THE Glasgow winter night shelter will unveil a pilot project in the coming weeks that will see homeless people allowed to bring their dogs with them, it has emerged.

The Glasgow City Mission, which runs the shelter for homeless men and women at the Lodging House Mission in the city’s east end, said it had made the decision in response to concerns raised that some were choosing to sleep rough rather than abandon their dogs.

The fears were raised in a report by Simon Community Scotland last month. Paws For Thought was based on interviews with homeless people and their dogs in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow. It aimed to highlight the importance of pets to homeless people, the overwhelming majority of whom have experienced trauma and loss, and who all too often have to choose between taking up offers of housing and help, and their dogs. The report recommended that services introduce pet-friendly polices and look at barriers facing dog owners, from not being allowed into community meals to curfews in homeless accommodation. It also suggested night shelters should allow dogs in.

READ MORE: Homeless shelters allowing dogs removes barrier to support

Jack Geddes, of Glasgow City Mission, said the pilot – agreed in recent days – was likely to start in the new year and would draw on the expertise of Dogs Trust. The charity is currently looking at practicalities and is considering whether a dog-friendly area or cage would be the best option for all its service users.

“It feels like a real step forward,” Geddes told the Sunday National. “We don’t know how many people will come with their dogs, but it’s certainly worth trying. If it’s a success I’m sure it’s something others will want to look at.”

Currently about 30 people use the shelter every night. Some queue up outside until it opens at 11pm to sleep on a mat on the floor after having been turned away from city council homeless services, though they have a right to accommodation. In these cases, third-sector workers and lawyers work with them to resolve the situation.

Barriers to accessing emergency temporary accommodation – often rundown B&Bs – are even greater for dog owners.

Stephen Mitchell, day centre manager at the Lodging House Mission, said while the move was not “a magic wand”, it removed another barrier to support.

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“There is a great need for us all to work together so as to provide appropriate and tailored support for all those who are affected by homelessness and rough sleeping and this is no less important for those who are homeless and who are dog owners,” he said.

“For the winter night shelter to be working towards being able to facilitate a space for a dog owner is really a great step forward and will hopefully mean one barrier fewer for someone accessing the support that is going to be helpful for them.”

Hugh Hill, director of services for Simon Community Scotland, who worked on the report, said the organisation was “absolutely delighted” that the night shelter was taking up one of its recommendations.

“We see how hugely important it is for people to be able to stay with their dogs,” he said. “When you consider the amount of trauma that they have most often gone through then you can understand that a dog is something to love and who will love you, to trust and to stick with. That relationship is such an important one.”