Today I walked past Steven who was cuddling his dog Cabbage and crying in despair. Steven is homeless. I stopped to talk to him and he told me that cabbage had recently been removed from him by the police and sent to a dog keeper. When the police returned Cabbage, Steven noticed that he was recovering from injuries he'd sustained whilst in the care of the dog keeper. The police had paid the £180 for the vet bill but have now issued Steven with a letter stating that if he doesn't reimburse them with the full amount by this Friday, they will euthanise Cabbage.
Cabbage deserves a better fate and Steven deserves compassion. Cabbage is his companion and the lifeline that keeps him going throughout the challenges of life on the streets.
Steven is a kind and intelligent man, he used to work as a support worker for people with mental health conditions who had just left prison. I could see the sorrow in his face when he was telling me about Cabbage and it was heartbreaking to see a fellow being in so much pain. I would love to be able to raise more than the £180 in an attempt to give Steven a step up and the opportunity to flourish.