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.

Yes. Saw her at WAWA area. Sickening for the dog.

[dougawhite]

I always have believed John Stossel; his reporting is non-biased and well-researched. On the topic of panhandlers, here is what he found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHoiVnID8vY

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by dougawhite

I always have believed John Stossel; his reporting is non-biased and well-researched. On the topic of panhandlers, here is what he found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHoiVnID8vY

What’s the point?
That there are outliers. You need a 7 yr old report by Stossel....on the mean streets of Salt Lake City to figure that out.

[Lea N]

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.

Yes, let's have compassion for them both. Many women who are homeless have dogs for companionship and protection. Maybe she had this dog before she became homeless? Homeless women are targets. Offering her a meal and something to drink as well as her dog would be a kind gesture. Many homeless people split the food they have with their pets.

[Pugchief]

Originally Posted by Shipping up to Boston

What’s the point?
That there are outliers. You need a 7 yr old report by Stossel....on the mean streets of Salt Lake City to figure that out.

What makes you think they are "outliers" rather then the norm? You can bash this reality all you want, but all Doug and I are trying to say is Caveat Emptor.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by Pugchief

What makes you think they are "outliers" rather then the norm? You can bash this reality all you want, but all Doug and I are trying to say is Caveat Emptor.

So you dismiss poverty, mental illness or economic circumstances as ‘the norm’ ....in favor of a narrative of actors/actresses cosplaying as the homeless on the streets making ‘100K a year and driving BMW, Lexus and Cadillacs’ as the norm? ‘Or so you heard’! Yeah, that’s what I thought!

[gail swanson]

Originally Posted by Shipping up to Boston

Bring food and water....for the dog since that seems to be your biggest concern in the equation. Not sure LEO or the county is going to do a well being check on the animal....or forcibly remove it from its owner. The scenario is not ideal but unless there are outward signs of abuse....don’t exacerbate the situation. In the homeless community, your observations (while sad) are not an anomaly.

Food and water a great idea

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by dougawhite

I always have believed John Stossel; his reporting is non-biased and well-researched. On the topic of panhandlers, here is what he found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHoiVnID8vY

Or this story... Begging during the day and driving away in a Mercedes...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CynYgP8PcWc

Or this fake handicapped panhandler...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSprgVjLFgk

Now, I'm sure there are many who are truly down on their luck, but stories like these don't exactly instill confidence...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Shipping up to Boston

So you dismiss poverty, mental illness or economic circumstances as ‘the norm’ ....in favor of a narrative of actors/actresses cosplaying as the homeless on the streets making ‘100K a year and driving BMW, Lexus and Cadillacs’ as the norm? ‘Or so you heard’! Yeah, that’s what I thought!

Or so I heard? No, as was videotaped and reported on the news...

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Pugchief

What makes you think they are "outliers" rather then the norm? You can bash this reality all you want, but all Doug and I are trying to say is Caveat Emptor.

Because it helps promote the "look how compassionate I am" narrative...

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

Or this story... Begging during the day and driving away in a Mercedes...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CynYgP8PcWc

Or this fake handicapped panhandler...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSprgVjLFgk

Now, I'm sure there are many who are truly down on their luck, but stories like these don't exactly instill confidence...

How about some YT videos of police impersonators.....maybe some military ‘stolen valor’ videos too. Again, my point was there are outliers everywhere. Even in your profession....fake ‘doctors’ setting up shop in private homes. All the above, I’m sure, under your premise....doesn’t exactly instill confidence either

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Shipping up to Boston

How about some YT videos of police impersonators.....maybe some military ‘stolen valor’ videos too. Again, my point was there are outliers everywhere. Even in your profession....fake ‘doctors’ setting up shop in private homes. All the above, I’m sure, under your premise....doesn’t exactly instill confidence either

Folks like John Stossel vet their subjects carefully. They'll interview a couple dozen homeless people who they THINK are scamming (brand new shoes, clean pressed clothing, etc), and then when they get the few who admit to running a con, will put THOSE people on tape.

The ones who are in sincere and genuine need of help, who are doing what they can to survive, are not recorded because it doesn't fit their agenda.

Meanwhile in that video - he recorded brief moments of street musicians. So - I WAS a street musician. I EARNED the money. I provided entertainment, and people could tip me for it. I had a buskers' license, and busking/street performing is an actual thing. It's not panhandling.

The fact that they add those performers in with their propaganda tells me very plainly that they are just catering to the whitewashed wealthy who would prefer not to notice that their maid has a foreign accent.

[Myszka0611]

Originally Posted by CybrSage

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.

The dog is not her only family. Her boyfriend also panhandles in the area. I know their names, but won’t post them here. She and her boyfriend and dog live, as someone else posted, in a tent in the woods. They are sometimes joined by another dread-locked woman who pretends to be disabled. She often uses her mother’s walker, as she lives in her mother’s house and has access to it. The mother has Parkinsons.

The panhandlers have a turquoise blue golf cart that they tool around in. They charge their iPhones using the outside electrical outlets at many of the businesses at that intersection. The businesses in the area have all filed “NO TRESPASS” reports with the sheriff. They are only allowed in the median or public sidewalks. They work in shifts, like a job. They have been given money and shown where the food pantries are available. They don’t want help, or a job. They want to dupe well-meaning people out of their hard earned money. That poor dog is used as a prop. The dog does love them, I will say that

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Shipping up to Boston

How about some YT videos of police impersonators.....maybe some military ‘stolen valor’ videos too. Again, my point was there are outliers everywhere. Even in your profession....fake ‘doctors’ setting up shop in private homes. All the above, I’m sure, under your premise....doesn’t exactly instill confidence either

How 'bout you make up stuff that has nothing to do with the topic at hand...

[GoRedSox!]

When we get back to The Villages, my wife and I will make it a point to help this woman and her dog. We don't have to give her money, there are plenty of things we can provide that is not cash.

I don't give a damn if she is a con artist. If she is, then she beats me, I don't care.

It's not my job or within my ability to determine who is worthy of some help. I just know it is my job to help those in need. I know many are worthy, I just might not know exactly which ones. It's a bigger error for me to not give because I might be making a mistake than to give knowing I might be making a mistake.

I am not going to ask anyone to believe the same things that I do. However, I will tell you what I believe. Matthew 25 31-46 provides a specific and detailed description of exactly how we will be judged. I won't quote the entire thing, but the sum is basically, "whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, that you do unto me." MT 25 is the foundation of my faith. I don't care if she beats me, if she does, that is her issue to deal with.