With their unconditional loyalty, big eyes filled with nothing but love, and snuggles that bring endless comfort, pets can be the biggest support system for people going through tough times. 
But that support system can morph into the biggest barrier when trying to access services to improve their circumstances. 
“One of the things we talk about is let’s say you are a person who doesn’t have a house, and you have a dog, and you need to go to a wellness appointment or a probation appointment … but you don’t have anywhere to put your dog,” Santa Barbara County Animal Services Director Sarah Aguilar said. “Do you leave the dog and risk it being taken from you or not go to your appointment?…