The story of Scott and his dog Scout exemplifies why My Dog Is My Home is dedicated to preserving the human-animal bond during circumstances of homelessness and to ensuring that every family, regardless of its composition, has the right to shelter and housing. Scott’s journey with Scout began the moment the Labrador first opened his eyes and Scott said to him, “It’s you and me, buddy.” Scott would say these words to Scout every night and they became a promise that the two kept throughout their life together.
As Scott experienced homelessness for a second time, Scout served as the ultimate symbol of a light shining bright in the darkness. While Scott fought for his survival, Scout was his constant companion, helping him stay alive by reminding him that he was not alone, that he was loved, and that he mattered. Scott has many treasured memories of Scout from this time, including the sheer joy of watching Scout be his best agile Labrador self during backpacking trips and the quiet vulnerability of falling asleep together at the shelter.
Without Scout, Scott says he would not be here – he would not have recovered from addiction or homelessness, started working for the government, or begun speaking out for people and animals. Scout represented everything that home is meant to be – love, safety, security. Scott expresses, “Scout was a special, special boy. There are tens of thousands of Scouts out there that are offering people safety, security, and emotional stability, loving somebody unconditionally in the midst of trauma. That is what a perfect home would be - that we could feel safe and secure in the midst of life and all of its curveballs.” He concludes, “Keeping animals and people together is a way to begin and to maintain the healing process. People need to be able to stay with their light during their darkest hour.”