A day in the life of Crumble the Big Issue dog – from vital outreach work to lots of pets and love

Crumble is not your average Big Issue employee but that doesn’t stop her being a valued member of the Nottingham office. 

Her owner, Chris, has worked at Big Issue for eight years. 

“And to be quite honest, I’m waiting to be found out,” Chris laughs. “I have genuinely got imposter syndrome, because the skills you need to do this job, you can’t train for at university.” 

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As a frontline sales development worker, Chris is a familiar face in the community, accompanied by the six-year-old fox red labrador on outreach in the city. We join the pair on their rounds today and after locking up the office, Chris explains why Crumble plays an important role. 

“Homeless people in general tend not to talk to me,” Chris says. “I tend to get a very negative response when I simply start with, ‘Hello I’m Chris from Big Issue.’ 

“But with Crumble there, maybe they’ll ask to pet the dog. Maybe the next time I see them, they’ll ask what her name is. Maybe after that, they’ll ask what my name is. Maybe next time they’ll want to be badged up.” 

It seems the skills you can’t train in a human are intuitive to Crumble. 

Chris says hello to everyone he sees who is visibly homeless. We pass two men, who while not keen to talk, do perk up at the sight of Crumble. 

Crumble’s outreach work is only part of Chris’s day. On Wednesdays, his mission continues at Vets in the Community, an organisation founded by his wife in 2012 to provide free veterinary care for pets belonging to homeless and vulnerably housed people. The mobile clinic runs weekly, alternating between King Edward Park where we are today, and out of a mobile trailer in Forest Recreation Park. 

The group is made up of veterinarian students from Nottingham and Nottingham Trent Universities and brings together vets and nurses studying different courses. 

“Vets and nurses work together in practice all the time,” says Suzanne Ian, Nottingham Trent University’s veterinary centre assistant coordinator. “Introducing them now when they’re all students just gets the relationship started from an early point.” 

The clinic is very much led by students. They explain what to expect before they officially open for business at 1pm. 

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“I feel like a lot of people who come here also want to chat, as well as having their dog seen,” Izzy, a fourth-year student tells me. “Just make sure that you’re actually addressing what they’re concerned about first rather than going right in and saying, ‘This is what we’re going to do.’” 

While we wait for the arrival of the first patients, I sit with Chris and Crumble. We’re talking about the impact pets can have on their owners and their owners’ health. 

“My chocolate labrador Emma saved my life, without a shadow of a doubt,” Chris says. “I was in a very bad way in my previous job. My partner had left me. Work was beyond shit, and somebody I knew had passed away. Life was very complicated. Day became night, night became day.” 

His parents gave him money to get a dog, and he got Emma. His eyes well up at the mention of her name. 

“I had to put Emma to sleep on the day I got the all-clear from cancer. I had lymphoma.” 

Crumble moves closer to his owner intuitively to comfort him. 

“I went from the Big Issue office to the hospital to get the all-clear, but before we did that, I took Emma to the vet. And they said nothing could be done. She was 12, so she was a good age. Obviously having cancer impacts you, but I couldn’t celebrate getting over it that day, because of Emma.” 

Many owners who have lost their pet say the feelings of grief and loss are the same as they’d be with the loss of a person. Everyone at the Vets in Community clinic describes their dog as their best friend. 

“I always thought that was a bit of a saying,” Suzanne says, as today’s patients begin to line up at the clinic. “But when you see the owners and their pets here at the clinic, you know it is genuine. If my dogs were here now, they wouldn’t behave. One of them would be up the tree and all sorts! But these dogs, they don’t leave their owner’s side. It’s quite warming to see the relationship that they’ve got.” 

There are dogs of all shapes and sizes at today’s clinic. Big Issue vendor Paul has brought his dog Lottie, a Staffordshire English Bull Terrier. He says she’s a big hit with customers and jokes that she sells more magazines than he does. 

Then there’s two-year-old American cocker spaniel Harlow, who has come to the clinic with James Allerton. James is a vendor with a pitch in Ilkeston, west of Nottingham. 

“The customers all know Harlow,” he smiles. “Harlow’s a popular dog. He’s mischievous, he’s got a real character. The amount of people that come up and give him fuss on my pitch. It doesn’t matter who it is. The Greggs near my pitch will come and bring any leftover sausages for Harlow. He doesn’t like the vegan sausages though,” James laughs. 

“And there’s a woman who cleans at Boots, she will come up to us and say, ‘Oh I need to pet Harlow! He’s stress relief for me.’ He really does brighten up everybody’s day. 

“He brightens up my day too. If it wasn’t for him… Well, you know what I mean. He helps with my mental health. I’m diabetic as well. He knows when my sugars are playing up. He’s been around me a long time, he can tell when I’m not well. Last night I was asleep, and he slept on the bed with me all night because my sugars were playing up. It’s amazing how dogs know that.” 

Harlow is evidently one of the family and James tells me the dog will be getting a Christmas dinner of his own this year. He wants to thank his regulars for supporting him over the last few years. 

“If it wasn’t for the customers in Ilkeston,” he says, “I probably wouldn’t be doing very well. So thank you.” 

Dogs have an indispensable role in our lives, says James Hickman of Dogs Trust

Dogs are more than just pets; they are emotional support animals, mental health pillars, and sources of purpose for so many of us. For people experiencing homelessness, who often face significant challenges and institutional barriers, a loyal canine companion can be a lifeline. 

Beyond emotional support, dogs can also significantly improve mental health. Interacting with dogs has been shown to alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression. For those experiencing homelessness, many of whom may feel isolated and alone, the companionship of a dog can provide a much-needed sense of belonging. 

Caring for a pet can also provide a sense of purpose and responsibility. This can be particularly important for people who may struggle with feelings of hopelessness and a lack of direction amid the challenges of homelessness. 

By focusing on the needs of their furry friend, owners experiencing homelessness can find a sense of meaning and hope. 

Despite the many benefits of dog ownership, people experiencing homelessness face unique challenges in caring for their pets. The high cost of veterinary care and the lack of dog-friendly temporary accommodation can make it difficult to meet all the needs of their pets. Social stigma can also be a significant barrier, as many people may view dog ownership as incompatible with homelessness. 

So far this year we have funded over 1,000 treatments for 700 dogs whose owners are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and we have supported many homelessness services in becoming dog-friendly through our free endorsement scheme. While we are already supporting many dog owners who are experiencing homelessness, we know there are many more who would benefit from our support. 

If you work in the homelessness sector, contact the Together Through Homelessness team about benefitting from our free support to become dog-friendly and to access free vet care for your clients.   

If you are a dog owner experiencing homelessness, ask the services that support you to get in touch with us so we can help you access free vet care for your dog. 

Together, we can help ensure that no one is separated from their pet, and protect the unique bond between dog and owner. 

James Hickman is head of outreach projects at Dogs Trust. The Dogs Trust’s Together Through Homelessness Christmas Parcel Service provides essential items such as dog coats, collars, leads and toys to homelessness services across the UK. 

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. This Christmas, you can make a lasting change on a vendor’s life. Buy a magazine from your local vendor in the street every week. If you can’t reach them, buy a Vendor Support Kit.