Food 4 Paws: Full Belly Bus Expands Help for Struggling SF Pet Owners
Angel volunteers and clients at a recent FBB Food 4 Paws event. photo: Full Belly Bus
“I don’t know how we would make it without you,” Sam said as volunteer Corrine handed him an overstuffed shopping bag containing dog food and a smorgasbord of treats. Just then, Poppy, Sam's silver-haired, scrappy little Terrier with a pronounced underbite, popped her head out from under the top of Sam’s jacket, wiggling her nose toward the bounty. “It’s our pleasure," Corinne replied, unable to hold back her laughter over Poppy's excitement. "I think she’s going to love that.”
This is a common conversation at the Full Belly Bus (FBB) Food 4 Paws program. While San Franciscans struggle with the sobering reality that there's no quick fix to the city’s housing crisis, pet owners working to end or prevent their homelessness know they'll always find support and supplies from FBB volunteers who model the organization's “care without conditions” mantra.
Four Times More Full Bellies
photo: Full Belly Bus
In the past three years, FBB has successfully partnered with the St. Anthony Foundation in the Tenderloin neighborhood to provide free pet food to anyone in need. To better meet San Francisco pet owners where they are, FBB is now increasing its monthly free pet food distribution program from one neighborhood to four.
As board member Laura Sweet explained, “We drove around the city and took an unscientific headcount of pet owners appearing to be living on the streets and noticed an uptick in the Civic Center, Haight, and Inner Mission neighborhoods. We then approached larger, like-minded charities in these neighborhoods and asked them to partner with us. We are very excited that The Salvation Army, Homeless Youth Alliance, and The Gubbio Project have all agreed.”
Come and Get It!
Full Belly Bus will now provide free dog and cat food monthly with our partners at the following locations and times. If you or someone you know is in need of pet food assistance, please come and get it! No reservations or appointments are needed, and pets need not be present.
CIVIC CENTER
Heart of the City Farmers' Market
The Salvation Army
Market & 7th Streets at the UN Plaza Fountain
1st Wednesday of each month
1 pm to 2 pm
HAIGHT ASHBURY
Homeless Youth Alliance
558 Clayton Street at the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic
2nd Friday of each month
5:30 pm to 6 pm
INNER MISSION
The Gubbio Project
St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church
1661 15th Street at Caledonia Alley
3rd Monday of each month
Noon to 1 pm
TENDERLOIN
St. Anthony Foundation
121 Golden Gate Avenue
1st Monday of each month
Noon to 1 pm
photo: Full Belly Bus
Interested in Helping?
The Full Belly Bus mobile pet care team is a nonprofit charity dedicated to providing free licensed veterinary care, certified animal behavior training, pet food, and supplies, including leashes, collars, harnesses, toys, and pet coats, to unhoused people with companion dogs and cats. FBB's primary goal is to help people to keep their pets. Since its formation in 2015, the Full Belly Bus approach has successfully improved the well-being of thousands of pets and, in turn, the well-being of their owners, allowing unhoused San Franciscans to keep their beloved and bonded animal companions.
FBB animal welfare experts offer care without conditions and help without judgment. Working as advocates for struggling pet owners, FBB helps reduce the number of cats and dogs entering San Francisco’s animal shelters and rescues, enhances the quality of life for transitionally housed animals, and supports pet owners of every age, race, gender identity, expression, and sexual orientation. For more information about Full Belly Bus, please go to www.fullbellybus.org.
To support FBB’s Food 4 Paws program, please drop off donated unexpired, non-prescription dog and cat food at any of the above free food locations during distribution hours only. To make financial donations, please go to fullbellybus.org/donate.
Thanks for your support!