If you are experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles and traveling with pets, your best options include pet-friendly housing programs—such as Los Angeles County’s Pathway Home—outreach groups like Angel Hanz and Downtown Dog Rescue, and supportive shelters that allow animals. These services provide safe temporary housing, transportation assistance, and essentials—such as food, leashes, and veterinary care—so you do not have to choose between having shelter and staying with your pet.
How to Travel When Homeless with Pets in Los Angeles
Using public transport is the most economical way to get around the city, but you must follow specific rules regarding animals:
LA Metro (Buses and Trains)
LA Metro rules require all pets and emotional support animals to travel inside an enclosed carrier when using buses and trains. Although enforcement of this rule by drivers and security personnel may vary from day to day, official transit guidelines strictly mandate the use of carriers to ensure safety and prevent obstruction of aisles, doors, or passenger seats.
LA Metro Animal Rules
Mandatory Enclosed Carriers: Your pet, companion animal, or emotional support animal must be fully enclosed within a carrier. Carrying animals in your arms, on a leash, or with their heads sticking out of a bag technically violates the regulations.
No Occupying Additional Seats: The carrier must fit securely on your lap, between your legs, or under the seat without taking up space meant for another passenger.
Exception for Service Animals: If your dog is a service animal trained to perform tasks related to a disability, it may travel on a leash or harness without a carrier. Transit personnel are legally authorized to ask if the dog is a service animal but cannot demand certificates or documentation.
Where to Get Free Carriers Approved for Public Transit
If you do not have a carrier, traveling regularly can be very difficult. You can obtain a free carrier (hard-sided or soft-sided) through local street outreach programs:
The Street Dog Coalition (LA Chapter): Organizes regular mobile street clinics to provide free pet supplies—such as leashes, collapsible bowls, and travel carriers—to people experiencing homelessness.
Operation Blankets of Love (OBOL): Partners directly with social workers and shelters in Los Angeles to distribute free pet carriers, food, and blankets. You can ask your housing case manager or shelter staff to request a carrier from OBOL.
Downtown Dog Rescue: Offers support to low-income pet owners and people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles; It often distributes food and pet carriers to help people comply with the city’s transport regulations.
Pet-friendly emergency shelters accessible by public transport: If you use the subway to reach an emergency shelter, make sure to head to a location that accepts pets:
“Pathway Home” Centers: Managed by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), these specialized interim housing centers are pet-friendly, offering food bowls and on-site veterinary assistance. Contact LAHSA at (213) 683-3333 to find a pet-friendly option.
PATH Hollywood (Petco Place): A specialized interim shelter designed specifically to keep people and their pets together (startrescue.org).
Safe Parking LA: If you are heading to a safe vehicle parking site with your pet, programs like Safe Parking LA generally allow pets to stay with you inside the vehicle overnight.
Metrolink
Metrolink commuter trains strictly require all companion animals, pets, and emotional support animals to travel inside a small, well-ventilated carrier. According to Metrolink’s official Code of Conduct, animals are not permitted on board unless they are in a carrier or are small enough to fit in a carrier placed on your lap or under your seat.
Since Metrolink routes span multiple counties (connecting Los Angeles with Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties), ticket inspectors strictly enforce these rules. Traveling with a pet outside of its carrier carries the risk of being asked to disembark at the next station.
Rules for Animals on Metrolink Trains
Size and placement limits: Your pet carrier must be small enough to be held safely on your lap or stowed completely under the passenger seat. It cannot block train aisles or occupy an empty passenger seat.
No large dogs allowed: Unlike some long-distance rail networks, Metrolink does not have a fare program or designated cars for large dogs on leashes. If a dog does not fit safely and comfortably in a carrier that fits under the seat, it cannot board the train.
Service animal exemption: Service dogs legally trained to perform specific tasks related to a disability may travel on board without a carrier. They must remain on the floor and cannot sit on passenger seats. Metrolink staff are legally authorized to ask what specific task the animal is trained to perform.
Emotional Support Animals (ESAs): Under federal transportation laws, emotional support animals and companion animals are not considered service animals and must remain strictly inside a carrier to travel on Metrolink.
How to get a free carrier and supplies near Metrolink hubs
If you need to travel on Metrolink but do not have a carrier or pet food, you can get help at major transit hubs:
LA Union Station (the main hub): If your train passes through Union Station, you will be near the Skid Row area, where the Pet Resource Center and organizations like Downtown Dog Rescue operate. These entities often distribute free hard-sided carriers, soft-sided carriers, and pet food to people experiencing homelessness.
Operation Blankets of Love (OBOL): If you are working with a case manager or social worker anywhere in Los Angeles County, ask them to contact OBOL. This organization directly supplies emergency carriers and pet items to people trying to use public transportation to reach shelters.
