Program seeks care for beloved animals of Cape homeless

By Jessica Hill

Published Jan 3, 2021 

When someone is evicted from their home, they are faced with tough decisions — where do I go? Where do I sleep? And if they have a pet, what do they do with them? 

Because many homeless shelters do not allow animals, pet owners who are homeless or face homelessness would rather sleep outside or in their cars rather than lose their pets to an animal shelter. 

Romy Maimon, 52, of Dennis, who works in Hyannis at the Housing Assistance Corporation, came up with the Emergency Pet Care Program, a project that would provide a network of care for the pets of people in the shelter system or facing homelessness.

Maimon said the HAC does so much to help the homeless, but the care of their pets has not been addressed  Many of the agency's clients who have pets must make quick decisions about their living situations. 

“Unfortunately, here on the Cape there are no alternatives for them to be able to know that their pets are being taken care of while they’re in a transitional home or a shelter,” Maimon said. 

There are 336 homeless people on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, according to the Cape and Islands Regional Network on Homelessness, and many of them choose to stay in terrible situations so they don't have to abandon their pets, Maimon said.

Maimon, an animal lover who grew up rescuing strays in Woods Hole and has a background in veterinary work, gets calls to help find these pets places to stay, and said she could never find anything in a moment’s notice. 

Many homeless shelters do not allow pets, she said, and the ones that do require a long vetting process that can take weeks. If someone is being evicted at 8 p.m, is distraught and does not want to leave their pet, Maimon said, there is nothing for them. 

The Emergency Pet Care Program, which Maimon made public last week, would connect caseworkers in organizations like the Housing Assistance Corporation to a network of local people willing to care for pets while their owners are in shelters or transitional housing.

Maimon is looking to partner with anyone willing to temporarily foster the pets; veterinarians willing to examine and treat them; trainers who could work on any behavioral issues; and people to transport the pets to where they need to go.

Maimon, who came up with the idea about 10 months ago, initially envisioned the program as a nonprofit organization but realized the legal and liability issues would be too much for her. For now, Maimon is working by herself, taking out money from her savings to pay for any upfront costs. She hopes to find a sponsor. 

Anybody interested in partnering with her on the project can contact her at eviealo.com, which serves as a resource for animal lovers and pets in need. Those interested also would need to submit a partner agreement. 

Once accepted, partner information would be added to a private databasecaseworkers could access. If, for example, a caseworker with the HAC has a client in need of the service, they would access the database and find someone who is available, Maimon said.  

“I’d really like to be able to help the pets emotionally, physically, medically while their owners are being taken care of,” Maimon said. “Once they can be returned to their owners in an optimal situation, I’d be able to work with them to make sure it stays a good situation. It’s a very big picture, systemic approach.” 

Some homeless people will put everything they have into caring for their pets, Maimon said, even if it means skipping their own meals to make sure their pets are fed. Others might struggle with other emotional, mental or financial issues that inhibit them from taking care of their pets, she said. Some of the animals are in bad shape but some are not. The program will operate on a case-by-case basis and will help the pet get what it needs, she said.  

“It’s not just a black and white issue,” Maimon said. “I’ve worked in the shelter system and the rescue system long enough, and the answer is literally not just taking the animals away and throwing them in a shelter.” 

A similar program also exists offering temporary foster care for pets of people who are housing insecure. The Animal Rescue League of Boston, which has a shelter in Brewster, established a temporary housing initiative after the state's eviction moratorium expired in October, said Mike DeFina, the organization's communications and media relations officer.

Anybody experiencing housing instability can reach out to one of the Animal Rescue League's shelters in Brewster, Boston or Dedham, and apply to put their pet in temporary housing, DeFina said. Eligible pets are subject to a quick veterinary exam and behavioral assessment before being placed into the league’s foster program. Foster families agree to take care of the pet for up to 120 days and maintain continuous communication with the Animal Rescue League, DeFina said.

“[Pet owners] don’t have to worry or make difficult decisions on whether limited resources are spent,” DeFina said, “and they know their animal is being taken care of, is given love and is happy, and at the end when it’s figured out they’ll be reunited.”

When the pandemic hit, the Animal Rescue League of Boston was worried it would see an increase in animals being surrendered due to financial difficulties brought on by COVID-19, DeFina said. So far that has not been the case, as no one has taken advantage of the program. That could change as the pandemic continues, he said.

The Animal Rescue League’s foster network has grown significantly since suspending its adoption services six months ago,. DeFina said. There has been a lot of interest from people wanting to help out and care for the animals, he said.

For people who are homeless or face homelessness, a pet can make a huge difference to their mental well-being. 

Lisa Perkins, a therapist and clinical social worker with Duffy Health Center in Hyannis, which provides health care and support to people facing homelessness, said animals play an important role in her clients' lives. They can help people open up, and for those who suffer from depression, can be the reason they stay alive. 

“It's amazing to see these people that have experienced so many struggles in their life, and yet when it comes to talking about that animal their faces light up,” Perkins said. 

Many homeless people do not meet the common preconceptions, she said. They are trying to better themselves, looking for work while caring for a pet they don't want to lose. 

Many go to job interviews and speak with landlords about housing. Figuring out what to do with a pet can be difficult; they don't want to leave their pet with a person they don't trust, Perkins said. 

For someone at risk of losing their home, having to go to a shelter and give up a pet can be devastating, she said. 

“Animals in people’s lives — it’s life-saving,” Perkins said. “And it’s so important that we not only support the person, but their pets as well."