New York City will fund pet food pantries for the first time in its history after the City Council approved $750,000 (£562,000) in the fiscal year 2027 budget, a move advocates say could stop thousands of struggling families from surrendering their animals to overcrowded shelters.
The allocation forms part of a $1.5 million (£1.1 million) package for pet owners, with a further $750,000 dedicated to affordable spay and neuter services. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) confirmed the funding in a 1 July statement praising the Council's Animal Welfare Caucus for championing the measure.
