TACOMA, Wash. — A Tacoma pet food bank is on the brink of shutting down as their supplies and money are running low to help pet owners in need.
Puget Sound Pet Food Bank, its primary building located on S. Washington Street in Tacoma, has been serving the community since 2013.
However, after more than a decade of helping pet owners who need the extra help, the non-profit’s primary location is coming to an end.
“It’s really hard to think about the fact that we may not be able to continue to do what we’ve always done in the past,” said Deedee Howe, president of Puget Sound Pet Food Bank. “It’s going to hurt. It’s going to hurt significantly.”
Howe told KIRO 7 News that the pet food bank relies heavily on the community’s donations to stock its pet food supplies and pay the non-profit’s monthly rent.
But for the past several months, the organization simply cannot keep up with the number of new families depending on them.
“We’ve never had this many applications coming in and this many new people showing up,” she said. “The number of people that are asking for help is exploding.”
Unless the non-profit receives more support, Howe said the building will shut down on December 29, which may force many pet owners to make difficult decisions about their furry loved ones. Howe said the pet food bank will only operate from their Spanaway location.
“When you look at the homeless, when you look at the low-income, that’s (pets) what keeps a lot of them going. So again, not being able to continue to assist them or for them to think about surrendering their pet,” she shared.
KIRO 7 News spoke with Elizabeth Harris, who has been relying on the pet food bank for the last five years to help feed her five dogs.
“I’m low income and I’m a senior citizen and my income is limited. So, I really depend on them here being close to where I live. I can’t imagine going to Spanaway. I won’t be able to go,” she said.
“I’ll have to go without food so I can feed them (pets) because they’re more important to me,” Harris added.
This issue is not just isolated to the Puget Sound Pet Food Bank.
The Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County has recently been dealing with the same challenge.
“Just as recent as September where we were running dangerously low on pet food,” said Lauren Green, director of marketing and communications for the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County. “In 2023, our pet food and supply pantry distributed 90,000 pounds of pet food to community members in need. In 2024, we’re on track to exceed 100,000 pounds of pet food distributed. So, the demand is definitely there.”
Green said the pet food bank not only helps families feed their loved ones, but it also helps the shelter with its limited capacity to take in animals.
“Also helps keep pets with the people who they love the most and out of shelters,” she said.
If you would like to help the Puget Sound Pet Food Bank, please click here. The organization is also looking for volunteers to help with the increased demand.
The Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County also has a list of critical items in need to help feed pets. Please click here for the full list of details.
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