[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Shipping up to Boston

Just because one ‘states in advance’ that you ‘have no proof’ about what you’re about to post....doesn’t absolve you from making non credible statements. To say that ‘you were told’ that panhandlers up north are pulling in 100K a year and exiting their ‘workplace’ in BMW, Cadillacs.....without personal knowledge of such...is irresponsible. That is my point. Drug dealers, pimps would’ve been a more credible premise...even without the receipts!

He "was told". What he heard and passed along was hearsay, not necessarily non-credible. I have read many articles and reports that have said as much. And, on occasion have observed what certainly appeared like they were picking up the "workers" at the end of their shift. One article even reported there were "schools" that teach the various types, tools, dress, stories, etc, that one might use to elicit the most sympathy. Their product? Making you feel good for helping someone you believe is unfortunate. Problem is, you don’t know who is the legit unfortunate individual or a scammer. It's your money. You decide what you want to spend it on.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580

He "was told". What he heard and passed along was hearsay, not necessarily non-credible. I have read many articles and reports that have said as much. And, on occasion have observed what certainly appeared like they were picking up the "workers" at the end of their shift. One article even reported there were "schools" that teach the various types, tools, dress, stories, etc, that one might use to elicit the most sympathy. Their product? Making you feel good for helping someone you believe is unfortunate. Problem is, you don’t know who is the legit unfortunate individual or a scammer. It's your money. You decide what you want to spend it on.

The ‘schools’ that you’re referring to are called jails. With the exception of some state colleges and universities.....at least ‘that’s what I’ve been told’!

[jamorela]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

"She could be "using" the dog to garner pity-donations."

Not unheard-of.

Visiting Thailand awhile back my wife and I saw a woman with a young child lying in the grass near one of the skytrain stations in Bangkok. She had a jar in which there was some money. My wife is ethnic Thai so we stopped to chat with the woman. She said she was from Isaan (upcountry), and had an accident about a year back that left her crippled. She couldn't make ends meet in Bangkok so she was raising money to go back home so she and her child could live with relatives. I gave her 100 baht for which she thanked me profusely. We left on the skytrain and came back to the station a couple of hours later to find the woman and child gone. We asked the skytrain cop what had happened to her. He laughed and said her boyfriend came and picked her and the child up, as they do every day apparently. The woman wasn't crippled, and the baby wasn't hers. Turns out there are places in Bangkok where you can rent babies for just this purpose.

Maybe there are dog-rental places around here? Who knows. Pity is a great motivator.

I saw that same scenario in India.

[threeonemiles@outlook.com]

Originally Posted by Arbud

Every time I leave my village area at Buenos Aries and 441 on one of the corners is this woman and her dog.
She obviously has had some issues in her life and may still have them. She is a panhandler. Which I dont have a problem with. I am not going to give her money.
My issue is that she has a bigger dog with her. It is always with her out in the hottest sun, usually under an umbrella. In 95 degrees i am not sure how much help the umbrella is.
Yesterday I saw them setting up shop and a man was carrying the dog. I feel I am just watching this dog slowly die.
I cant adopt it so that is out of the question. Not that they would let that happen because her sign even says " homeless with dog". She uses the dog as a ploy for help.
The Police have run her from one corner to across the street at the BJs and Lowes entrance.
So is there anyone I can call to have the dog taken from them and maybe nurtured back to health and adopted by a good home.
They live in the woods in back of the flooring store on 441 past Stonecrest. I just happened to see them going in the woods one day.
Sorry to seem so obsessed with this woman and her dog, but I see them sometimes 3 or 4 times a day. No I cant just look the other way.

I saw this person recently and she did look healthy, well fed and the dog was also. What I noticed was, the tattoos she had. It is expensive to have them and by the looks of her, she spent a lot of money. It would be interesting to ask her where she got the money.

[dougjb]

Anyone who thinks standing by the side of the road in the Florida sun is a scam and that these people make exorbitant sums of money .... should just get themselves out there to see what it is really like. Go stand on the side of the street and revel in what merriment you might be enjoying. Too often we rely upon stories told to us by other who "know". I doubt if they know to be perfectly frank.

While you may not be inclined to part with your money, you should just drive on and not disparage people who but for the grace of god could be you tomorrow!

Personally, since I cannot afford to give to everyone who asks for money, I take it upon myself to "adopt" one of these people. Every couple of weeks, I drop them a twenty. I really don't care what they use it on. If I was reduced to begging on the streets, I might want to use a twenty to go get totally drunk. I won't deny someone to do what they want with the funds they have in their possession. It is their choice. Giving them a chunk of money is my choice.