Transit Fare Safety
Metrolink requires a valid ticket before boarding, and ticket inspectors frequently check for proof of payment during the trip. If you are experiencing homelessness, consult your social worker or a local assistance center to see if they can provide transit vouchers or low-income fare assistance; this will help you avoid fines when traveling with your pet.
Metro Micro
Metro Micro requires all pets and emotional support animals to remain inside a fully enclosed, leak-proof carrier for the duration of the trip. Because Metro Micro uses small shared vans rather than large buses, drivers strictly enforce this rule. Animals not traveling inside a carrier are not permitted due to space constraints and proximity to other passengers.
Rules for traveling with animals on Metro Micro
Leak-proof carrier required: Your pet’s carrier must be fully enclosed and completely leak-proof. It must fit comfortably on your lap or at your feet without taking up an extra seat or blocking the van’s narrow aisle.
Include in reservation: When booking your trip via the Metro Micro app or phone line, each human passenger requires a seat. While you do not need to book a separate seat for a pet traveling in a carrier on your lap, you cannot place the carrier on an empty seat unless you pay an additional fare.
Exemption for service animals: Trained service animals that perform specific tasks related to a disability are permitted to travel outside of a carrier. They must remain on the floor under your strict control via a leash or harness. Emotional support, therapy, or companion animals are not legally classified as service animals and must remain inside a carrier.
Where to Find Free Leakproof Carriers in LA
If you do not have a leak-proof soft carrier or a hard-sided crate, the van driver may deny you access. You can obtain free carriers approved for public transit through local outreach networks:
The Street Dog Coalition: This group organizes free veterinary care events in Los Angeles and provides homeless pet owners with collapsible carriers, leashes, and food.
Operation Blankets of Love (OBOL): If you are in contact with a Los Angeles County social worker, shelter staff, or a street outreach team, ask them to submit a request for emergency supplies to OBOL. They provide free carriers specifically to help people use local public transit.
Downtown Dog Rescue: Operating in the Skid Row area and at the Inner City Law Center, they regularly distribute carriers and food to homeless residents looking to keep their animals safe and comply with regulations.
How to book Metro Micro without an Internet connection
If you do not have a smartphone or mobile data to use the Metro Micro app for your trip, you can still book rides:
Booking by phone: You can book a ride by calling (323) 466-3876 (323-GO-METRO).
TAP cards: You can pay the reduced zone fare using a standard TAP card, which you can pre-load at any major Metro rail station or regional transit center.
Exception for service animals
If your dog is a service animal trained to perform specific tasks related to a disability, it does not need to travel inside a carrier. You must keep it under control using a leash or harness at all times.
Pet-Friendly Shelters & Temporary Housing
Many traditional shelters do not accept animals, but Los Angeles has expanded its pet-friendly resources through California’s Pet Assistance and Support (PAS) program:
Pathway Home and LAHSA
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) operates the Pathway Home program, which ensures that certain interim housing facilities accept pets and provide dog beds as well as food and water bowls. Call LAHSA at (213) 683-3333 to start the intake process.
PATH (People Assisting the Homeless)
Manages Petco Place at PATH Hollywood, a shelter option designed to house people together with their pets. Contact them at (323) 644-2200.
Project Roomkey / Motel Vouchers
If you qualify for emergency housing through the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), ask about Project Roomkey or emergency hotel vouchers; these often allow participants to stay in designated motels with their companion animals.
Call 211
You can call 211 at any time to specifically request referrals for “pet-friendly emergency shelters” in your area.
Free food, veterinary care, and pet supplies
To avoid carrying heavy bags of food or facing medical crises while moving from place to place, use these mobile and local resources:
The Street Dog Coalition
Offers free medical care, vaccinations, and check-ups specifically for the pets of people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles.
PAWS/LA
Offers financial assistance for veterinary expenses, food, and pet supplies. You can contact their main office by calling (213) 741-1950.
Skid Rover and Pet Resource Center (Skid Row)
If you are near downtown, Skid Rover distributes free dog collars, leashes, and food. The Pet Resource Center also offers temporary emergency housing for the pets of individuals facing financial hardship or undergoing medical treatment.
Operation Blankets of Love (OBOL)
Collaborates with emergency organizations to distribute blankets, food, and essential survival supplies for companion animals.
Essential steps for transport
Get a free pet carrier (hard-sided or soft-sided): Since carriers are mandatory on public transportation, ask LAHSA social workers or mobile veterinary clinics for a donated crate or carrier.
Keep physical records: Store vaccination records and a photo of your pet in a small plastic bag. This is crucial if you need to go to a shelter or prove ownership of the animal.
Microchipping: Ensure your pet is microchipped. LA City Animal Services frequently hosts free microchipping events.
