We have many homeless people here. They will fight for the street corners. (Very seriously...witnessed this while sittin' in traffic one day.)

A friend's friend saw a homeless man--went to McDonald's and picked him up a meal. The man took the bag, looked inside, threw it back thru the car window, and threatened her b/c he was a vegetarian.

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In general, I am for it as long as the animal is fed/watered/etc. But I often wonder if the homeless do not 'collect' an animal b/c animals can generate more sympathy.