Shelters and rescues overcrowded and overwhelmed as people struggle to pay for food and vet bills

I recently read an article on NBC about New York shelters stopping pet surrenders due to record capacity having reached over 1000 animals in their care. https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/animal-shelters-full-pets-expensive-inflation-rcna221043

The article cites rising costs of vet bills and dog food alongside the rising costs of other regular household expenses as major contributing factors, and notes that this is not unique to New York – rescues and shelters throughout the United States are feeling the weight as dogs are surrendered by their owners. Sadly, turning people away doesn’t change the circumstances that they, and their pets, face at home, leading many to take desperate measures, which often means abandoning their dogs in public areas.

This is not a new, but the rate at which this is happening is coming on the heels of record numbers of Covid dogs being surrendered or abandoned, and as we are seeing lower numbers of adoptions and longer stays for the dogs that have been rescued. The need for animal rescues and people to help foster our furry friends, then, has never been greater than it is right now.

One great suggestion made in the article was about helping people keep their furry family member by helping cover the cost of food. Here locally, we are fortunate to have a couple of options to help people do just that.

• Friends Involved in Dog Rescue (FIDO) has their Pet Food Bank Program in Oregon City : https://fidoanimeals.org/post-2/
  • According to FIDO, they created this program “for the express purpose of providing people of limited means a way to keep their animals. We accomplish this by offering dog food distribution services through our Pet Food Bank. In 2014 we added a Cat Food Bank to replace the closings of several cat food banks in the area. In 2022 we expanded our food support to include small animals, rabbits and birds.”
• The PONGO fund has a Pet Food Bank : https://www.thepongofund.org/the-pet-food-bank/
  • The PONGO fund says “The difficulty of keeping pets fed used to be a problem limited primarily to the homeless community. But not anymore. Because the hungry pets of the homeless are being joined more and more by the hungry pets of people who simply are having trouble making ends meet…middle-class folks pummeled by the economy, white-collar workers recently laid off; the unemployed, the underemployed, single parents, heroic victims of domestic violence, proud war veterans, the disabled, fixed income seniors and more.”
• In Tigard, the The Foundation for Tigard Tualatin Schools has a program called “Packed with Pride” : https://packed-with-pride-tigard-tualatin.square.site/about
  • Packed with Pride provides food for both humans and pets.
• Portland Animal Welfare Team in NE Portland : https://www.pawteam.org/food-and-more
  • “Our supply bank carries essentials like pet food, litter, over-the-counter flea control, and other accessories like leashes, coats, and toys. “
• Greenhill Humane Society in Eugene has a pet food and supply pantry : https://www.green-hill.org/pet-food-bank/
  • “If you need temporary assistance feeding your pet, please remember that Greenhill’s Pet Food Pantry is open to the public 7 days a week, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 88530 Green Hill Rd. You’re welcome to call us at 541.689.1503 before you visit to confirm availability of specific items.”
• Humane Society for Southwest Washington “CHOW” Pet Food Assistance : https://southwesthumane.org/services/pet-food-assistance/
  • Various options and locations are available to obtain pet food in Vancouver, Longview, and through HSSW partners.
• Homeward Pet Adoption Center in Woodinville, Washington, has their “Homeword Pet Food Bank” : https://www.homewardpet.org/homeward-pet-food-bank/
  • “Homeward Pet has one of the most robust Food Bank Programs in our community, with beneficiaries as far east as Yakima. While we don’t run the program for the public directly out of our shelter, we donate to various organizations that bring your donations closer to the people who need them.”
• Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland Pet Food Assistance Program : https://arlgp.org/resources/pet-food-assistance/
  • When you are in need of food, please complete our online Pet Food Pantry Form, and select your desired pick-up day/time. We ask that you complete the order form EACH TIME you need to pick up food. We are asking for orders to be submitted before 2PM due to high volumes.”
• Council on Aging of Central Oregon has their “Pet Pals” program : https://www.councilonaging.org/programs/pet-pals/
  • “For many seniors, fur babies are like a best friend. They smile with their tails and love you just the way you are. But for some people, it’s not always easy to get to the pet store, and vet bills can add up. That’s why the Council on Aging of Central Oregon has created the Pet Pals Program, which provides free pet food, supplies, and veterinary care to Meals on Wheels clients in Bend, La Pine, Madras, Prineville, and Sisters.”
• Humane Society of Central Oregon’s HOPE Pet Food Bank : https://www.hsco.org
  • “Our HOPE Pet Food Bank serves 800-1000 families with pets annually, and provides more than 25,000 lbs. of pet food and supplies to local Food Banks.”
• Pendleton Animal Welfare Shelter has a Pet Food Assistance Program and also offers access to reduced cost veterinary services : https://pendletonpaws.org/about/contact-us/
  • The Prevent Homeless Pets (PHP) clinic in Benton City, WA is open to qualified low income families, and to caretakers of stray and feral cats (Stray/feral caretakers do not need to meet the income guidelines). PAWS provides transportation to the clinic several times a month from Pendleton and Hermiston.”

Throughout the United States, the Shelter Animals Count reports that there are more than 26.6 million animals in shelters and rescues, 2.8 million of which were admitted in the first half of 2025.  Since this is a voluntary count that does not include all shelters and rescues, the actual number is probably higher. Because of this lack of complete information, the number of dogs in shelters and rescues in Oregon has been difficult to estimate. According to Shelters Animals Count, 29,017 dogs entered Oregon shelters and rescues in 2024, but the actual number is probably higher.

Oregon, like the rest of the United States, is entering a time of economic strain and uncertainty, and if even a fraction of Washington County’s 145,000 dogs are surrendered to shelters and rescues, this will put an enormous strain on an already overwhelmed system. Helping everyone keep their dogs by providing access to free and reduced cost food and veterinary services is in our entire community’s best interest. If you know anyone who could use the resources listed here, please pass this along.