Tails from the streets

19 October 2018 #573

Cover Story: Tails from the streets

“Without the dogs I probably wouldn’t be here today”

Anyone with a beloved pet knows how important a furry friend can be. For people experiencing homelessness or disadvantage, they can be a lifeline. With about one in five homeless Australians owning a pet, that represents about 20,000 animals around the nation.

In this edition we hear the heart-warming stories of some of these proud pet parents, attend Pets in the Park – a monthly event where those experiencing homelessness can access free vet care – and look at the life-changing power of furry friends for our country’s most vulnerable.

Also in this edition:

Markus Zusak talks about the process and pressure of the 10 years spent writing his new book, Bridge of Clay – the much-awaited follow-up to his smash hit The Book Thief.
Invictus Games Ambassador Curtis McGrath shares a moving Letter to My Younger Self – from being a young outdoorsy man joining the army, to losing his legs in a blast in Afghanistan, to winning a medal for his country in the Paralympics.
On the one-year anniversary of the dramatic standoff on Manus Island, Big Picture is a photo-essay of life on the island, and we speak to a young refugee man who has been stuck there for five years.
In Tastes Like Home, Tobie Puttock treats us to a lentil, sweet potato and mushroom vegan shepherd’s pie.
Coming up to a year since Australia’s postal vote on marriage equality, one writer shares their experience of finding community in unexpected places.