How You Can Help

Gene and Ginger at For the Love of Pets free Clinic

Pets of the Homeless, a nonprofit organization, is taking action to help pets of the homeless and less fortunate in communities across the United States and Canada. We are immeasurably grateful for members and supporters who make this work a reality. There is no cost to enroll although donations are greatly appreciated to help defer processing costs and add to our grants to veterinarians who provide volunteer care for pets of the homeless.

There are many ways individuals who want to help can make a difference for pets of the homeless. Any help makes a difference.

How Can I Help?

What is needed:

Individuals to spread the word about the mission of Pets of the Homeless to family members, friends, co-workers and local businesses. Sharing the work of Pets of the Homeless can easily be accomplished by providing the website petsofhomeless.org and info@petsofhomeless.org in email, phone calls and by word of mouth.

Volunteers willing to offer time at local soup kitchens or food banks. This may open the door to encourage their additional assistance in helping the pets of their homeless clients. Ask if they will partner with a Pets of the Homeless member who will provide pet food.

Volunteers ar needed who will take pet food to the streets and hand it out.  Some Food Banks & Soup Kitchens are unavailable or unwilling to distribute food to pets of the homeless, volunteers are needed who will take the pet food to the streets and hand it out.   Some Food Banks do not want to encourage people to keep their pets and feel pets prevent the homeless from receiving other services. If this is their philosophy, they will not accept donated pet food from our collection sites.

Volunteer Recruiters to take cans/bags of extra pet food to veterinarians, pet stores, groomers and ask if they have heard of the nonprofit organization, Pets of the Homeless. Determine if they would be willing to become a Collection Site. Pets of the Homeless will provide materials and decals to help recruiters sign up collection sites.  Click here for more information.

Volunteer Collections Sites receive donated pet food and supplies. Collection sites can be Veterinary Clinics/Hospitals, pet stores, groomers, feed stores, and individually agreed upon sites.  We have dentist offices and schools as collection sites.  Recruiters might check with all these possibilities.  Click here to become a Collection Site.

Volunteers to re-package donated pet food into quart sized baggies and deliver to the distribution sites with prior agreement.

Most homeless with pets are transit and move around daily seeking shelter, food, water and bathrooms. Distribution centers (Food Banks/Soup Kitchens) need to have repackaged pet food in smaller quantities to give away. Larger bags of food are impossible for the homeless to manage. Can you imagine carrying 25 pounds of pet food?

Food Banks, Homeless Shelters and Soup Kitchens to agree to distribute the pet food from the collection sites to the homeless and impoverished.  Sign up to distribute pet food by using the Become a Distributor of Donated Pet Food form.

Suggestions to assist Food Bank/Soup Kitchens establish a routine to help pets of the homeless.  Ask all your clients if they have a pet. Clients are usually surprised by the question. If they answer, "Yes", hand them a quart Ziploc bag of cat/dog food.  Advise the client to ask for pet food at their next visit. Once the word spreads, those with pets will start asking for pet food.

Talk about the Pets of the Homeless Grant Program. Advise local veterinarians and nonprofit organizations about the Pets of the Homeless Grant Program. Volunteer veterinarians and assistants are needed to go to places where the homeless congregate to administer veterinary care to pets of the homeless and destitute. Pets of the Homeless provides grants to help defer costs for clinics that provide immunizations, de-worming, flea/tick care, spay/neutering and other care. Click here to learn more.

Talk about our new Sleeping Crate Project.  If you are working or volunteering at a homeless shelter let them know that Pets of the Homeless will ship collapsable sleeping crates, food bowls and cleaning supplies.  Click here for more information

Gifts of cash that allow us to continue to award grants, purchase and ship pet food to local food banks, pantries or soup kitchens in your community, purchase and ship sleeping compartments to homeless shelters so pets can come in, and for operational expenses associated with the ongoing business needs of the organization.  All donations are tax deductible.  For ways to donate click here.