We’re here to help when your pet’s bowl is empty.

If you need help feeding your pets – cats and dogs – please consider applying for help before giving them up to a shelter.

The Pet Food Pantry provides free pet food, for up to 3 months, to pet owners in Wake County who cannot afford to feed their pets. This will keep pets fed while the owner finds additional ways to feed their pets. Pet owners can apply again in six months, if their circumstances have not changed.

To Get Free Pet Food:

• Pet owner must be 18 years old or older. Only one applicant per household.
• Pets – cats and dogs – must be fixed (also known as be spayed for females or neutered for males) by the time food is given away. Documentation showing proof of spay or neuter will be required.
• Low-cost or free spay/neuter services are available. Please see the SAFE Care Clinic portion of this web site. For additional resources see Wake County Low-cost Spay & Neuter Services.
• Pet owner must have a photo ID card.
• Pet owner must have a clear financial need – people must be unable to pay for pet food in any other way. Proof of financial need will be required.

Acceptable forms of proof of financial need are:

1. Medicaid card (for adult, not child)
2. WIC card/coupon (with current date)
3. Social Security Income (for adult, not child) Note: Social Security Income is not a qualification unless it is your only income. (Provide a copy of last year’s tax return; SSI declaration letter and copies of SSI checks are not sufficient).
4. EBT (food stamp) card with photo ID and food store receipt dated within 3 weeks.
5. IRS Form 1040 (Not W-2 or pay stub) showing income levels less than:

SAFE Haven’s Pet Food Pantry Guidelines

This program is to help pet owners who are having trouble paying for pet food and wish to keep their pets.

Before you apply, please know that:

• Pet Owners Must Apply: Pet owners must complete an application to receive food – the information will be kept private. Only one application per household.
• Pet Owners Must Pick-Up Food Once a Month: Recipients must pick up food only once a month. We must limit the number of pets that are given food and this will be based on the pet owner’s situation. Arrangements can be made for those without transportation.
• Pets Must Be Fixed – All cats and dogs must be fixed (spayed for females and neutered for males) by the time food is given away. Low-cost or free services are available. Documentation showing proof of spay or neuter will be required.
• The Pantry Gives the Amount to Fit Your Pets: The amount of pet food given will depend upon the number of pets (cats and dogs), their size, and how much food the Pantry has at the time of pick-up.
• Pet Owners Get No Choice in Pet Food: All of the pet food in SAFE Haven’s Pet Food Pantry is donated. So, we cannot promise that pet owners will get a certain quantity or brand of food.
• Pet Food Amount Changes: We cannot guarantee that food is available every month. Our pet food supplies are donated, so the amount of food available changes month-to-month.
• No New Pets: The pet owner cannot acquire more pets or animals, while taking part in this program. The pet owner cannot breed their pets or animals while taking part in this program.
• Right to Deny Food: SAFE Haven for Cats has the right to not give food to anyone under any circumstances or to make exceptions based on individuals’ needs.
• Due to volume, we are unable to provide food for rescue groups or feral cat colony caretakers.

SAFE Haven’s Pet Food Pantry is a service of SAFE Haven for Cats and is made possible through donations of local community members and businesses.

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