Households experiencing financial hardship can apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. But what about their animal companions? They require nourishment as well.
One individual, backed by nearly 85,000 supporters at the time of writing, has urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to address that gap.
Edward B. Johnston Jr. wrote in his petition on the website Care2 that he’s received SNAP aid for just a short time but cannot afford food for his dog because of SNAP rules.
“Some contend that people shouldn’t keep pets if they can’t afford them, but the reality is that an individual’s or family’s financial situation can change suddenly,” Johnston stated. “Is it fair to force someone to relinquish a pet they’ve cared for years simply because they hit a rough financial spell?”
The limits on who is eligible for food assistance and under what conditions are already a contentious topic, particularly given recent budget reductions under the Trump administration.
A USDA spokesperson explained by email that the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 defines eligible foods as those bought for home consumption. A SNAP guidance page on the USDA website clarifies that pet food is not covered; similarly, soap, paper goods and vitamins are excluded.
Yet providing for pets remains a challenge for many families facing monetary strain. During the recession’s peak, animal welfare groups and veterinarians noted the effects of economic pressure on pet owners, who in numerous instances had to give up their animals. The Humane Society of the United States even launched a Foreclosure Pets Grant Program in 2008 and 2009 to support local efforts to keep pets with their families.
The ASPCA estimates that 6.5 million animals enter U.S. shelters annually. A 2015 survey of 12,000 people conducted by the organization found that 18% of respondents who relinquished a pet cited housing issues as the reason.
Pet Food Pantries Help Owners in Need
The economic pressures of the downturn also spurred the growth of pet food pantry initiatives, according to a 2011 piece by Stacy Nowicki in the Stanford Journal of Animal Law and Policy.
Friends of Strays, a no-kill shelter in St. Petersburg, Florida, has operated a pet food pantry since 2015. People receiving food stamps, HUD assistance or Social Security may visit the shelter on a designated monthly day to pick up food for their cats or dogs.
Shelter community relations manager Claire Wray said roughly 40 to 50 people line up each month to collect pet food. The program’s popularity has prompted a change so the pantry can open whenever the shelter is open. “They’ll receive a limited amount of food,” Wray said, “but they can come as often as necessary, instead of waiting for a single day each month.” Along with food, each visitor receives a list of other local resources to help care for their pets during hard times.
Donations from neighbors and area businesses allow the shelter to distribute more than 20,000 pounds of pet food annually to individuals, other rescues and social service organizations in the region.
“Our goal is to keep as many pets as possible in their homes rather than have them surrendered to the shelter,” Wray said.
The Humane Society of the United States and Best Friends Animal Society provide directories of assistance for pet owners by state, including food banks, affordable spay/neuter services, and temporary foster options.
If you’re struggling to pay for your pet’s medical needs, there may be organizations that offer grants to offset expenses. And if you’re facing housing instability or homelessness, some shelters will accept pets and offer help.
Still, this petition for pet support will likely need far more than 85,000 signatures to draw significant attention from policymakers.
Lisa Rowan is a senior writer and producer at Savinly. She volunteers at Friends of Strays.
