Berlin, Germany, November 1, 2008--A dog heads indoors for a bite to eat at a soup kitchen recently opened exclusively for pets of the homeless and unemployed.

Claudia Hollm, the establishment's director, dismissed criticism that it may be more sensible to raise money for people than dogs given the looming financial crisis.

"Making sure dogs don't go hungry is just as important as making sure that people don't starve," she told Reuters. The kitchen's sponsors include pet food manufacturers.