[Marine1974]

Didn’t stop to offer aid want others to
do something. How is it killing you ?

[DonnaNi4os]

I have seen her and I have heard many well meaning people discussing this particular woman and dog many times. I have to assume that the sheriff dept is aware and would have had animal control remove the dog if it was at risk. Understandably people have expressed concern for the dog, yet I’ve heard few people express concern for the woman. Perhaps she’s a con, perhaps she is a woman who is really down and out and the only thing she has left is her dog. It is not for me to judge her. There are so many people on the verge of homelessness who would give their last morsel of food to their beloved pet. Let’s have compassion for both of them. Give to them or don’t. I’m praying for them both.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by DonnaNi4os

I have seen her and I have heard many well meaning people discussing this particular woman and dog many times. I have to assume that the sheriff dept is aware and would have had animal control remove the dog if it was at risk. Understandably people have expressed concern for the dog, yet I’ve heard few people express concern for the woman. Perhaps she’s a con, perhaps she is a woman who is really down and out and the only thing she has left is her dog. It is not for me to judge her. There are so many people on the verge of homelessness who would give their last morsel of food to their beloved pet. Let’s have compassion for both of them. Give to them or don’t. I’m praying for them both.

Nicely put.

[Shipping up to Boston]

It’s good to see that TV faux doctors were able to give the woman and her dog a clean bill of health (physically and mentally)....from the comforts of their air conditioned vehicle....and all within a 30 sec. traffic interaction. And bonus tattoo observations as well. My faith in health care has been restored

[Arbud]

Hey Marine 1974. I asked if there was someone I could call. Maybe the words killing me were a bit exaggerated. It makes me feel very uncomfortable. Thank you for your service. Bud

[alehew]

All I can say as since all businesses don't have enough workers that people that don't want to work don't.
Most people on a corner collecting money just cause they can. I never give money I tell them to find churches or shelters that would help. We never give money only offer food at restaurants where we go with

[Joe C.]

No matter what, is there any reason that she couldn't get a job?
Even washing dishes ...... she'd be inside, not socializing with many people and she'd be safe AND making money that she EARNED. There's a lot of places looking for help.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Shipping up to Boston

The ‘schools’ that you’re referring to are called jails. With the exception of some state colleges and universities.....at least ‘that’s what I’ve been told’!

As you wish. 🙄

[CybrSage]

Originally Posted by Arbud

So is there anyone I can call to have the dog taken from them and maybe nurtured back to health and adopted by a good home.

She has little to nothing and you want to take away her only companion, her only family, causing her more suffering.

Don't be the guy who adds more suffering to her life.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Joe C.

No matter what, is there any reason that she couldn't get a job?
Even washing dishes ...... she'd be inside, not socializing with many people and she'd be safe AND making money that she EARNED. There's a lot of places looking for help.

Many homeless have mental disabilities that make it impossible for them to work. They might be eligible for (and might even be collecting) disability payments, but the thing that makes them unable to work might also make them unable to handle finances.

People with brain injuries - especially battered women - are not always CAPABLE of being responsible for their own lives. Some live in shelters, some live in tents. Some live in abusive households, some live in small homeless camps where everyone pitches in to help each other as best they can.

This particular woman is not alone, no idea who the guy is, or his relationship to her. But he sometimes picks her up. I've seen her walking down 441 from 42 with her dog, but I've also seen the guy pick her up in his old car that looks like it could use some repairs. Her shoes aren't brand new designer shoes. Her dog's collar is not a fancy one. There are "tells" with homeless. She brushes her hair. So she does try to at least appear like she engages in self-care practices.

As for tattoos, I have two of them. I got them 40 years ago. I used to hang out with homeless people and some of them had many inks, most of them acquired while they were serving in the military overseas, some got theirs in jail, and one of them used to be an ink artist, before she became homeless, and had all hers done by her partners in the shop (which went out of business and she lost her investment, couldn't pay the rent, lost everything except her car, which she ended up sleeping in).

Sure this woman with the dog could very well be some nasty lice-ridden drug-addled no-good trampy "scallawag." Or she could be one of the millions of homeless in this country who had opportunity, and for whatever reason, lost the opportunity, and are now down on their luck and trying to subsist and survive a world where people make assumptions about them and refuse to give them any opportunity, thus keeping them down as dirt under the feet of the rest of humanity.