PetSmart Charities and Feeding America® share a simple but powerful belief: pets are family. Even when people experience food insecurity, they work hard and do what they can to ensure their pets have the food they need to thrive. For many families, a beloved dog or cat gives comfort, companionship and emotional support — especially during difficult times. But when household budgets are stretched, pet parents may face the painful choice of sacrificing food for themselves, surrendering a pet or relying on already crowded animal shelters.
Recognizing the close connection between human and animal well-being, PetSmart Charities began working with Feeding America in 2017 to distribute donated pet food through the nation’s largest hunger-relief network. The partnership connects PetSmart Charities’ resources with the Feeding America nationwide network of food banks, pantries and meal programs, helping families facing hunger access food for every member of their household in one place.
The need became especially visible during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, an estimated 53 million people turned to food banks, food pantries and meal programs for assistance. As families faced job loss, inflation and rising household expenses, many were also trying to keep their pets fed. PetSmart Charities responded by contributing $13.9 million in donated pet food to Feeding America, helping partner food banks distribute pet food alongside groceries and other essentials.
The model has continued to grow. In 2023, Feeding America reported that more than 113 partner food banks were offering pet food alongside food boxes and household essentials for people. Food bank teams report pet food as a highly requested resource, particularly as families faced rising food, housing, transportation and utility costs. Since the partnership began, PetSmart Charities has donated tens of millions of pounds of pet food for distribution through the Feeding America network.
Thanks to support from customer donors, PetSmart Charities works with national pet food manufacturer, Alphia, to produce dog and cat food for quarterly deliveries of donated pet food to participating Feeding America partner food banks. This regular supply helps food banks respond to ongoing demand, rather than treating pet food as an occasional or emergency only resource. It also allows families seeking support for themselves get the food their pets need during the same visit, reducing barriers and reinforcing the belief that pets are part of the family.
The scale of the collaboration is highlighted annually during Pet Hunger Awareness Day® on the last Tuesday of September, an initiative launched by PetSmart Charities in 2023 to coincide with Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month® to raise awareness of hunger on both ends of the leash.
The impact extends beyond the food itself. When budgets are stretched thin, this critical support helps pet parents experiencing food insecurity to re-direct resources to other household expenses such as rent, utilities, health care, and other critical needs. Together, PetSmart Charities and Feeding America help ensure families have the resources they need to nourish themselves and the pets they love. With every delivery, distribution and partnership, we’re helping to build healthier communities where people and pets can remain together, supported and cared for when they need each other most
Side Bar stats:
30 million pets live with people experiencing food insecurity.
More than 70% of households in America include at least one pet.
41% of pet parents report struggling with the cost of caring for their pets.
97% of pet parents consider their pets as family — including 51% who say they count as much as human members.
To date, nearly 400 million pet meals have been provided through the partnership with Feeding America.
