PBS高端访谈:无家可归者并不孤单（在线收听）

JUDY WOODRUFF: It is estimated that 5 percent to 10 percent of the over one million homeless individuals across the country have pets. For the first time, surveyors in Arizona started to not only gather information on homeless humans, but added their faithful companions. From the Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University, Samie Gebers reports.

SAMIE GEBERS: When you're living on the streets, friends can be hard to find. So when you have one next to you all the time, you cherish them.

CECELIA GOEDEL, Pet Owner: I give the food from my plate to my dog before I eat. There's nights I will go hungry just to let, make sure my dogs eat.

SAMIE GEBERS: Cecelia Goedel is homeless, so looking out for her two dogs is difficult.

VANESSA CORNWALL, Lost Our Home Pet Rescue: Most homeless shelters do not allow pets. So it's really a challenge for people who are trying to seek shelter and their pets aren't welcome.

SAMIE GEBERS: Vanessa Cornwall and the pet rescue organization she works for, Lost Our Home, helps people by taking in their pet while owners try to sort out living arrangements or a job. They also provide pet food and other supplies. And due to Arizona's climate, having a pet with you on the streets can be tough.

VANESSA CORNWALL: That's a big challenge, because, obviously, if it's too hot for people to be outside, it's definitely too hot for your pets.

SAMIE GEBERS: Cornwall wanted to find out more about what these owners needed, so she participated in the annual Point-in-Time Homeless Count in Maricopa County.

SHANTAE SMITH, Maricopa Association of Governments: We learned that there could be potential challenges to folks obtaining housing and supportive services.

SAMIE GEBERS: And for the first time since the count started almost 20 years ago, surveyors asked the homeless population about their pets. Shantae Smith is one of the count's coordinators.

SHANTAE SMITH: We heard about the increasing number of pets on the streets experiencing homelessness with their humans. So we started asking the question.

SAMIE GEBERS: They wanted to find out about the number of pets on the streets and if those pets were service animals. The numbers won't be out until the fall, but it's clear that pets have a huge impact on the lives of some homeless people.

DENA FIGUEROA, Dog Owner: I have had him since he was a fuzzball. He was like that big. He's saved my life. Me and him been homeless. We have been all the way around with each other. We can't do it without each other.

SAMIE GEBERS: Homeless for a number of years, Dena Figueroa says that Sammy is her companion, and, many times, her reason to find food and shelter every day.

DENA FIGUEROA: So, I really appreciate you're doing.

CHERYL KING-WADE, Volunteer: You are very welcome.

SAMIE GEBERS: Figueroa and other homeless pet owners depend on people like Cheryl King-Wade. King-Wade travels around the city full-time, running a nonprofit out of her pet supply vehicle, bringing everything from food to toys.

CHERYL KING-WADE: Does she have a collar on?

DENA FIGUEROA: You're the best.

CHERYL KING-WADE: Thank you. I'm an ugly crier.

SAMIE GEBERS: King-Wade understands that even for people who struggle with their own needs, having a pet actually gives them the incentive to keep moving forward.

CHERYL KING-WADE: Everyone deserves someone. And for a lot of people, that someone is their dog.

SAMIE GEBERS: For PBS NewsHour, I'm Samie Gebers with Cronkite School of Journalism in Phoenix.

朱迪·伍德拉夫：据估测，在100多万无家可归的人中，有5%-10%的人都有宠物。亚利桑那州的调研人员开始不只收集无家可归者的信息，还关照起了他们忠实的伙伴。下面请听我台记者萨米·耶贝斯从亚利桑那州立大学克朗凯特新闻学院发回的报道。

萨米·耶贝斯：露宿街头的时候，朋友也很难找到。如果身边有个朋友时时相伴，一定要珍惜。

塞西莉亚·格德尔，某宠物的主人：我吃东西之前，都要先分给我的狗子一点。有些夜里，我饿的不行，都是因为要让我的狗子吃饱。

萨米·耶贝斯：塞西莉亚·格德尔无家可归，所以寻找自己的2只狗子难度很大。

瓦内萨·康沃尔，失去家园宠物援救组织：大多数为流浪者提供的避难所都不允许宠物入内。所以对于有宠物的人来说，寻找庇护所是一项挑战，因为他们的宠物不受欢迎。

萨米·耶贝斯：瓦内萨·康沃尔和她所在的这家宠物援助组织——失去家园，帮助流浪者。这里接纳流浪者的宠物，让他们可以安心住处或者找工作。这里还提供宠物粮等供应品。亚利桑那天气恶劣，所以带着宠物在街头露宿苦不堪言。

瓦内萨·康沃尔：这很有难度，因为，显然，外面太燥热了，对宠物来说也热得不行。

萨米·耶贝斯：康沃尔希望更多地了解宠物主人的需求，于是她参加了一个马里科帕县的年度流浪者实时调研。

史密斯，马里科帕政府协会：我们了解到流浪汉在寻找主持以及获取支持性服务方面很可能遭遇巨大困难。

萨米·耶贝斯：这个活动设立已有近20年，这是调查人员首次关心流浪汉的宠物问题。史密斯是该活动的协调员之一。

史密斯：我们听说，越来越多的宠物跟自己的主人一起露宿街头。于是我们开始思考这个问题。

萨米·耶贝斯：他们想了解街头的这些宠物数量，以及这些宠物是否是服务型动物。秋季才能获得这些数字，但尚不清楚这些宠物是否对流浪者的生活产生重大影响。

德娜·菲格罗亚，某宠物狗的主人：它还小的时候，我就养了它。它大概只有这么大。它救过我的命。我和它都曾无家可归。我们一直陪伴着彼此。没有彼此就没有自己。

萨米·耶贝斯：在流浪了多年后，德娜·菲格罗亚表示，她的狗子塞米是她的伙伴，也是她每年寻找食物和庇护所的动力。

德娜·菲格罗亚：谢谢你们所做的工作。

谢丽尔·金，志愿者：不用谢。

萨米·耶贝斯：包括菲格罗亚在内的一些养着宠物的流浪者都受到过谢丽尔·金在内的志愿者的帮助。谢丽尔·金整天到处奔波，用宠物用品车来经营这家非营利组织，为流浪者们带去各类物品，从粮食到玩具不一而足。

谢丽尔·金：她有项圈吗？

德娜·菲格罗亚：你真好。

谢丽尔·金：谬赞了，我只是个其貌不扬的人罢了，整天走街串巷。

萨米·耶贝斯：谢丽尔·金知道有些人哪怕连自给自足都难以顾全，宠物也能给他们前进的力量。

谢丽尔·金：每个人都值得某个伙伴的陪伴。对很多人来说，那个伙伴就是自己的狗子。

萨米·耶贝斯：感谢收听萨米·耶贝斯从克朗凯特新闻学院发回的《新闻一小时》。