Woman Facing Homelessness For Refusing To Give Up Her Dog

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Velvet Berlin had never imagined her life would come to this. Once she had a home, family, and stability. But after losing a loved one and the place she called home, she ended up on the streets of Kannapolis, North Carolina, with nothing but a shopping cart and her best friend in the world, her 15-year-old dog, Sissy.

Velvet has had Sissy since she was a puppy. They’ve been through everything together, and she refuses to let her go. “I can’t get rid of her,” Velvet said in an interview with WBTV News. “She’ll die of a broken heart.” And truthfully, Velvet couldn’t bear the thought of living without her either.

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For four long months, Velvet and Sissy have been surviving outdoors, sleeping on sidewalks, park benches, and anywhere they could find a little shelter. The summer heat has been brutal, wearing down on both of them. “It’s hard on her, and yes, it’s hard on me as well,” Velvet said.

She’s tried again and again to get help. But every homeless shelter she contacted had the same answer. Dogs aren’t allowed. “I’ve called everybody, I’ve tried everything,” she said, holding back tears. “It’s the same story. ‘People may have allergies to your dog.’”

Walking away from Sissy was never an option. “She’s my everything,” Velvet said. “She’s the reason I’m still alive and still here.”

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That devotion hasn’t gone unnoticed. Donna Taylor, who owns Eat Cakes Bakery in downtown Kannapolis, has watched Velvet and Sissy over the past few months. She’s seen them huddled together in the park, their few belongings packed tightly into a shopping cart. She’s seen the quiet way Velvet keeps going, caring for Sissy even as she struggles herself.

With heavy rainstorms approaching and no safe place for them to go, Donna decided she had to do something. She paid for a motel room so they could be safe for a few nights. “I think we’re here to help each other,” Donna said. “All of us are really this close to being in the same situation. If we don’t have somebody to just reach out for us, what are we all here for?”

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The motel stay isn’t a long-term answer. It’s a temporary break from the fear and exhaustion Velvet and Sissy face every day. But it has kept them together, which is all Velvet has ever wanted.

With their stay ending soon, Velvet doesn’t yet know where they’ll go next. But the local community is trying to help. A GoFundMe has been created in hopes of raising enough to find Velvet and Sissy a more permanent place to stay—somewhere they can finally rest and heal, together.

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