Starting a Pet Food Assistance Program

Self-Assessment Tool- BC SPCA

This printable self-assessment tool provides a checklist of questions for organizations thinking of developing a pet food assistance program. The checklist helps assess their level of service and presents ideas on strengthening their programming. It also helps identify strengths and areas where programs may require further development. 


Background Information: Food Banks (various) - The Global Foodbanking Network

1. Understanding food banks 

2. Starting a Food Bank: Laying the Groundwork

This US-based organization aims to build community resilience, increase the availability of nutritious food for millions of people, and leverage its network to play a vital role in addressing the root causes of hunger and poverty around the world. It has created six toolkits that detail the process of planning and establishing a food bank that translate well for the development of pet food banks as well. Two of the toolkits are available online for free download, while the other toolkits are available upon request from the organization.


One Health Clinic Toolkit - One Health Clinic

The One Health Clinic Toolkit is a free online resource that guides setting up a One Health Clinic to serve the human-animal unit. Although the toolkit's focus is to provide concrete guidance on how to set up and operate a One Health clinic, it has many interesting intersections for setting up a pet food bank.


Feeding Pets, Supporting People - The Lives of Wild Dogs

This course provides step-by-step instructions and considerations for starting a local community pet food pantry. Topics covered include seeking collaborators, sourcing donations, general protocols and procedures, etc. Please note, there is a fee for this course.


How to Start and Run a Pet Food Pantry - Human Animal Support Services

This document provides clear and simple advice on how to start a pet food assistance program.


Strengthening Companion Animal Food Security in British Columbia  - BC SPCA

This large document is intended to strengthen pet food security in British Columbia by developing animal food banks across the province. It includes best practices for pet food bank operations and is helpful for executive leadership teams and external stakeholders.


BC SPCA Provincial Animal Food Banks: Staff and Volunteer Guide - BC SPCA

This guide is intended for BC SPCA staff and volunteers and details the organizational procedures and policies in place for the BC SPCA's pet food assistance programs. It includes such topics as policies on eligibility criteria, client registration, and items permitted for distribution, as well as data collection procedures and protocols for emergencies.

Running a Pet Food Assistance Program

Volunteers: Food Bank - Distribution Assistant- BC SPCA

This document outlines the expectations and requirements for a pet food bank volunteer working as a distribution assistant at the BC SPCA.


Volunteers: Food Bank - Event Assistant- BC SPCA

This document outlines the expectations and requirements for a pet food bank volunteer working as an event assistant at the BC SPCA.


Job Description: Manager: Veterinary Social Work - Ottawa Humane Society 

This job description details the role and responsibilities of the Manager of Veterinary Social Work at the Ottawa Humane Society. This is to provide an example of the type of duties and recommended skills associated with a position which facilitates a pet food bank or other community support programs. 


Pet Food Assistance Request Form- Humane Canada

This form serves as a template for organizations to provide to service users when requesting pet food assistance. The template offers suggested questions for data collection in a low-barrier program.


British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) and Partner Organization Agreement and Release - BC SPCA

This template is used by the BC SPCA and its partner organizations to establish a partnership agreement for collaboration in pet food bank programming. This agreement is an example of what might be used to establish expectations between two organizations where one is supporting the other with the provision of pet food for a pet food bank.


Pet Food Bank Forms (Various) - Oakville & Milton Humane Society

1. Pet Food Bank Partner Poster

2. Pet Food Bank Inquiry Form

3. Preliminary Agency Pet Food Order Form

These documents are intended for organizations such as front-line pet food banks and community services that are considering joining the Oakville & Milton Humane Society pet food bank network. They are used to collect information about the specific needs of the organization distributing the pet food (such as pick up or delivery planning and frequency of pet food orders).


Donated Pet Food Protocol (English)- Toronto Humane Society

Donated Pet Food Protocol (French) - Toronto Humane Society

This protocol, researched and developed by the Toronto Humane Society, aims to provide an evidence-based protocol for short-dated foods, to reduce food waste and increase the availability of food in the food bank. Available in both English and French, the document gives recommendations on best-before dates for wet and dry pet food, dealing with donations of prescription diets, pet food storage, and how to inspect pet food donations for damage.


Pet Food Label Guide - Pet Rescue Toolkit

The Pet Rescue Toolkit is an educational resource for both pet rescues and new pet guardians and includes a section that describes what the different components of a pet food label mean.


SPCA Tampa Bay Pet Food Bank Pilot Program - SPCA Tampa Bay

This protocol, researched and developed by the Toronto Humane Society, aims to provide an evidence-based protocol for short-dated foods, to reduce food waste and increase the availability of food in the food bank. Available in both English and French, the document gives recommendations on best-before dates for wet and dry pet food, dealing with donations of prescription diets, pet food storage, and how to inspect pet food donations for damage.


SPCA East Bay Pet Food Pantry SOP - East Bay SPCA

This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) document outlines the organization of the East Bay SPCA's Pet Food Pantry (California) program. It includes everything from obtaining food to order pickup to data tracking.


Pet Food Bank Tracking Spreadsheet - Humane Canada

This spreadsheet template can be used by pet food bank programs to collect pet food bank data, which can be helpful to understand supply and demand and to provide data support in sourcing funding.

Evaluating a Pet Food Assistance Program

Food Pantry Best Practices: Scoring Guide - Community Food Action Space

This assessment tool explains ways to provide assistance that puts clients’ needs first and addresses the underlying causes of this need for assistance.


Dismantling Racism in Community Food Work - Community Food Action Space

This document provides insight and guidance for food insecurity organizations in understanding how the food system could be shaped by racism and considers anti-racist practices among community support services.

Humane Canada acknowledges the financial support of PetSmart Charities of Canada for this project.