Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, New York City Council, the Mayor's Office of Animal Welfare (MOAW) and the NYC Department of Social Services (DSS) announced that, for the first time, the City will provide free pet food at 22 City-funded food pantries across all five boroughs, beginning Oct. 19.
Earlier this year, Mayor Mamdani tripled baselined funding for DSS's Community Food Connection (CFC) program, which supports more than 700 food pantries citywide. In partnership with the City Council, the Mamdani Administration has allocated $78 million for food distribution in Fiscal Year 2027, and an additional $500,000 to provide pet food at participating pantries.
For many New Yorkers, pets are family. But as the cost of living rises, feeding a pet can become an untenable financial burden - forcing some families to make the heartbreaking choice to surrender an animal they love. By making free dog and cat food available where New Yorkers already pick up groceries, the City is helping families care for themselves and their pets under one roof. The administration has also partnered with the City Council to invest in spay and neuter services to strengthen the City's safety net for animals.
"The affordability crisis affects every member of a family, including the pets we love," said Mayor Mamdani. "No New Yorker should have to choose between feeding themselves and feeding their pets. Keeping families together means keeping pets at home, too. That's why we're investing $500,000 to provide free pet food at 22 city-funded pantries across all five boroughs, while tripling funding for more than 700 food pantries citywide."
"For many of us, our pets are family. And when money gets tight, we know people will skip their own meals before letting their animals go hungry," said DSS Commissioner Erin Dalton. "Thanks to new funding from the city, families can now pick up pet food at 22 food pantries in the same trip they make for their own groceries. I'm pleased we can now make it easier to care for every member of the household."
"Animal welfare and human well-being are deeply connected. When families struggle to afford basic necessities for their pets, they risk losing an important source of companionship, stability, and connection," said MOAW Director Allie Taylor. "By bringing pet food assistance directly into communities, we're helping prevent financial hardship from separating people from the animals who are part of their lives."
Where to find free pet food
Starting Oct. 19, free pet food for dogs and cats will be available at the following food pantries:
Bronx:
- Part of the Solution: 2759 Webster Ave., 10458
- New York Common Pantry: 1290 Hoe Ave., 10459
- Davidson Community Center: 2038 Davidson Ave., 10453
- The Kingsbridge Heights Community Center: 3067 Kingsbridge Terrace, 10463
Queens:
- First United Methodist Church of Jamaica: 162-10 Highland Ave., 11432
- River Fund: 89-11 Lefferts Boulevard, 11418
- Yeshua Worldwide Ministries Food Pantry: 7911 Caldwell .Ave., 11379
- Hour Children Community Outreach: 36-49 11th Street, 11106
Brooklyn:
- Community Help in Park Slope: 200 Fourth Ave., 11217
- Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty: 5361 Preston Court, 11234
- On the Go Relief: 2832 Fulton Street, 11207
- St. John's Bread and Life Food Pantry: 795 Lexington Ave., 11221
- The Campaign Against Hunger: 2004 Fulton Street, 11233
- YMCA Community Market: 2980 West 29th Street, 11224
Manhattan:
- Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen Pantry: 296 Ninth Ave., 10001
- New York Common Pantry: 8 East 109th Street, 10029
- St. Clemens Food Pantry: 423 West 46th Street, 10036
- The Father's Heart Ministries: 543-545 East 11th Street, 10009
- The Lower Eastside Girls Club: 402 East 8th Street, 10009
- Trinity's Services and Food for the Homeless: 602 East 9th Street, 10009
Staten Island:
- Project Hospitality: 205 Canal Street, 10304
- Feeding with TLC: 309 St. Paul's Ave., 10304
"For too many New Yorkers, the rising cost of living is making it harder to afford the essentials for themselves and their pets. By making pet food available at city-funded food pantries, we are taking an important step toward ensuring families can access the resources they need to keep their pets healthy, safe, and at home," said Chair of the NYC Council Animal Welfare Caucus Harvey Epstein. "As Chair of the New York City Council Animal Welfare Caucus, I applaud this investment in the well-being of both people and animals, and I look forward to continuing our work to make New York City a place where no family has to give up a pet because they can no longer afford to care for them."
"As a pet owner, I am thrilled to see our efforts come to life! Soon, families will be able to visit participating City-funded food pantries and receive free food for their pets," said Council Member Shirley Aldebol. "These investments will help ease the financial burden on pet owners, keep pets in loving homes, reduce pressure on overcrowded shelters, and expand access to necessities for pets. While there is still more work to be done, this is an important step towards ensuring that no family has to choose between putting food on the table and caring for their furry friends."
"This initiative is about so much more than providing pet food. It's about reaching New Yorkers where they are and reminding them that they don't have to face difficult times alone," said Risa Weinstock, President and CEO of Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC). "When pet parents visit a food pantry, they're not just receiving food for their animals. They're also gaining a connection to a network of community organizations and resources that can help them navigate challenges before they become crises. At ACC, we know how deeply people love their pets, and we also know how isolating it can feel when you're struggling to care for them. This initiative sends an important message: help is available, and keeping families together is a responsibility we all share."
"Staten Island families have told us that their pets are family and they will skip their own meals to feed them. When I testified before the City Council in support of a pet food pantry pilot, I asked that Staten Island not be left out," said Heather M. Butts, Former Chair and Current Member of the Staten Island Hunger Task Force. "We're grateful to Mayor Mamdani, the Mayor's Office of Animal Welfare and DSS for listening. Under the leadership of our current Chair, Antoinnette Donegan, the entire Staten Island Hunger Task Force will continue to support this effort. Pet food at Project Hospitality and Feeding with TLC means fewer impossible choices, less strain on family budgets and more families staying together with their pets."
"Bronx residents experience some of the highest rates of food insecurity in the city, and that extends to our beloved companion animals," said Tanya Copeland, Co-Founder and President Bronx Community Cats. "Pantry support for both people and pets will ensure the recent changes to SNAP benefits won't have catastrophic consequences on families who long to remain together during these challenging economic times. We commend Mayor Mamdani and the City Council for this progressive, proactive solution."
"Access to pet food is a simple but meaningful way to help families through difficult times, prevent unnecessary surrenders, and keep pets where they belong: at home," said Will Zweigart, Executive Director of Flatbush Cats. "We applaud the Mayor Mamdani and the City Council for recognizing that supporting pets also means supporting the people who care for them."
"As a foster-based rescue, LIC Feral Feeders understands firsthand how the rising cost of pet food strains the resources of both rescue organizations and the families who care for animals," said Victoria Koulouris, President and Founder, Long Island City Feral Feeders. "We see how financial hardship can force people to surrender beloved pets simply because they can no longer afford to feed them. Providing pet food through existing human food pantries is a practical, compassionate way to help keep pets with the families who love them, support community cat caregivers and ease the financial burden on foster-based rescues so we can continue our lifesaving work."
"For many families in the Bronx, pets are more than companions - they are family, a source of comfort and a part of the home," said Hydia Cohen, Founder of Bronx Dog Haven. "No one should have to face the heartbreaking decision of giving up a beloved pet because they can no longer afford to feed them. Providing pet food through existing food pantries is an important step toward preventing unnecessary surrenders, supporting families before they reach a crisis and keeping pets where they belong - at home, with the people who love them. We're grateful to see this investment in a future where families can access the resources they need to stay together."
