Las Vegas Shelter Hands Out 8,825lbs of Pet Food in Emergency Shutdown Pantry on November 10

The Animal Foundation staged a dramatic show of community support on Monday, November 10, 2025, when the shelter opened its grounds for an emergency pet food pantry event that drew families from across the Las Vegas Valley.

In the span of just three hours, volunteers handed out an astonishing 8,825 pounds of pet food to households struggling to feed 1,253 dogs and 512 cats.

The scale of the turnout revealed both the intense financial strain facing local families and the determination of residents to keep their pets at home rather than surrender them to a crowded shelter system.

Federal Shutdown and Sudden SNAP Reductions

The emergency pantry was not planned as a one-off gesture but as a direct response to an unfolding economic emergency.

With the federal government shutdown dragging into November and SNAP benefits being slashed without warning, thousands of households found themselves unable to afford basic groceries.

As budgets tightened further, feeding the family pet became an impossible luxury for many.

Animal Foundation CEO Hilarie Grey underscored the emotional weight behind these choices, explaining, “When you’re going through something, having your furry family with you is an important support, and for folks that may have lost their job or have something really awful going on, the thought of also losing their pet is really overwhelming.”

For single mother Kendra Carter, the fallout was immediate. Her monthly SNAP benefits plummeted from $1,500 to just $750, wiping out her ability to keep up with routine expenses.

“I don’t want to have to split or have to decide to take the dogs to the shelter because we can’t take care of them,” she said, calling the pantry “a huge help. This is money back in the pocket.”

Another mother, Mariam Luna, described how losing her $600 monthly SNAP benefit left her unable to afford even small joys for her children, much less premium pet food for her four animals.

“It’s super hard because we do have two kids and they do ask for a lot. There is a lot of things that I’m not able to buy,” she said, her voice reflecting the emotional toll of the moment.

Rep. Dina Titus Arrives With Donations and Strong Words

The urgency of the situation drew the attention of U.S. Representative Dina Titus, who arrived at the pantry carrying her own bag of cat food to add to the donation pile.

She did not hold back in criticizing the political gridlock behind the crisis, telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “I think we went through a lot of pain for nothing. We still haven’t solved the problem of the health crisis, but nobody likes to see a government shutdown. So people suffer as a result of it, and this SNAP has been one of those consequences.”

Her visit underscored the event’s significance: families weren’t simply seeking convenience — they were seeking survival.

Inside the Emergency Operation That Fed More Than 1,700 Pets

What unfolded on Monday resembled a coordinated disaster-response operation.

Volunteers stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Animal Foundation staff, bagging kibble, labeling supplies, and calling out household needs as the line stretched around the facility.

Cat owner and volunteer Tavon Wilmer spent the afternoon weighing and bagging food with quiet precision.

“It’s really important to help out, especially with everything that’s going on. I love what we’re doing. It’s really uplifting and it’s really caring for the community,” he said.

Each household received up to 10 pounds of food per pet, capped at 40 pounds per home — enough to provide immediate relief for families caught in an unexpected financial chokehold.

How the KEPPT Program Is Keeping Families and Pets Together

Monday’s event was part of the nonprofit’s growing KEPPT program — short for Keep Every Person and Pet Together.

Designed to prevent unnecessary pet surrenders, KEPPT tackles the real-life reasons families part ways with their animals, whether due to financial hardship, housing instability, or behavioral challenges.

The program provides free or low-cost pet food through its regular monthly pantry distribution, which operates by appointment on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

It also delivers veterinary financial assistance for emergencies, behavior support for struggling pet owners, and rental aid for families whose housing situations put their pet ownership at risk.

These measures target the root causes of shelter surrenders, helping reduce intake at a shelter already under intense pressure.

Pop-Up Pantries Bring Relief Directly to High-Need Neighborhoods

Acknowledging that one emergency event could not meet the full extent of the community’s need, The Animal Foundation quickly scheduled a series of pop-up pantries across the city.

These smaller, rapid-deployment events are designed to reach residents where transportation barriers or work schedules might otherwise prevent them from getting help.

Upcoming events include:

• November 18, 2025 – Siegel Suites Twain, 455 Twain Ave (11:30 AM – 1 PM)
• November 25, 2025 – Desert Oasis Apartments, 4445 Diamond Head Dr (11 AM – 12:30 PM)

Supplies at these pop-ups are limited, but households unable to wait can still request emergency food pickups during regular pantry hours.

Shelter Capacity Near Breaking Point

The flooding demand for emergency pet food reflects a much broader crisis unfolding inside the shelter itself, which has hit maxminun capacity several times this year.

The Animal Foundation reports a staggering 61% increase in animal intakes since 2020, leaving the facility caring for more than 1,000 animals at a time and pushing it toward the unthinkable: euthanizing for space.

“Our shelter is caring for over 1,000 animals, and we’re facing the heartbreaking possibility of euthanizing for space,” the nonprofit warned in its statement, revealing just how precarious the situation has become.

How Las Vegas Residents Can Step In and Help

The community can make an immediate impact through adoptions, fostering, and donations, all of which directly relieve pressure on the overwhelmed shelter.

Residents can visit the Animal Foundation Community Center at 655 N. Mojave Road to adopt animals from Tuesday to Sunday between 11 AM and 7 PM.

Fostering is free, with all necessary supplies provided. Donations — financial or food-based — remain the backbone of the pantry program, and supporters can contribute through the organization’s Amazon Wishlist.

Those seeking assistance or wishing to participate in programs can email KEPPT@animalfoundation.com for pantry and financial aid inquiries or foster@animalfoundation.com for fostering support.