
Note: The names of the subject and his dog have been changed for confidentiality reasons.
Marcus and his dog Pickles survived being homeless together.
The pair had spent much of their lives on the notorious streets of Skid Row in Los Angeles.
IMAGE SOURCE: JOHN HWANG
About the only thing they couldn’t survive was being apart. So when Marcus finally found affordable housing in the area, he insisted on bringing his best friend, the dog he had met on the streets, with him.
It didn’t matter that Sanders’ new home was a single room not much bigger than a closet.
“He essentially shares everything with him, and they go everywhere together,” John Hwang, a photographer who chronicles the lives of people living on Skid Row, tells iHeartDogs.
IMAGE SOURCE: JOHN HWANG
During his many visits to Skid Row, Hwang had forged a special bond with Marcus.
“We hadn’t seen each other in a while, but we often text or message each other,” Hwang says. “He’s like an older brother to me.”
IMAGE SOURCE: JOHN HWANG
This week, Hwang decided to pay Marcus and Pickles a long overdue visit.
“As I’m in front of his apartment about to call him to let him know I was there — he didn’t know I was coming — they are standing right behind me,” Hwang says.
“(Marcus) has this big smile on his face and said to me ‘I had this feeling I had to come downstairs, and here you are.’ Then we give each other a big hug.”
The first thing Hwang noticed as he stepped into the tiny room was the missing bed.
“I saw the mattress leaning up against the wall unused,” Hwang says. “On the floor was the dog bed, a dog bowl for food and water, and a bunch of blankets strewn out.
“The blankets and the dog bed were basically one big pile. There was no dog section or person section, it was just one big jumble of blankets and dog bed.”
IMAGE SOURCE: JOHN HWANG
Hwang had to ask the obvious question: “Where do you sleep?”
Marcus pointed to the floor.
“There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him,” he said.
No, nothing could keep Marcus and Pickles apart. And when two souls are meant to be by each other’s side, even inches can feel like miles.
Patricia Kenny
- Edit
You are an Honorable man with a soul that’s filled with kindness, compassion & Love for your companion!
Both of you are a gift to one another on the journey of life you’re taking together.
Blessings on both of you!
Amanda Bowman
- Edit
Why couldn’t the dog just sleep on the human bed with his person?
Amber Shaw
- Edit
Dogs can be on beds? Makes no sense!
Susan Brooks
- Edit
Bless you
Tammy King
- Edit
Amen to him
Marie Groenewold
- Edit
Maybe the dog could have shared the mattress with this man, or maybe they were use to sleeping on the floor out on the street for so long that it was just better that way.
Pamela Oswald
- Edit
That’s what I thought, why couldn’t the dog sleep on the mattress with him?
Sharon Goshorn
- Edit
God bless these two!!❤❤❤
Darellyn Plisch
- Edit
Good on him
Kathie Wagner
- Edit
This is a wonderful story….such love!
Karen Morris
- Edit
Bless his soul for being so caring.
Lee Bithell
- Edit
I would do that too. I couldn’t imagine giving up my dog
Trudi Elise Lichty
- Edit
God bless this precious baby always and forever and the one who loves them
Patricia Doughty
- Edit
Awwwwwww
Pamela Forster
- Edit
Glad they both found their home♡
Sidyl Deschrijver
- Edit
Prachtig gewoon
Joyce Hatch
- Edit
Your a great man, I would have done the same thing
Randy Martar
- Edit
Great
Dena Ravese
- Edit
❤
Emma Wells
- Edit
Isn’t that beautiful
Kay Linder
- Edit
Oh my god what a sweet man…
Jane Mary Gardiner
- Edit
Good on him! But why did he not keep the bed so that they could sleep together and both be warm and reasonably comfortable?