Animal Shelter In Brazil Hires Homeless People Who Love Dogs To Give Them Both A Second Chance

When most people think about helping homeless animals, they picture shelters rescuing dogs and cats. One shelter in Rio de Janeiro decided to help the people caring for them, too.

Founded in 2017 by journalist Glenn Greenwald and his late husband David Miranda, Abrigo Hope (HOPE Shelter) was built around a simple but powerful idea: many people experiencing homelessness already share what little they have with abandoned dogs and cats, offering them food, companionship, and protection despite their own hardships.

Rather than overlooking those relationships, the shelter chose to build on them.

HOPE began employing homeless people who had shown exceptional care and compassion for the animals living alongside them. They were paid to help rescue, care for, and protect abandoned dogs while working at the shelter.

But the support didn’t stop with a paycheck.

Working alongside a team of social workers and psychologists, the shelter also helps its employees obtain government identification, open bank accounts, manage their income, and eventually secure housing of their own.

One of the first people hired was Lucas, a 20-year-old who had been living on the streets. After joining the shelter, he was able to use his earnings to find a place to live.

The rescued dogs receive veterinary care, food, safety, and the opportunity to be adopted into loving homes. The people caring for them receive employment, dignity, support, and a chance to rebuild their lives.

The shelter, which is entirely funded by public donations, has already found homes for thousands of dogs and cares for nearly 200 at any given time. It also provides food and medication stipends to lower-income pet owners throughout the city, helping families keep the animals they love.

In 2024, HOPE secured a new parcel of land to build a larger shelter that will double the number of dogs it can care for. It is opening in the summer of 2026.

It’s a beautiful reminder that sometimes the best way to help animals is to help the people who love them, too.