For many, bringing a pet indoors is a routine part of coming home. For a person experiencing homelessness in Canada, that same animal can be a single factor that determines whether they sleep in a bed or a park bench. This decision is not a small detail, but can be considered a great hurdle and systemic wall. 

While pets offer comfort to many individuals, for those in unstable conditions, they provide a vital sense of agency and routine. Feeding schedules and walks create a framework of normalcy in an otherwise chaotic environment. 

“For people experiencing homelessness, pets provide a sense of responsibility and a reason to live... they can be sources of pride and motivation” (Kerman et al., 2020, as cited in BC SPCA, 2026).

Other  research reinforces this same idea, linking companion animals to significantly improved emotional well-being and a greater sense of purpose. The bond can be so strong that the pet is viewed as a non-negotiable family member, not an accessory (Cleary et al., 2021).

The Impossible Choice

Despite the clear benefits, a staggering gap exists between need and availability. In cities across Canada, the majority of emergency shelters remain “no-pet” zones.

• The Data: A 2026 report from the Winnipeg Humane Society found that while over 60% of Canadian households own pets, only 20% to 40% of rental housing and emergency shelters accept them. 
• The Consequences: This creates a structural trap. If a shelter does not allow animals, an individual must choose between their safety and their only source of emotional support. During Canada’s brutal winters, this decision can be life-threatening (Labrecque & Walsh, 2011). 

Low-Barrier Solutions

Some Canadian organizations are leading the way by recognizing that animal welfare and human welfare are inextricably linked. In Toronto, a few pioneers have proven that pet-friendly models work like: 

1. The Fred Bethlehem United Shelter, a rare example of a truly inclusive space that maintains 60 beds for men, women, and their pets
2. North York Women’s Shelter, the city’s first pet-friendly gender-based violence shelter, featuring an on-site kennel so survivors don’t have to leave pets behind with abusers.

Why Policy Must Pivot

Operational concerns like allergy and space are real, but they should not be deal-breakers. Homeless Hub notes that if even 10% of all shelter beds were made pet-friendly, it would align with the estimated rate of pet ownership among the homeless population and drastically reduce the number of people remaining unsheltered (Homeless Hub, 2021).

Access to a warm bed should not require surrendering your only friend. By shifting toward pet-inclusive policies, we are expanding the care for animals, and removing the most significant barriers to human recovery and dignity. 

Overall, this issue shows how smaller policy details can influence access. In this case, whether someone enters a shelter may depend not only on availability, but on whether there is room for what they bring with them.

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References
Cleary, M., West, S., Visentin, D., & Phipps, M. (2021). The relationship between companion animals and recovery in homelessness. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31456130/

Labrecque, J., & Walsh, C. A. (2011). Homeless women’s voices on incorporating companion animals into service provision. (PMCID: PMC4194276) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4194276/

BC SPCA. (2026). Pet-Friendly Housing Toolkit | Research Summary. https://spca.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/PFH-Toolkit-Research-Summary.pdf

Toronto Humane Society. (2023, October 4). The City of Toronto is in Crisis: Pets and Their Families are Being Torn Apart. https://www.torontohumanesociety.com/

Homeless Hub. (2020). What Can Be Done to Better Support People Experiencing Homelessness with Pets? https://homelesshub.ca/blog/

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