Why do so many homeless people have dogs?

Because sometimes a dog is as good as any man...

A dog will wake your arse up if someone tries to break into your cardboard box while your sleeping

people are more likely to give you money since most people care more about animals than humans

When did even people who insult them start calling vagrants "the homeless"?

Another intriguing example of PC indoctrination

May be a stray.

I read something one time where homeless dogs are actually some of the happiest.They get to eat lots of food (scraps from garbage, food given by people, etc.), they get a good amount of exercise from walking, and they are with their human 24/7.

In N.O., a dog (or two) used to be practically a shield of invulnerability from arrest for petty offenses. The gutter punks were the worst. They're out panhandling and harassing people, but some had purebred dogs that looked like they were only trip to the groomers away from Westminster.

When I see homeless with dogs, I throw the guy some dog food out my car window.

I think some cities also pay the homeless to take care of dogs.