Bear’s Story Shows How Pet Foster Families Can Help End Homelessness

By Marisa Dawson, Photos courtesy of DCSO

A temporary foster placement for a beloved dog helped remove a major obstacle for a Douglas County woman working to secure stable housing, resulting in an emotional reunion later.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office announced that Bear, a foster dog who spent time in the care of deputies and Sheriff Aaron Hanson, has been reunited with his owner after she successfully connected with housing resources through the Stephen Center.

According to the sheriff’s office, Bear entered temporary foster care on July 10 while his owner, who has asked to remain anonymous, began working with outreach services aimed at helping her transition into long-term housing. During that time, Bear stayed with Deputy Kiddy, spent time around the sheriff’s office and even accompanied Hanson on a weekend family camping trip.

The effort was coordinated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office’s civilian Homelessness Services Coordinator, a position funded through a grant from the Lozier Foundation. The sheriff’s office worked alongside the Stephen Center, the Nebraska Humane Society and other community partners to ensure both Bear and his owner received the support they needed.

The woman has since moved into stable housing, where she was reunited with Bear over the weekend.

“Too often we encounter individuals living on the streets and their one barrier to improving their lives and obtaining support is not wanting to leave their pets,” said Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson. “Ending homelessness in our community is a collaborative effort and we all have a role that we can play, whether it is supporting shelters, offering resources, or fostering animals.”

Sheriff’s officials say Bear’s story highlights a challenge that outreach workers frequently encounter. For many people experiencing homelessness, the prospect of surrendering or abandoning a pet can prevent them from entering shelters or accepting services that could help them regain stability.

The Homelessness Services Coordinator is currently assisting another young woman who is seeking temporary foster placement for her two dogs so she can enter a shelter and begin working toward permanent housing.

The Nebraska Humane Society maintains a foster care program that supports situations like these by providing temporary homes for pets while their owners address housing or other life challenges. Community members interested in becoming foster volunteers are encouraged to contact the Nebraska Humane Society to learn more about the program:
402-444-7800
https://nehumanesociety.org/get-involved/foster-care/.