Whitehorse homeless outreach program offers free boots for dogs
Outreach van distributes boots and pet food along with snacks, clothing, and medical supplies
A Whitehorse program that helps the homeless is offering something new: boots for dogs.
Megan Grudeski is coordinator of the outreach van program. The mobile program — based out of a Ford Econoline camper —helps homeless people six nights a week. The van provides essentials like food, clothing, and something less quantifiable: simple human concern, conversation and contact.
It can also refer people to counselling and medical care within Whitehorse.
"We recently had a volunteer who donated a bunch of dog booties. So now we're able to provide not only footwear for people but also for four-legged people, family members," she says with a laugh.
We have quite a few clients that have pets, and are out and about with them-Meg Grudeski
"We have quite a few clients that have pets, and are out and about with them, and that is definitely something we want to be able to keep paws protected from the cold as much as hands and feet."
Grudeski says the outreach van program helps build trust between service providers and vulnerable people.
The outreach van was distributing supplies on Wednesday, where some of Whitehorse's homeless were gathered at the Old Fire Hall.
A program called Whitehorse Connects organized by the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition provided meals, haircuts, foot care, and access to services such as blood pressure testing.
Outside the door, a dog named Benson patiently waited, wearing a new pair of boots.