Questions have been raised about why the Gathering Place is not accepting guests with pets, causing some to make the difficult decision to shelter outdoors, but work is underway to address the issue.

Associate Executive Director at The Gathering Place Kim Grant says they used to accommodate pets in their emergency shelter, but it became problematic.

She says when they first opened their temporary shelter, they did allow pets, but due to the congregate nature of the shelter “didn’t really allow it, and we had to balance what was best for that individual with what was best for everyone else in that space.”

Grant says they are working on a plan to accommodate guests with animals with their expansion into the former Mercy Convent.

“We’re absolutely looking at how we can remove that barrier and create that space.”