Hope Mission offers shelter space for vulnerable Edmontonians and their pets

For some Edmontonians experiencing homelessness, it can be an impossible decision: seek shelter or stay with their pet.

One Edmonton shelter is making sure they don’t have to choose.

The Hope Mission on the city’s west end has 20 beds and kennel space.

“I came to Hope Mission with the rescue team. I was found underneath a whole bunch of snow, in a tent. If it wasn’t for my dog wagging her tail, I wouldn’t have been found,” recounted Hope Mission client Shannon Kilgour.

Kilgour ended up living rough after leaving an abusive relationship, taking her dog Luna with her. Together for two years, Kilgour says Luna saved her from dying outside last November.

“She was laying on top of me to keep me warm, sort of wagging her tail,” Kilgour said.

When first responders found Kilgour, she was scared she would have to give up her beloved pet.

“I ended up starting to cry when they put me into a cop car, and was like, ‘OK, I don’t want to lose my dog.’ And they said, ‘you’re not going to lose your dog, your dog is going to be right with you all the time.’ And they ended up bringing me here and I was holding on to Luna all the way.”

Kilgour was brought to Hope Mission’s CarePoint Wellness Centre. The shelter opened 20 beds and kennels last spring for vulnerable Edmontonians and their pets – the first of its kind in Alberta’s capital.

Staff at the Hope Mission tell CityNews being forced to surrender or abandon a pet when choosing shelter is something that keeps homeless Edmontonians from trying to get off the streets.

“Pets can be a barrier to shelter and housing for people,” said Hope Mission’s Brenton Driedger.

Driedger says through the Hope Mission’s work with the provincial navigation centre — a program and shelter space which supports Edmontonians leaving encampments – they found out there is a need for space for people and their pets.

“At Hope Mission we’re really trying to be low barrier in our shelters,” Driedger said. “So for people who are heavily intoxicated, couples, people with pets — those can all sometimes be barriers — so we have shelters that cater to each of those needs and reduce those barriers.”

The province also touted the success of the program, telling CityNews in statement it put $450,000 towards the program in Edmonton.

The government adds provincial navigation centres in Edmonton and Calgary are working to shelter people’s pets while they seek housing.

But more than that, for Kilgour, it means she remains united with her companion she calls her therapy dog. And Luna is helping to welcome newcomers.

“Due my past with all the abuse and everything, every time I start shaking, she’ll come up and rest her body against my legs, kind of like she’s giving me a hug,” Kilgour said.

“She’s a lot happier, it gives her more social skills. And I’m actually using her as more animals are coming in, to go a greet the animals and make sure they’re going to be non-aggressive around other animals.”