that we can do.

777

:

Christine Kim: Yep, exactly.

778

:

That's that's the goal.

779

:

DrG: I think that your program is amazing.

780

:

And I really appreciate you taking the

time to be here and tell us about it.

781

:

The story that started it

all is super inspiring.

782

:

And I'm hoping that if anybody is

listening that works in the human health

783

:

field, and is interested in this kind of

work, that they take the plunge and do

784

:

it because going to that open house and

seeing the people that live there, and

785

:

seeing how appreciative they are, and how

something so small changes their lives.

786

:

I mean, that's, that's it.

787

:

I mean, you can't, you can't get

more job, how you say, like, loving

788

:

what you do better than that.

789

:

Is there anything, anything that we

have forgotten to let people know or

790

:

anything else that you want to share?

791

:

Christine Kim: Yes, um, so My Dog is

My Home has an annual conference and

792

:

our next conference is March of 2024.

793

:

, we just released the dates.

794

:

Registration is not open yet, but

we do have to save the date out.

795

:

So please save the date for March

th of:

796

:

, the early bird registration is going

to open in December, but if you're

797

:

interested at all in this topic

and you want to learn more, , and

798

:

even if you are like a complete.

799

:

Newcomer to the topic, like we have

tons of content that reaches people

800

:

across the different experience

levels and also different roles.

801

:

, one of the things that we really pride

ourselves in is we just bring people

802

:

together no matter what profession they

are, , no matter what title they hold

803

:

at the organizations that they work at.

804

:

, this is something that

we can all get behind.

805

:

And it's super important that like we

have multidisciplinary partnerships.

806

:

, And so.

807

:

check it out.

808

:

We would love to see people

join us for the conference.

809

:

, and then also if you're a listener

in Ohio, we are going back to Ohio.

810

:

Um, sometimes summer of 2024.

811

:

So, um, earlier, I had mentioned that

we just had our 10 year anniversary

812

:

celebration kickoff in New York City, and

it's a it's a full year of celebration.

813

:

So we kicked off in New

York City will be in L.

814

:

A.

815

:

In February, but We'll be in Cincinnati

again in the summer of 24 doing

816

:

another open house and then our 10 year

anniversary celebration back to back.

817

:

So hopefully I get to meet some cool

listeners of yours that are based in Ohio.

818

:

DrG: Fantastic.

819

:

I'm looking forward to it.

820

:

I'll be there.

821

:

And that is a conference

online or is it in person?

822

:

Christine Kim: Oh, it's online.

823

:

The conference is online

and very accessible.

824

:

, and there are also tons of

scholarships available in case we,

825

:

you know, we just accessibility.

826

:

That's like a key concept

for my dog is my home.

827

:

, and so we don't want cost to

stand in the way of anyone

828

:

who's interested in learning.

829

:

, so scholarships, it's online.

830

:

And then also, you know, if you have a

reasonable accommodation request, we would

831

:

be happy to accommodate that as well.

832

:

DrG: So for any anybody that's

listening that is interested in

833

:

getting information about your program.

834

:

What's your website, and what's the

best way to, to learn more about how you

835

:

help, , groups get these things set up?

836

:

Christine Kim: Yeah,

well, our website is www.

837

:

mydogismyhome.

838

:

org.

839

:

And if you run a program, , in homeless

services or in animal welfare, and

840

:

you're interested in, like, exploring

taking the next step or supporting

841

:

a co sheltering program or anything

like that, , you can always reach

842

:

me at christine@mydogismyhome.org.

843

:

DrG: Fantastic.

844

:

Well, thank you so much for sharing your

story and sharing all this information.

845

:

And again, for the work that

you're doing, because it is so

846

:

important, , to just help our

community and the dogs that live in it.

847

:

So, um, so keep up the great work.

848

:

And thank you for being here

and I will see you next year.

849

:

And for everybody that is

listening, thank you for listening

850

:

and thank you for caring.

851

:

Christine Kim: Well, thank

you so much for having me.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for The Animal Welfare Junction

About the Podcast

The Animal Welfare Junction
Veterinary Forensics
The Animal Welfare Junction is a podcast developed to bring awareness to different topics in animal welfare. The host, Michelle Gonzalez (Dr. G) is a veterinarian who provides affordable veterinary care in the State of Ohio, and also a Forensic Veterinarian helping with the investigation and prosecution of cases of animal cruelty and neglect.
The topics presented are based on the experiences of Dr. G and our guests and include discussions about real cases, humane projects, and legal issues that affect animals and the community. Due to the nature of the discussion, listener discretion is advised as some topics may be too strong for some listeners.

About your host

Profile picture for Alba Gonzalez

Alba Gonzalez

Michelle González (DrG) was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Her passion growing up was to become a veterinarian. She obtained a B.S. in Zoology at Michigan State University and the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at The Ohio State University, followed by a 1-yr Internship in Medicine, Surgery, Emergency and Critical Care at the University of Missouri-Columbia. In 2006 she founded the Rascal Unit, a mobile clinic offering accesible and affordable sterilization, and wellness services throughout the State of Ohio.
Dr. G is involved in many aspects of companion veterinary medicine including education, shelter assistance and help to animals that are victims of cruelty and neglect.
DrG completed a Master’s degree in Veterinary Forensics from the University of Florida and a Master’s in Forensic Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University. She is currently enrolled at the University of Florida Forensic Science program. She assists Humane organizations and animal control officers in the investigation, evaluation, and prosecution of cases of animal cruelty and neglect.