dogs after her SNAP benefits were disrupted. Relief came recently when an Illinois nonprofit provided her with a grocery gift card to buy food for her family and pets.
“I don’t even make enough money for all my bills, let alone groceries,” said Lungwitz, 46, who works at an auto parts store. She had feared she might have to give up her cat, Bambi, and her dogs, Spike and Chloe.
The Supreme Court on Friday granted the Trump administration’s emergency appeal to temporarily block a lower court order requiring full funding of SNAP benefits amid the government shutdown, even though some states have already received payments. The uncertainty is placing additional strain on animal shelters.
Although SNAP funds cannot be used to purchase pet food, they help low-income families free up money to feed their animals. Many owners supplement pet diets with human food purchased with SNAP, said Stephanie Hicks, executive director of Care for Pets in Rockford, Illinois, which assisted Lungwitz. Volunteers sometimes accompany struggling families in grocery stores to help them stretch their dollars.
The Humane World for Animals estimates more than 20 million pets live in poverty with their families. Economic stress is a leading reason pets are surrendered to shelters, said spokesperson Kirsten Peek. With the shutdown leaving hundreds of thousands of workers unpaid, shelters are bracing for a possible surge in surrendered animals.
In Louisiana, the Companion Animal Alliance in Baton Rouge is even considering diverting funds from veterinary care to purchase pet food, after losing a donor that funded a program providing food to 200 families monthly. Shelter director Paula Shaw said the demand has led them to educate pet owners on ways to extend the life of pet food by mixing it with human food.
Massachusetts’ Charley’s Angels Pet Initiative saw immediate donations after a Facebook plea, and shelters across the country are reporting rising demand. New Leash on Life in Lebanon, Tennessee, saw its pet food pantry users jump to 125 in October, up from 75–100 a typical month, said executive director Angela Chapman.
In New Orleans, Zeus’ Rescues distributed double its usual pet food supply in October. Founder Michelle Cheramie said the shelter is seeing the highest demand in 20 years, with some families so desperate they abandon pets in the shelter yard.
Among those seeking help is Katie Saari, who is unemployed and struggling to apply for SNAP benefits. “They’re more important to me than I am, so I want to make sure they’re fed first,” she said of her two dogs.
Many food pantries are now stocking pet food, recognizing that families often prioritize feeding their pets, which may serve as emotional support animals. For Lungwitz, her pets have been a lifeline. Her Chihuahua was recommended by a psychiatrist to help with PTSD, while her 80-pound American Bulldog gave her a sense of safety after surviving domestic violence. Despite tight finances, she relies on food banks to keep her family and pets fed. “I’m struggling,” she said.