Bleeding hearts

I am one of those people who has a hard time passing homeless on the street. I hate when they ask if I can "spare my change". Of course I can - but do I? For the most part I don't. I have, like most people, become immune to begging of the drifters and the homeless. In the back of my mind I always think 'a quarter for your beer fund or mine'? And, while its not a proud thought we've all thought it once when approached with the same spare change dilema.
Tonight however I saw someone who was able to pass thru my immunities and hit me close to home. While pulling out of a parking lot I saw a man with a sign that read simply "dinner 4 2" next to this man was a dog.
Most people know that I am an animal lover. Other than reptiles (snakes) I can't think of an animal I don't love. Rick has often commented that he doesn't know anyone else openly cries at road kill. I've always loved animals. I believe it is my nuture versus nature kicking in. Neither of my parents were huge animal people - but I have been from a very young age. Always I begged for new pets, a kitten, a dog, a bunny. While my home at times has resembled a kennel of sorts (at top capacity we had 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 roommates with 2 kids) - I've never stopped asking for more. I constantly try to stop on Hazel Ave at the home with the sign posted boasting of "Baby Bunnies". Stray cats love me (probably because of the occasional kitty kibble I leave for them), the neighborhood wild turkeys know my soft spots and I have 'saved' numerous dogs from miscellaneous parking lots only to track down their owners and return the pets which they do not love enough to keep inside.
Tonight when I drove by the homeless man with his dog and his sign reading "Dinner 4 2" my bleeding heart was pierced. I pulled over and conferenced with Rick asking if we could help. Of course he agreed (the other bleeding heart here is HIM!) however, not wanting to be taken advantage of we devised a plan. Being less than a block away from PetSmart we swung in their parking lot and bought a bag of dog food and a pigs hoof for the dog - then went to buy a gift certificate for Subway for the man. Unfortunately Subway doesn't always have GC so we decided just to give him the money. Being that today is the day before payday - all I had was $5 and an American Express gift card. With the dog food and hoove on the GC, the cash went to the man.
When we pulled up next to him Rick took the dog food and money to him. The man was very appreciative and thankful. While Rick asked if he could pet the dog the man explained that he wasn't 'supporting a habit just an appetite' it made my feelings of doubt dwindle. The part that broke my heart was when I tried to approach to pet the dog which immediately started barking. The man stated that because they live on the streets the dog is very weary of strangers as so much has happened to them. It makes me sad that this beautiful dog has to worry about people hurting her or her owner and can't have the carefree and happy life that my dog Willow has.
As we pulled out of the drive way both Rick and I were moved to tears, rather than book off with the money we had given him the man sat and fed his dog first. Here is a person who was hungry and yet his top concern was that of his canine companion. I know not what has put this man in the place he is today. I don't know what actions he has or has not taken to become homeless. What I do know is that he's lucky to have a friend out there with him, one that will love him and adore him regardless of what he looks like or how he feels about himself. He has a friend that will watch after him and be loyal till the end - how many people can say that?
On my way home I was thinking about it - I am going to look into joining a local charity that provides help to homeless people with pets. Maybe I can help one homeless owner/pet, maybe I can help many. Hopefully I can help many homed petless people realize what they are missing.