Homeless Man Who Refused To Leave His Dog During Below-Zero Temperatures Gets Shelter For Pup
Even in frigid weather conditions, this homeless man wouldn’t leave his beloved best friend. Bernard Holland, 53, and his dog, Oreo, had be…
Even in frigid weather, this homeless man wouldn’t leave his beloved ally.
Bernard Holland, 53, and his dog, Oreo, had been staying during a tent at a homeless camp in downtown Indianapolis. Earlier this month, an outreach worker from Horizon House — a multi-service center for homeless people — saw the pair outside on an evening when the temperature had dipped below zero, and encouraged Holland to travel to an overnight shelter. The 53-year-old, who is fiercely attached to his dog, refused.
“Bernard told [the worker] that he couldn’t attend shelter unless Oreo had an area too,” Mary Stickelmaier, director of development and communications at Horizon House, told The Huffington Post in an email.
Holland knew that the frigid temperature wasn’t suitable for his pup though, so he asked Burgess about crafting a care plan for Oreo. Burgess came contact with Wigglebutt Doghouse, an area dog care facility, which agreed to worry about the pup for the nonce with an end goal of reuniting the 2. The site’s owner, Ben Bierlein, even purchased Oreo’s veterinarian expenses.
It’s an appointment that Holland says he’s grateful for.
“I’m truly blessed,“ Holland told the Indy Star. “My dog is taken care of, and I’ve got enough blankets to stay me warm.”
The 5-year-old is currently working with Horizon House toward employment and permanent housing, Stickelmaier told HuffPost. He regularly visits Oreo, and is looking forward to reuniting with his beloved canine permanently.