San Francisco panhandling puppies, San Francisco to pay homeless to quit panhandling, raise puppies. San Francisco is taking a creative approach to reducing homelessness by launching a plan to pay vagrants to give up panhandling and instead raise puppies in the city's animal shelters. Though many see the city's solution as a win-win, animal-rights organization PETA is fighting the plan because, they say, the animals are likely to be abused or neglected by homeless people.Dogs For The Homeless: New SF Program Pairs Puppies With Ex-Panhandlers, Puppies have some pretty magical powers: the ability to look cute from all angles, the ability to pee wherever they want.
And now, they may also have the power to address San Francisco's panhandling problem.
The city will initiate a new program August 1, believed to be the first of its kind in the country. WOOF (Wonderful Opportunities for Occupants and Fidos) encourages homeless individuals to give up panhandling. In exchange, they'll receive a small stipend to foster problematic puppies until they're ready for adoption.
Bevan Dufty, San Francisco's point-person on homeless issues, said his goal is to try to help both the city and its animals.
San Francisco Animal Care and Control will screen potential foster parents to ensure that they are a good fit for the program. They must live in supportive housing, not on the streets, and prove they are not severely mentally ill, aren't hoarders, don't have a history of violence and aren't seeking treatment for addictions.
They must also promise to stop panhandling, and if they are caught begging with the puppy, the animal will be taken back to the shelter.
In exchange, the approved applicant will receive $50-$75 a week, as well as several training sessions, regular check-ins, and all the dog food, toys, leashes and veterinary care they need, provided by Animal Care and Control.
As the program expands, the participants will ideally be trained in grooming, dog walking or other animal-related skills so that they can join the regular workforce.
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