“Sleepbus” Gives Homeless Humans And Pets a Place To Sleep

by Christina Peden

Published: June 29th, 2016

sleepbus gives homeless humans and pets a place to sleep

A revolutionary idea out of Australia is helping give the homeless a safe space for themselves and their pets— and the good news is, you can help, too.

What would you do if you suddenly found yourself homeless, with no place to go? And what if, on top of that, you had pets?

Most homeless shelters don’t allow pets inside, placing their owners between a rock and a hard place. Have a safe, warm place to lay your head for the night, but leave your pets to fend for themselves? No way. For anyone who loves their pet, that isn’t truly an option at all.

Thankfully, one intrepid Australian entrepreneur is working to put an end to this terrible dilemma.

Simon Rowe was moved to action after encountering a homeless trying to sleep at a busy Melbourne intersection in May 2015. Like many others, he contemplated just passing the man by, but on this day, something compelled him to stop. After a short conversation, Rowe gave the man $20 and his face just lit up with gratefulness and joy. Rowe went home and cried.

Photo credit: Sydney Morning Herald

You see, more than 20 years earlier, Simon Rowe had been homeless himself, living out of his car for 4 months while he tried to save enough for first and last months’ rent. Since then, he has become a successful chef and entrepreneur, “living selfishly and not giving a second thought to those sleeping [on the streets].”

Rowe knew he couldn’t live selfishly any longer. Thus, the idea for the Sleepbus was born. Housed in a converted commuter bus, it contains 18-22 sleeping pods, two washrooms, space for an overnight caretaker and 8 pet kennels!

Each pod even has it’s own small television which advertises local homeless services, as well as charging stations for electronic devices and locking, roll-down pod doors for safety and privacy.

So while the Sleepbus is great for all homeless folks, it’s especially helpful to those who have pets. No longer will they have to make the heart wrenching decision to have a safe place to sleep at the expense of their pets’ wellbeing. Pets are family — this would be a horrible choice for anyone to make.

The Sleepbus is still a work in progress, but progress IS being made every day. Rowe is currently busy building the first bus for the charity’s pilot program. That’s also where you come in — the Sleepbus was originally launched as a GoFundMe campaign, and they are just about $10K shy of meeting their $120,000 goal.

Want to contribute? Check out their GoFundMe.

And on another great note — don’t be surprised if you see Sleepbuses popping up outside of Australia, too. Rowe has seen a massive surge of interest from charities in the US and the UK who want to build and launch their own Sleepbus programs as a result of his campaign.

As for us? We hope to see Sleepbuses rolling down the streets of cities across the world, providing a safe haven for both people and their pets. What a huge step in the right direction.

[Source: GoFundMe]

Christina Peden

Christina Peden is a lifelong animal lover and avid wordsmith. She lives in Toronto with her boyfriend Ryan where they are proud pet parents to puppy, Matilda and cat, Oscar. In her spare time, she can be found enjoying Toronto, Canada's all-too-short patio season, taking advantage of the city's numerous parks or curled up with a good book.

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Study: Your Dog’s Sweet Dreams Are Because of You!

A Harvard researcher recently confirmed the unconscious connection between dogs and their humans. It turns out that when your dog sleeps, he probably dreams of you! You know how your pup is laying there, all snuggly, and then all of a sudden looks like he’s running through a forest, happily yapping? We joke and whisper, “Go get ’em, Rover!” as we imagine that he’s chasing bunnies in his sleep. Clinical and Evolutionary Psychologist Dr. Deirdre Barrett of Harvard University recently shared that your dog is still thinking of you, not rabbits. Stating that dogs are typically attached to their human owners, it stands to reason that when dogs dream, they are probably dreaming of us… our faces, our smells and things that we’ve done with them throughout the day. Related: SleepBus Gives Homeless Humans and Pets a Place to Sleep Rapid Eye Movement (REM) is the trigger for dream sleep in humans–you know, when the eye starts moving around inside of sleeping, closed eyes. Dogs and cats experience the same thing. Dr. Barrett said that in dogs during REM sleep, they tend to move their legs like running or chasing a ball, or maybe fetching a stick. Cats, in contrast, also engage in this as well–very still during non-REM sleep, but when in REM sleep, they stalked, pounced and even arched their backs or hissed, as if they were hunting prey. Dream length and content tends to depend on dog size and experiences. Medium-sized dogs typically fall into their dream state about 20 minutes into their sleep, while smaller dogs will dream more frequently with shorter dreams. Coincidingly, larger dogs tend to have fewer dreams, but their dreams last longer. Related: 10 Best Beds For Dozy Dogs Because the average adult dog sleeps anywhere from 12-14 hours a day, a lot of their day is spent dreaming. Dr. Barrett says that if it seems your dog is having a bad dream, it’s possible that he or she is unhappy about something. In order to help the largest part of our dogs’ days be happy ones, we should work hard to ensure our dogs have lots of happy daytime experiences and to have safe and comfortable sleeping environments. So sounds like lots more play during the day and comfy accommodations at night are just what the doctor ordered for our pets to have sweet dreams. We think that’s a campaign we can all get behind! [Source: Daily Mail]

