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What is SNAP?
SNAP is the federal nutrition assistance program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that helps low-income households purchase groceries.
Eligible purchases include:
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Fruits, vegetables, bread, cereals, dairy products, meat, poultry, fish.
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Snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages.
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Seeds and plants that produce food for the household.
But SNAP benefits cannot be used for certain items. Among the excluded purchases are pet food.
Why pet food is explicitly excluded
The USDA’s eligible fooditems list states that non-food items, including “pet foods,” are not eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits. Food and Nutrition Service+1
As one explanation puts it:
“No, if you get SNAP benefits … you can’t use them on dog food, cat food, or any other pet food … because … the government considers pet food to be a ‘non-food’ item because it’s not for human consumption.”
From a policy perspective, this exclusion results from SNAP’s core purpose: to assist with human food and nutrition, not the care of pets or other household non-food needs.
The real-world impact on pet-owners
For households already facing financial insecurity—and especially for those with pets—this exclusion can have meaningful consequences. Examples:
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A family relying on SNAP may still be forced to spend personal cash to feed their pet, or worse, consider surrendering the pet when pet-food costs become unsustainable.
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Some pet owners may attempt to purchase human food items (which are SNAP-eligible) and feed them to pets as a workaround—though this may not always meet the pet’s nutritional needs.
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Local animal-welfare and human-services organizations note surges in demand for pet-food assistance when SNAP or other human food programs face disruptions.
Why this matters for Feeding Pets of the Homeless
Given our organization’s mission—helping pets of low income and people experiencing homelessness or domestic-violence survivor households—the SNAP exclusion of pet food presents a structural challenge:
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Even when individuals are accessing SNAP for household food, they cannot rely on that benefit for pet food, meaning their pet’s nutritional needs remain wholly dependent on other support (charity, petfood banks, donations).
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When people are forced to choose between feeding themselves (via SNAP) and feeding a pet, the risk of pet relinquishment or abandonment increases—which aligns with your concern about the burden on shelters and on the human–animal bond.
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The exclusion reinforces the need for dedicated pet-food assistance programs (like pet food pantries, partnerships with shelters, donation drives) to fill the gap. Our website lists over 500 location where you can get pet food (usually at a food bank).
Challenges & considerations
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While advocating for policy change is important, any legislative amendment to include pet food under SNAP would likely require reauthorising the program or increasing federal funding—complex and long term.
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Not all pet-food needs are equivalent: pets may have special dietary needs (veterinary diets) which are even harder to cover when the owner relies on SNAP for household food.
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There is a risk of inadvertently encouraging the use of SNAP funds to buy human foods redirected to pets: while technically permitted to buy eligible human food items, using SNAP in that way may undermine the program’s intent and could lead to confusion or compliance questions (though the rules permit buying human food).
Conclusion
In short: SNAP is a vital lifeline for millions of Americans struggling to afford groceries—but the program’s rules explicitly exclude pet food. For pet-owners with limited means, and particularly for homeless or housing-unstable individuals who rely on the emotional and practical support of their pets, this exclusion creates a tangible barrier. Organisations like Feeding Pets of the Homeless are crucial in filling that gap—providing the pet-food assistance and veterinary care that SNAP simply does not cover.
By raising awareness of this policy limitation, partnering with local support systems, and advocating for expanded assistance options, you help ensure that vulnerable households do not have to choose between self-care and caring for their companion animals.
When donating food this Holiday Season remember to include pet food! Our website lists over 500 locations where you can get pet food.
Veterans Day – November 11
This Veterans Day, Feeding Pets of the Homeless® honors the brave men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces by continuing our commitment to help veterans experiencing homelessness and their loyal companions.
If you know a veteran with a pet—whether they are in a VA homeless program, living in a shelter, or on the streets—please contact our headquarters. We can provide veterinary care if their pet becomes injured or ill.
Since 2008, we have helped over 630 veterans’ pets at local veterinary hospitals across the country. Because some veterans have multiple pets or require repeated care, we’ve processed more than 1,190 invoices to treat 755 pets, at a total cost of $464,990 (after discounts). Of these, 81% were dogs, many serving as vital emotional support and service animals—true lifelines for their owners.
Every day, and especially on Veterans Day, we thank our nation’s heroes and honor their service by caring for the pets who stand faithfully by their side.
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