Homeless couple get help offers

Shirley and Selwyn McMillan might be stuck living in their car for the time being but their animals may be moving out.

The couple are living in their Toyota Scepter with their four chihuahuas, six cats, a rabbit and some of their possessions since they lost their Whakatane home 12 months ago.

Since their plight was reported on Stuff on Wednesday, Shirley has had numerous phone calls and text messages from people offering to help.

Rehoming part of her mobile menagerie might be the first step with the couple contemplating fostering out seven of their 11 pets.

‘‘We have had one lady who has offered to foster out the animals.

‘‘And we did say we would be interested in fostering the cats and the rabbit.

‘‘But obviously getting a place that we can shift all our belongings to would be the ideal situation.’’

The couple has been caught in a rut after their landlord claimed their house back in April last year and their living situation continued to spiral downwards resulting in them living on the streets.

Their situation is especially poignant due to Selwyn suffering from epileptic seizures.

This forced Shirley to quit her job and become his full-time carer.

They don’t have access to the internet so are unable to see offers that are being made on social media from around New Zealand and overseas.

They have included offers to pay their bond for a property and numerous offers of furniture.

‘‘We have heard people were looking for us to offer hot drinks, showers, furniture and pet food.

‘‘Which is really nice to know that people care,’’ Shirley said.

Whether the fostering of the cats and rabbit would be a permanent situation is undecided.

‘‘It’s a lot to take in at the moment, I have to be careful with Selwyn’s health and not over stress him.’’

The animals are what makes sure that the McMillans keep going every day as they have to be fed and exercised.

The couple had been looking for cheap housing in Tokoroa and were surprised by the community’s outpouring of assistance, Shirley said.

They are currently back in Whakatane due to Selwyn having a hospital appointment on Friday for his epilepsy.

The McMillans haven’t received any definite housing options yet.

While the couple is appreciative of people willing to help them, they aren’t in a position to accept large items at the moment.

‘‘Unfortunately, as kind as it is for people, they may not realise we don’t have too much room to put everything.

‘‘We have got our own furniture so it is about getting a place and then maybe some help from getting our items from Whakatane to Tokoroa or wherever we are fortunate to get a house.

‘‘We would like to maybe make a trip to Tokoroa in the weekend to meet the people and to thank them for kindness.’’