"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain

In a return to a familiar theme, the often dark and humorous musings of Mark Twain have taken on a life of their own in the form of a developing social phenomenon. The observation that has captured global attention is his timeless remark: "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man."

In recent years, a number of European countries have seen a resurgence of homelessness reaching unprecedented levels. The fact that makeshift shelters from the upholstery of public buildings to hidden enclosures are being discovered is a grim testament to this trend. However, exceptions exist where these unfavorable phenomena seem less pronounced.

A study on the comparison between homeless men and dogs in modern-day London brought forth an analysis. Over 300 individuals were surveyed, with respondents grading their trust in the homeless individuals on a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5, where 1 signified an avoidable encounter and 5 warranting open interaction. In contrast, a well-delinquent character dog was also rated, its performance compared alongside the findings from assessing homeless men.

While results from both categories closely tied in very low average scores, statistically significant divergences were noticed. A substantial disparity, in particular, emerged in correlation with participant phrases. Concerning interactions with homeless individuals, many people overlapped phrases such as, "Feeling threatened each time seeing them," or, "Concerning safety their presence evokes." Dogs however drew some other expressions. Phrases manifested as, "Environmental worries start to rise with them," and so on.