Scientists May Have Found a Better Way To Trim a Cat’s Nails

Trimming a cat’s nails is often a daunting affair for everyone involved. Most cats should have their nails trimmed every two to three weeks. Failing to do so leaves you and your furniture at the mercy of your kitty’s sharp claws.Specially designed to be smaller, cat nail clippers or scissors are commonly used to trim a cat’s nails, but they can be difficult to handle, especially if your cat doesn’t want to cooperate or is anxious. Additionally, there’s always a risk that you’ll end up scratched, bitten, and bleeding.This is where science can come in handy! Researchers from the University of California, Davis, are working with Sacramento SPCA to make nail trimming less stressful for cats and their owners. Jennifer Link, a Ph.D. student at the University of California, Davis, Animal Welfare Epi Lab, is working on a multistep protocol designed to desensitize the cats to handling and nail clipping. In mid-July, Link started to visit the Sacramento shelter five days a week for two hours to work on socializing rescued and surrendered cats to help them adjust to new people, situations, and environments. By the end of September, she had worked with more than 70 cats. “When people hear that I study cats, many ask if I can help them with nail trims,” said Link. According to Dan Marple, the animal welfare manager at the Sacramento Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, this research is vital to staff, donors, and volunteers because it can reduce the stress caused by nail trimming.“Any new protocols that increase the comfort and safe handling of the cats in our care will also improve their overall well-being and adoptability,” he added. Link’s research is promising because it incorporates cooperative care. This means that cats are allowed to decide how much they want to interact with the handler during the training process. Depending on their willingness to participate, the cats go through one of three scenarios with Link: a handling-only training protocol, a handling and nail-trimming protocol, or a control with no training and only a nail trim. Each interaction is recorded to be analyzed later. On the days when Link visits the shelter, the cats are removed from their cages and brought to a quiet room where Link is waiting, with a mat laid out before her. If a cat puts their front paws on the mat, they are given treats and cuddles. The idea is for cats to learn that Link interacts with them only when they put their paws on the mat. Once the cat leans this, Link proceeds with training protocols. Slowly, Link touches the cat’s legs, then the paws, and then the paws are gently squeezed. If the cat doesn’t resist, one nail is trimmed. The protocol builds on past steps and works up. When a cat goes through all the steps, they get a nail trim. If a cat doesn’t place their paws on the mat or rejects any step, Link stops the handling.“I think with cooperative care, it does seem to almost improve their trust in me,” Link explained. “They are more comfortable if we let them decide.”This research could make nail trimming at home much more comfortable for the cats and their owners. It can also decrease the number of visits to veterinary hospitals and clinics, where owners often seek help trimming their cats’ nails. The researchers still need to analyze the video sessions to finalize the protocol. And if the protocol is deemed helpful, they will share it with other shelters for more data.Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Plumber's Hilarious Cat Rescue Mishap Goes Viral

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Owner Who Never Lost Hope Reunites with a Missing Dog After 10 Years

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Does Your Dog Have What it Takes to Be a B.A.R.K. Ranger?

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Study Reveals the Most Expensive Locations for Pet-Friendly Airbnbs

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Adopter Visits a Dog Every Day for 2 Months to Earn the Pet's Trust

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Study Finds Link Between Having a Dog and Girls' Physical Activity

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Dogs are cute, no doubt about that, but most of them are not winning awards for their lovely BO – in fact, if we’re being honest, most pooches are a bit stinky. Of course, if you make sure to keep them clean with regular baths, grooming, and teeth brushing, you can eliminate or at least significantly reduce any unpleasant smell. But sometimes, even if you are very attentive about your dog’s hygiene, they can still smell a bit funky. Why does this happen? And what should you do in that case? Lastly, is there a way to prevent unpleasant body odors in your dog? Let’s try and answer all these stinky questions.Why Does My Dog Smell Bad?Are you catching a whiff of something foul whenever your dog enters the room? Are you struggling to keep them clean and smelling fresh? There could be a number of reasons why your pupper is stinky, and it is important to go over everything in order to properly address this issue. Firstly, you want to consider their hygiene. Lack of regular grooming and bathing can lead to a buildup of dirt, oils, and bacteria on a dog's skin and coat, resulting in a bad odor. Make sure you are giving your dog a regular wash or a bath, and that you are using  special shampoos that are safe for pets and smell nice.

