A new dog boxes at the Opera San Francesco in Milan

In Milan, homeless individuals with pets face daily challenges when trying to access essential services such as soup kitchens, showers, and medical clinics, because of the ban on their animals being present.

This invisible but very real barrier forces many people to forgo their medical care, hygiene, or a night of rest, to avoid being separated from their four-legged companions. We tackled this reality by launching our project Friends on the Streets, Companions for Life, which provides food and free veterinary care for the animals belonging to low-income families and those living with homeless individuals.

We quickly got to work, initiating discussions with local authorities and forming partnerships with local organizations. The first significant result came in March 2024, thanks to the collaboration we formed with Opera San Francesco. We installed the first dog boxes In their shelter, which offers services including showers and clothing banks. These boxes are safe places where the animals can be left to wait while their owners avail themselves of the various services.

In the first year of operation, we recorded 220 uses of the service, with 42 people utilizing the dog boxes, especially during the colder months.
Last month, we installed additional boxes at a second Opera San Francesco location, which provides medical clinics and has a pharmacy counter. This second installation marks a significant step forward, as previously no medical facility had allowed access to people with dogs.

Today, individuals accompanied by pets can book appointments and receive priority access, reducing the time their animals have to wait for them in the boxes. This is a small but transformative step for vulnerable people.

Creating a fairer society also signifies recognizing and protecting the deep bonds between humans and animals, particularly in times of hardship.