Too few shelter options welcome pets. — Reality | Crossover Stockton https://crossoverstockton.org/reality/people-with-pets-still-face-barriers-to-safe-shelter/ Crossover Needs Stories Action Updates Organizations About Stockton, CA Back to all gaps Gap 2 of 5 High Priority gap Too few shelter options welcome pets. Pet ownership remains a documented barrier to some shelter and housing options, even as Stockton adds low-barrier capacity designed to keep people with their companion animals. 5 sources View sources 2 organizations Confidence: medium Gap assessment updated Aug 22, 2026 Why this gap gets stuck Need keeps entering the system San Joaquin County's 2024 survey found 34% of unhoused respondents had a pet, and 45% of pet-owning respondents had two or more pets. Available pathways narrow Pet restrictions in some shelter and housing settings. Limited pet-inclusive shelter and transitional capacity. Multiple pets can make placement harder. Need for pet food, veterinary care, crates, and other support infrastructure. Fear of separation from companion animals. The gap persists The 2026 homelessness count added a specific question to measure whether pets are preventing people from entering shelter. Crossover's work What we're doing We're reviewing evidence, investigating unmet needs, and documenting what happens when we take action. Public-source review We'll review local reports and organizational information to understand the gap. Next 1 Who's responding Organizations working on this gap. See all St. Mary's Community Services Low-barrier shelter and housing support designed to accommodate people with pets, partners, family, or belongings. Visit their website Stockton Street Dogs Street-level animal support for unhoused people and their companion animals. Visit their website Latest updates What’s happening now New evidence, activity, and changes around this gap. Sep 19, 2026Organization Stockton Streetdogs requests food and supplies The organization's current site says food donations go directly toward dogs in need and links to Amazon and Walmart wishlists for essential supplies. Visit organization View all updates What can I do right now? Here are the most useful ways to help right now. Featured actionSupport pet-inclusive shelter Support low-barrier shelter capacity that allows people to remain with companion animals. Fostering gives a dog a safe place to be while they wait for a permanent home. Support pet-inclusive shelter Donate pet supplies Provide crates, food, bedding, leashes, or other currently requested pet-support items. See needs list Signs of change Recent updates show where things are improving. 200 lbs of food reached about 70 animals. Stockton Street Dogs reported distributing roughly 200 pounds of food to about 70 animals at a Church Street encampment. Jun 8, 2026 · CBS Sacramento Sources & evidence Sources and evidence 5 sources inform this gap, including local reports, organizational updates, and news coverage. View all sources Back to gaps Crossover © 2026 Crossover Stockton Reality. Connection. Action. Needs Action About Links St. Mary's Community ServicesLow-barrier shelter and housing support designed to accommodate people with pets, partners, family, or belongings.Visit their website: https://smcares.org/ Stockton Street DogsStreet-level animal support for unhoused people and their companion animals.Visit their website: https://streetdogsanctuary.com/ Visit organization: https://streetdogsanctuary.com/