What is the Best Dog Harness for Senior Dogs?

Final Thoughts – The Best Harness for Senior Dogs Many veterinarians and experts on the health and care of senior dogs will recommend using a harness. However, not all harnesses are created to meet the needs of every life stage. When selecting a harness for an older dog, there are unique factors to consider. This includes the weight and bulkiness of the harness, how easy it is to put it on/take it off, and the padding inside the harness for their comfort. Pay careful attention to ensure the design or fit doesn’t limit or impact movement. There are many great harness options on the market, including those made for regular wear and specialized lift support harnesses with convenient shoulder straps. If possible, visit your local pet store with your senior dog to check out your options firsthand. This will help you better assess the size needed and whether the design suits your dog’s unique needs. Most importantly, remember that there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. You may find that you are using two different harnesses with two senior dogs in your home. That’s okay! The goal is to find the option that supports all your dog’s needs and helps you give them the best possible quality of life. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

More Dogs Than Ever Euthanized as Shelters Hit Capacity

Each year millions of cats and dogs enter shelters and rescues nationwide. Almost a million more animals have entered and lingered in the nation’s shelters in the last three years, resulting in an ongoing capacity crisis. Last year, 3.2 million dogs entered shelters and rescue organizations nationwide. More than 359,000 dogs were euthanized in 2023, compared to 330,000 cats that were euthanized last year. This marks a four-year peak in non-live outcomes for dogs and the first time the number of dogs euthanized has surpassed the number of euthanized cats.  These heartbreaking findings were published in an annual report of shelter populations compiled by Shelter Animals Count, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization founded in 2012. “Everywhere you turn, the shelters are in crisis,” said the organization’s executive director Stephanie Filer. “It’s truly about an imbalance of animals coming in at faster rates than they’re leaving.”According to Filer, for years cats were considered most at risk because they entered shelters at high rates, but faced low adoption rates. However, focused efforts to reverse these trends are giving results, and the newest data shows a positive shift.“We have seen major positive change,” said Filer. “Adoption rates are high and intakes have decreased, and there are efforts to keep cats at home or in their communities.”Unfortunately, dog programs are suffering, with adoption rates significantly lower than in recent years. “Too many dogs are entering shelters and being left behind,” added Filer, according to USA Today. “Unlike cat adoptions, which continue to increase, dog adoptions have essentially flatlined.”When people think of animal shelters, most imagine scores of large-sized mixed breeds and pit bulls. But in reality, there are purebreds like huskies, French bulldogs, Labradors, and even designer dogs.The one thing no animal advocate thought possible happened - the rates of dog euthanasia surpassed the rates of cat euthanasia for the first time in a long time. “The real reason we’re saying, ‘Wow,’ is that it wasn’t that way for a lot of years. And now it is,” said Filer.More than 6.5 million cats and dogs ended up in U.S. shelters and rescues in 2023. While the number of intakes remained relatively steady, this was the fourth consecutive year of overpopulation. While more dogs were adopted in 2023 than in 2022, the adoption rates were insufficient to meet the demand.The high cost of living, job loss, and housing cost challenges are the main reasons adoption rates aren’t keeping up with animal intake. At the end of 2023, an additional 70,000 cats and 107,000 dogs are waiting for a forever home in one of the many shelters and rescues nationwide. “With more animals entering shelters than leaving, animal welfare organizations and their communities need to continue working together to keep pets in loving homes and out of shelters, including finding ways to increase access to veterinary care and advocating for pet-friendly housing policies,” said Matt Bershadker, president and the CEO of ASPCA.Experts agree that the promotion of shelter adoptions is the best way to solve the ongoing capacity crisis. Adopting an animal from a shelter saves a life, but it also supports the struggling shelters and their staff. Although adopting a cat or a dog from a shelter isn’t possible for everyone, there are other things you can do to help. Volunteering in your local shelter, fostering a pet, or donating are great ways to get involved and help alleviate the shelter crisis.Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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