When the covid pandemic first started, an officer saw Peppa and wanted to pet her. I was a bit hesitant because of covid and explained that I wasn’t comfortable with that at the time. However, I told her that once things settled down, I would find her and she could pet Peppa. I felt bad about it, but my concern was for safety, not only for myself but for my loved ones as well. True to my word, I did find her and followed through on that promise several months later.
Some months ago, a young man who appeared to be experiencing some hardships asked if he could pet Peppa. I felt similarly to how I did when Officer Torres asked, with the same kinds of safety concerns on my mind. I responded the same way, letting him know I wasn’t comfortable due to covid.
He reassured me not to worry, saying nothing would happen. Again, I felt bad, but I held firm and told him that at some point in the future I would be okay with it, just not at that moment. We then shifted to talking about why Peppa’s ears were wet and how she had just come from a vet visit. After some more conversation, I said goodbye and went on my way.
Here is the part I want to be honest about, because it is something I have reflected on with some discomfort. I told him my hesitation was about the pandemic, but there was more to it. This was during a time when mask wearing was still considered important, and he had his mask down around his neck. His relaxed approach to that, combined with the fact that he was carrying a lot of belongings and his hands did not appear very clean, made me more cautious. In my mind, those factors seemed to increase the potential risk.
Whether or not someone is experiencing homelessness does not actually determine their covid risk. I recognize that the connection I made was not entirely fair, and that is something I have thought about. At the same time, I can understand why I responded the way I did given my concerns in that moment.
There was a previous experience where I allowed someone in a similar situation to pet Peppa, and afterward I noticed something that raised concerns about hygiene. Because of that, I became more cautious about setting boundaries when certain hygiene related factors seemed present.
My internal struggle is that petting Peppa might have genuinely brightened that young man’s day, and I said no partly out of concern for cleanliness and safety. That may not have been entirely fair to him, and I do feel conflicted about it. At the same time, I believe protecting the health of those I care about was the right call.
What are your thoughts on this?
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