Two million pounds of pet food. That's the absolutely mind-blowing mountain of kibble that Feeding the Pets of the Homeless has handed out to starving dogs and cats since 2008. This international nonprofit, running in both the US and Canada, is on a ferocious mission to guarantee that no pet goes hungry. Their goal? Providing pet food and emergency veterinary care for the beloved animals of people experiencing homelessness — and they're absolutely crushing it. In an age when community-powered giving has never been hotter, this is one movement worth screaming about.
“No pet — no matter who their guardian is — deserves to go hungry,” declares Genevieve Frederick, the founder and president of the nonprofit. Through sheer passion, she's ignited an international movement of people rallying behind pets whose caretakers are currently unhoused. The numbers are staggering: beyond delivering over 930 tons of pet food, they've given medical treatment to 30,000 pets through a network of more than 1,600 partner hospitals, pouring over $3.8 million into veterinary care and support. They even ship sleeping crates to homeless shelters so pets can legally stay by their humans' side.
“Pets mean the world to people — and they mean even more to people experiencing homelessness,” says Frederick. “When they can't afford veterinary care or even a bag of kibble, it shatters my heart. The anguish you hear in the voices of people calling because their pet is injured or sick is genuinely painful.” Frederick notes they're seeing a troubling rise in the number of women and elderly individuals facing homelessness. “As an older woman myself, it drives me to use whatever influence I have to speak up and help their pets,” she says.
the fifth guardian — With homelessness climbing, the organization's battle plan includes spreading the message far and wide so communities and everyday people can jump in and help. Want to donate, volunteer, or locate a pet food drop-off point? Head over to petsofthehomeless.org. Businesses can also sign up as donation sites and partner with a local food bank to distribute the pet food to the animals who need it.
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