Twenty-two food pantries across New York City announced they will start distributing pet food together with the human food assistance they already provide.
The addition comes as pet owners in the city report difficulty feeding both themselves and their animals, creating a growing need for pet nutrition support.
Renzo Ochoa said the expanded offering is a response to the rise in overall food insecurity, which has led pantries to broaden their services.
The program references three dogs as examples of the pets whose owners will benefit from the new assistance.