Tens of millions of pets are loved by families experiencing poverty. This is at least triple the number of dogs and cats entering shelters, many of whom are surrendered due to a lack of access to pet care resources. Stand with us today to increase access to affordable veterinary care, pet food and pet-inclusive housing.
People have tremendous love for their four-legged family members, yet millions struggle to care for their pets due to a lack of access to pet care. No one should be denied the opportunity to own a pet. That's why we launched the More Than a Pet campaign.
A national crisis
Millions of loving pet owners can’t access the veterinary services and resources they need to provide for their pets. Equitable access to care includes identifying and removing all the barriers someone may face in obtaining pet care and resources, with factors as complex and varied as transportation, language, time, finances and trust. This isn’t a new problem, but it has become an overlooked national crisis.
and that's three times more than the number who enter animal shelters every year.
living in poverty have never seen a veterinarian.
report an inability to obtain veterinary care.
A fair shake at pet ownership
Most people are aware of how poverty and structural inequality create challenges and barriers to accessing healthy food, education, jobs, health care and housing. Pet resources are no different. There are many communities that can’t access the veterinary care and resources they need to provide for their pets, but we believe everyone should be able to experience the joy, comfort and benefits of the human-animal bond. Regardless of race, ethnicity, geography or socioeconomic status, people and pets alike deserve a chance to be healthy and happy.
Help keep people and pets together. Sign the Petition
Together, we can make a difference
"I am so grateful for Pets for Life. I don't know what I'd do without them," says Janis from Idaho.
Learn more about how Pets for Life changes lives!
Through our programs such as Pets for Life and Rural Area Veterinary Services, we have been supporting hundreds of thousands of people and pets who do not have access to veterinary care and pet essentials for more than a decade. And through our DEI priority initiative, we aim to build upon that work to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the veterinary profession and the broader animal welfare field.
Since 2002, we’ve served more than 500,000 pets and their families living in poverty with veterinary services such as spay/neuter and vaccinations at no cost to the pet’s family. We’ve also donated more than $40 million worth of pet supplies, including 14 million pounds of pet food.
A special thanks to the partners who are supporting the More Than a Pet campaign.
