When I first moved to Germany 5 years ago, I was shocked that so many homeless people were sitting in the shopping streets with their blankets and begging for money. What even more shocked me, was the huge amount of dogs. I used to live in Amsterdam, and even though there are quite some homeless there too, I never ever saw dogs acompany them.

But looking closer, I saw how they first cared of the dogs, and then cared of their own needs. The dogs always have clean water next to them, lay on a layer of blankets and when it's cold they are even covered with blankets while they sleep there. They also always have food available.

I don't mind them having pets, and for many it's their only living entity they have. I think it's often what keeps them going, their care for their beloved animal.

In the shopping streets the police keeps an eye on them, so abuse is out of the question.

There's only one thing that after 5 years still makes me wonder: there's a blind man sitting in Frankfurt with a cat on his lap (he's also begging). The cat won't move, just sits there and sleeps. Everyone I know wonders what he does to the cat(s) that they remain on his lap all day long... I'm too shy to ask him myself.