Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live 24/7 in a cramped vehicle?
This is a situation faced by many devoted pet guardians who are experiencing homelessness, and have chosen to live in their cars rather than go to a shelter that won't let them bring their animal companion.
Darren was living in his car with his senior dog Gizmo, who had a heart problem, and we contributed more than $1100 towards Gizmo's veterinary care. Darren generously agreed to share his and Gizmo's story in an effort to help more people understand what the cost of living crisis is doing to everyday Australians.
"Gizmo’s mother rejected his whole litter when they were three weeks old. I had been involved in a bad car accident and received a compensation payout from that, so I was able to buy a caravan. I lived in that in my mum’s backyard and raised the whole litter until they were able to go to new homes around four months old," said Darren.
"Gizmo was the one that attached to me the most. That was nearly 17 years ago. It’s just been me and him for the last couple of years now.
He’s more like my child than a companion. He means the world to me. Without him I wouldn’t be here. He’s helped me stick around.
"My previous accommodation was a short-term lease and I had to leave with a week’s notice. Since then I’ve struggled to find anywhere that’s affordable. We make the best of (living in the car). We’ve been doing it for about 12 months now.
I’ve got the car set up for Gizmo. I slide the passenger seat forward and lay it down, then remove the headrest so it’s all flat, (but) he doesn’t really like it; that’s why we’re pretty much out all the time. Every day we’re just walking around, exploring. At night-time, from about six o’clock onwards, we stay in the car. We’ve been running through a bit of fuel in the car to keep the heater on."
Darren often struggled to afford food and chose to feed Gizmo instead of himself "all the time." He tried to access free meals offered by community organisations, but he was living with health issues that meant this wasn’t always possible.
"I try to be appreciative of whatever I get, but at the same time what I do get often makes me sick. When you’re gluten and lactose intolerant there’s no menu for you. A lot of my money goes on food that I actually can eat. Whenever I do eat, it’s probably just once a day. It’s usually a bit of meat and I’ll go halves with Gizmo," he says.
"I buy him fresh meat every day for breakfast and dinner, and then dry food from Pets Of The Homeless in between."
On rare occasions, Darren had been able to access pet-friendly accommodation - but staying in these places isn't sustainable in the long term.
"Places that are happy to have Gizmo are places that cost $250 a week, so when I’m in those places I’m not able to afford food or medical expenses.
The cost of living is not just affecting humans, it’s affecting our pets as well. A lot of people are having to choose between having their pet or putting their pet in a shelter or giving them up all together just to get a house.
"I’ve had other homeless people approach me on the street that are jealous of me having my pet, because they had to give up their pet to get a house. I know how distressing that would be. People don’t realise it is that bad."
And that is why we do what we do here at Pets Of The Homeless.
Because no Australian should be forced to choose between keeping their pet and keeping a roof over their head.
Thank you, Darren, for so kindly sharing Gizmo's and your story with us. It was our privilege to help you stay together.
Update: It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Gizmo's passing in November 2023. At 17, Gizmo battled with a few health issues, and with your support, we were able to aid in diagnostic tests and medication to ease his struggles. Darren's unwavering love for Gizmo was evident in every photo and story he shared with us. The bond they shared was beyond words. The generosity and support of our community made a difference in their lives, and Gizmo's memory will undoubtedly live on in our hearts.
