I was walking my two dogs along the Charles River in Cambridge a couple of months ago and came across a homeless man fast asleep with his dog curled up beside him. The dog lay there, tucked into his master’s hip, watchful, loyal and quiet.

Also beside the man was a bottle of water in a bucket, presumably to keep it cool during the night and his shopping cart of possessions. Something struck me about the scene. Here was a chap trying to do what he could to keep his friend with him and not abandon him to a shelter, both loyal to each other. As I walked my two spoiled dogs home I decided I couldn’t bare that homeless man’s dog going hungry. After dropping off my dogs at the house I walked to my local Whole Foods, picked up a loaf of bread, some peanut butter, a bag of apples and a bag of dog food. I walked back to where they were, the man was still asleep, the dog still beside him. I placed the bag of groceries beside his shopping cart, his dog lay quiet, still watching and sniffed the air.

I like to think that the man woke up hungry, wondering how he and his dog were going to eat that day. I hope he didn’t have a nut allergy.