Dear Supporters and Allies,


Throughout our communities and across the globe we are currently facing unprecedented levels of risk, fear, and disruption due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. As an organization whose mission it is to increase support and access to services for the most vulnerable in our communities, the disproportionate impact this virus has on elderly, unsheltered, and immunocompromised individuals is particularly worrisome.

We recognize it is not only our responsibility as healthy and sheltered individuals to protect our community through voluntary self-isolation and social distancing, but that as an organization we have a continued responsibility to shine light on the needs of individuals experiencing homeless during this time and the impact COVID-19 will have on our houseless neighbors.

For this population, COVID-19 is not just a scheduling inconvenience, but a life or death situation.

In light of the significant impact of this pandemic on our most vulnerable community members, we encourage homeless service providers to make plans to address the companion animals of clients who are experiencing health emergencies. Each day we are learning new ways of supporting each other and our communities during this crisis. While official guidance is limited, the Co-sheltering Collaborative is a free peer-to-peer network that can support shelters that are making plans to best serve clients with companion animals. We encourage you to send an email to collaborative@mydogismyhome.org to join.

Additionally, we stand in solidarity with individuals without paid sick-leave, individuals that work in the service industry, small business owners, healthcare workers, those without health insurance, social workers, shelter staff, and many more individuals and families that will suffer economically, socially, and physically during this time.

What has become abundantly clear in this crisis, is that our national support network is not equipped to deal with an event of this magnitude. In the weeks, months and years to come, we will need to prioritize an overhaul of this system in order to prevent another catastrophe.

Our communities are suffering and the road to recovery from this global event will no doubt be long and challenging. However, the outlook isn't totally bleak. There are great acts of solidarity, generosity, and compassion that are bringing waves of change and hope to our communities.

My Dog Is My Home hopes that in addition to these great acts of self-sacrifice and community solidarity, this crisis will also be the catalyst to transform our understanding of how interdependent we are to each other, other non-human animal species and the environment.

We are all connected and now, more than ever, we must fully grasp what it means to live in community with one another.

We have included some links to resources and opportunities to support one another during this time. Please continue to share information and messages of solidarity with one another in the comments.

We hope you are staying safe, taking precautions and looking out for the most vulnerable members of your community.

In solidarity,

The My Dog Is My Home Team