My Dog Is My Home

Share Stories. Share Data. Change Systems. Change Lives.

The struggle to give people experiencing homelessness and their animals a safe place to lay their heads at night together is at the core of our work. But in order to have a full and fruitful dialogue on co-sheltering, we must first establish our baseline position that neither the size of your paycheck nor the place that you live determines your ability to love and care for an animal. Above all else, companion animals need devotion.

Since many establishments that offer social services do not allow animals on site, individuals experiencing homelessness with animals are willing to risk their ability to access shelter, housing, soup kitchens, or any other formal social service that is inside of a building. Brigitte, a formerly homeless spokesperson for My Dog is My Home, sums up her perspective on accessing services with her dog Nubeian--"If Nubeian can't go, I can't go. It's just that simple."

Before you move through the rest of the website, watch this short video about Brigitte and Nubeian to learn about their special relationship and some of the common challenges faced by homeless human-animal families. 

All film and photography on this website have been taken from the My Dog Is My Home exhibition--a joint program of My Dog is My Home, Inc. and The Animal Museum.