I used to live in a major city with no car and only public transit and my feet to get around. I saw a shitload of pan-handlers, many of them regulars. Back then I rarely gave much. I was a broke kid, and I was kind of annoyed at the constant stream of disingenuous lies told to my face in an effort to get my money. Then I grew up and realized that begging on the streets in the cold while battling mental illness, addiction, or depression sucks more than me not having a latte, so I usually help out if I've got cash on hand. I already say 'hey' or nod, whether I'm gonna give money or not, unless I'm with a group then I notice I don't as much. Still can't quite manage to give the gutter punk couple with the dog in tow anything though. Anyway, I don't feel bad when I don't give, but I give more than I used to.
Haha. I am more likely to give to a gutter punk on the road than anybody else. I had a good friend who would give anyone her last dollar and spent a lot of time on the road before we met. I think of her every time I see a punk on the road. At least they will be moving on with the money I provide, someone else's problem, no instant Karma.
I no longer would condescend to pull the whole "I won't give you money but I'll buy you a sandwich" BS, but for some reason punk+dog annoys me. It's a similar condescension along the lines of "I know better how you need to be spending the money I give you and it ain't on dog food". I know it's petty I should work on that.
That's funny, I feel like I would rather they spend the money on dog food than food for themselves, frankly. I mean, if they have $5 and that's their only option. I guess I could be shy and make an argument that "both people and humans can eat dog food," but it's really more the fact that I feel when you assume responsibility for a pet, the pet should be treated and cared for in ways very similar to a child, in that you, the owner, are now responsible for sustaining another being's life. 'Course, who knows how any panhandlers got their pets, when they have them - maybe they were street strays that banded together - but by god if you are going to have a dog with you that is your companion I expect that you will take care of it. If you choose not to take care of an animal you voluntarily came into possession of, then you don't deserve to take care of that animal. (Of course - take a pet from a panhandler because he's not taking care of it - then who will?)