But thanks to the kindness of local organizations in Indianapolis, Bernard Holland is getting back on his feet.
A man who was willing to sleep outside during a brutal winter in order to stay with his beloved dog is getting back on his feet thanks to the kindness of strangers.
Holland had moved to the city from Michigan in November and at first had stayed with family.
However, he soon found himself without a place to go and could not find a shelter that would accept his pup, the newspaper reported.
But leaving Oreo wasn't an option. So instead, Holland set up a tent at a homeless camping area and braved nights of below-zero temperatures with Oreo at his side.
"The weather forecast was for sub-zero cold and outreach was trying to convince Bernard to go into shelter," Mary Stickelmaier of Horizon House told BuzzFeed News. "However, Bernard told outreach that he could not go to a shelter unless his beloved dog Oreo had a warm place as well."
Stickelmaier said the team began asking around if there was anyone willing to take Oreo in, and a dog day care called Wigglebutt Doghouse stepped up.
The group offered to take care of Oreo until Holland could get back on his feet. It also provided Oreo with shots and spayed her.
"She's safe, and I know they're taking good care of her," Holland told the Indianapolis Star.
Through the help of these local organizations, Holland was able by February to begin working part-time at the dog day care. The day care's owners also paid for a motel for Holland to live in, Stickelmaier said.
"Pet lovers related to this story because they share the same human experience," Stickelmaier said. "Not everyone has experienced homelessness but many people know what it is like to care so much for a pet that you would sacrifice your own comfort and safety."
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