Free pet food delivered to your home — programs for seniors and people with disabilities
For a senior citizen or person with a disability who is homebound, getting out to pick up pet food can be difficult — and for many, buying it at all is challenging when income is fixed and every dollar is accounted for. A growing number of local programs address exactly this situation: they deliver free dog food, cat food, and other pet supplies directly to homebound individuals, often alongside or as an extension of existing meal delivery services.
- NOTE: The qualifications for these services are generally the same as for the “regular” human food Meals on Wheels. Also keep in mind the exact name of the pet food delivery may also change based on location and part of the country - please keep that in mind when searching or asking for a program.
This page covers how these programs work, who qualifies, and how to find one near you. For pet food available through pantries, shelters, and community sources that you can visit in person or pick up locally, see NHPB's broader free pet food page. For free human meal delivery through Meals on Wheels — hot meals and grocery boxes for seniors and the homebound — see NHPB's Meals on Wheels page.
How Meals on Wheels pet food programs started and how they work
Meals on Wheels volunteers and drivers noticed something over time: a significant number of seniors and disabled clients were giving away all or part of their delivered meals to feed their pets. People on fixed incomes were going without food themselves so their dogs and cats could eat. Surveys of Meals on Wheels clients have found that more than one in five seniors with pets go without food themselves in order to feed their animals.
In response, many local Meals on Wheels organizations began partnering with animal shelters, rescue groups, and pet charities to add pet food to their home delivery routes. These programs go by different names in different areas — AniMeals, WALOP (We All Love Our Pets), Pets on Wheels — but the structure is similar: pet food donated by the community or purchased through grants is delivered alongside or separately from human meals, often by the same volunteers.
- NOTE: Not every Meals on Wheels organization in the country offers this — availability depends on whether the local chapter has built a pet food partnership in its area. But the number of programs doing this has grown significantly, and coverage continues to expand.
Meals on Wheels and PetSmart Charities — a national partnership
The largest and most established national program for delivering pet food to homebound seniors is a partnership between Meals on Wheels America and PetSmart Charities, running continuously since 2019. PetSmart Charities has committed financial help to support local Meals on Wheels affiliates in building pet food programs for their clients. The partnership has delivered more than 15 million pet meals to homebound seniors across the country.
The program works through the network of more than 5,000 local Meals on Wheels programs. Where it is active, pet food is delivered alongside the client's regular human meal delivery — the same volunteer who brings lunch also brings kibble. Beyond food, many participating programs also help connect seniors with veterinary care access, grooming, and emergency pet boarding when needed.
Not every Meals on Wheels affiliate currently has this option — availability depends on whether the local chapter has built one and received grant funding. The program is actively expanding. To find out whether a pet food component is available through your local Meals on Wheels, call them directly and ask. Pet programs at local affiliates often go by names like PALS (Pets Assisting the Lives of Seniors) or AniMeals. To find your local Meals on Wheels program, visit https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/ or call (888) 998-6325.
PAWS — Pets Are Wonderful Support
Pets Are Wonderful Support, known as PAWS, is a San Francisco-based program founded in 1987 that provides comprehensive free pet care services to low-income seniors over 60 and adults with disabling illnesses or disabilities — including HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other serious conditions. Their model covers pet food delivery, veterinary care access and financial assistance, dog walking, in-home cat care, and emergency pet fostering when a client is hospitalized. All services are provided free of charge.
PAWS, part of the Shanti Project, is significant beyond San Francisco because it has directly helped launch similar programs in dozens of other communities across the country. If you live outside the Bay Area, searching for "PAWS" or "Pets Are Wonderful Support" along with your city name may surface a locally modeled program. PAWS SF can be reached at [email protected] or (415) 979-9550 — even if you are not in San Francisco, they maintain a resource list and may be able to point you toward something in your area. The resource list is at https://www.shanti.org/programs-services/pets-are-wonderful-support/resources/.
Pet Help Finder — search by ZIP code
Pet Help Finder is a search tool that lets you enter your ZIP code and search specifically for pet food pantries and supply programs near you, including delivery options for homebound individuals. It is one of the better starting points for finding local resources that do not have national visibility. Search under "Food Pantry and Supplies" at https://www.pethelpfinder.org.
Other organizations that deliver pet supplies to the homebound
Meals on Wheels affiliates are not the only source. Several other charities and nonprofit organizations provide pet food delivery or coordinate it for homebound clients.
Catholic Charities offices in many cities have programs that deliver food and other supplies, including pet food, to homebound clients. Contact your local Catholic Charities office (website: https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/) to ask about current availability. Also see the NHPB page about Catholic Charity resources.
Agency on Aging offices — local government organizations in every state that coordinate services for older adults — often have information on which organizations in their area provide pet supply delivery. A call to your local Area Agency on Aging is one of the most reliable ways to find what exists near you.
The Salvation Army operates food pantries and community outreach programs in most cities, and some locations include pet food as part of their distribution. Call your nearest Salvation Army center to ask - see our guide about the Salvation Army.
What these programs typically deliver
The specific supplies vary by location and depend on donations and funding available. Most programs can provide dry kibble for dogs or cats. Some also deliver wet food, treats, cat litter, and basic supplies. A small number arrange pickup of medications from a veterinarian on behalf of the homebound client. Programs are not unlimited — funding varies and some may have a waiting list — but they are free to qualified recipients.
Who qualifies for home pet food delivery
In general, the same people who qualify for Meals on Wheels human meal delivery qualify for pet food programs run through those organizations. This typically means seniors aged 60 or older, adults with a disability, and homebound individuals who have difficulty leaving their home to shop or travel. Veterans with qualifying conditions often qualify as well.
Income eligibility requirements vary by local program. Most Meals on Wheels programs do not turn people away based on inability to pay — they ask for a donation if you can make one, but the service is available regardless. Pet food add-on programs typically follow the same policy.
How to find a program near you
There is no single national directory of homebound pet food delivery programs — they are locally run and their presence varies by community. The most reliable approach is to make a few calls:
- Call your local Meals on Wheels program and ask specifically whether they offer pet food delivery or know of a local organization that does. Find your local affiliate at https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/ or call (888) 998-6325.
- Call the Eldercare Locator at (800) 677-1116 and ask about pet care assistance for homebound seniors in your area.
- Call your local Area Agency on Aging — every state has a network of these offices — and ask specifically about pet food programs.
- Call 211, the social services helpline available in most states, and ask about pet food assistance for homebound individuals.
- Use Pet Help Finder at pethelpfinder.com — search by ZIP code under "Food Pantry and Supplies."
Related Content From Needhelppayingbills.com
|
Need help navigating programs?