(MENAFN- News Direct) >

When Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments were delayed during the record-long government shutdown, the financial fallout hit households in ways policymakers rarely account for.

Families weren't just struggling to feed themselves, but they were also running out of money to feed their pets.

Must Read

• Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 - and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how
• Robert Kiyosaki says this 1 asset will surge 400% in a year - and he begs investors not to miss its 'explosion'
• Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake - here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP

For many households living paycheck to paycheck, the SNAP disruption exposed just how thin the financial margin has become.

'I don't even make enough money for all my bills'

In New Orleans, 46-year-old auto parts store worker Sarah Lungwitz feared she might have to give up her cat, Bambi, and two dogs, Spike and Chloe. With SNAP payments disrupted, she had no idea how she would stretch her budget for both groceries and pet food.

“I don't even make enough money for all my bills, let alone groceries,” she told ABC News (1).

Volunteers from Care for Pets, a Rockford, Illinois–based nonprofit, stepped in with a grocery gift card, allowing her to purchase food for herself and her animals.

SNAP dollars cannot be used for pet food, according to the program's eligibility rules (2). However, for many families living below the poverty line, the benefit indirectly frees up cash to buy pet food or allows them to supplement their pet's diet with food from their household. When payments are delayed, everything collapses at once.

The Supreme Court's temporary ruling to block a court order (3) requiring full SNAP payments, as the shutdown neared its end, only widened the uncertainty. Some households had already received partial benefits, while others received nothing.

“It's also common for owners to supplement or entirely feed their animals human food that was purchased using SNAP,” Stephanie Hicks, executive director of Care for Pets, told ABC News.

“When that food disappears, they panic.”

Trending: I'm almost 50 and have nothing saved for retirement - what now? Don't panic. These 6 easy steps can help you turn things around

Shelters feared a surge in surrendered animals

About 20 million pets in the U.S. live in households experiencing poverty, according to a survey (4) conducted on behalf of the American Humane Society (4). Economic strain is consistently one of the top reasons people surrender animals to shelters.

Shelters and food pantries across the country were bracing for impact during the shutdown, as ABC reported:

• New Leash on Life in Lebanon, Tennessee, saw its food pantry usage jump to 125 families in October, up from 75 to 100 families in a typical month.

• The Companion Animal Alliance in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, stated that it was considering diverting funds away from veterinary care to purchase more food.

• Zeus' Rescues in New Orleans distributed twice the usual amount of free pet food last month.

“In my 20 years of doing this, it's never been this bad,” Zeus' Rescues founder Michelle Cheramie told the news outlet.“It's all so heartbreaking.”

She noted that people were desperate; they were even dumping animals in their yard.

A symptom of a more profound budget crisis

The SNAP delays reveal just how fragile household finances have become.

The Federal Reserve's annual Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households shows that a majority of Americans lack enough emergency savings to absorb even a single income disruption. For SNAP households specifically, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) notes that the average benefit is just $187 per person per month (5).

In Tampa, laid-off marketing professional Kas Miller created the Tampa Bay SNAP Gap Mega List (6), a resource database pulling together food banks and meal programs across Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties.

“I was a child who benefited from social safety nets,” Miller told WFTS Tampa Bay News (7).“I know how important it is.”

“A lot of people will feed their pets before themselves,” Kim Buckman from Feeding Missouri told ABC, noting that many families rely on animals for emotional support.

Where families can turn now

Even when full SNAP payments resume, the vulnerabilities exposed won't disappear.

Local food pantries, humane societies and animal shelters are stepping in to help fill the gap, with many providing free pet food. Find programs in the Pet Help Finder through Humane World for Animals (8). Community pet-retention funds can also offer help with emergency vet care.

Donors can make an immediate impact by giving pet food, cash or gift cards to shelters, potentially preventing animals from being surrendered during financial crises.

Advocates say the shutdown highlighted the need for policymakers to develop more flexible benefit programs and stronger emergency savings initiatives that reflect the diverse household structures, which include pets.

This isn't just a story about SNAP. It's a story about how cash-flow disruptions expose financial fragility in ways that ripple across families, communities and the economy.

What to read next

• Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich - and 'anyone' can do it
• Warren Buffett used 8 simple money rules to turn $9,800 into a stunning $150B - start using them today to get rich (and then stay rich)
• Are you prepared for a recession? Check if you're missing any of these 10 essential money moves to help you protect your retirement savings
• This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years - but now the retail giant is restricting purchase. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk

Join 200,000+ readers and get Moneywise's best stories and exclusive interviews first - clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.

Article sources

We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.

ABC News (1 ); USDA (2 ), (5 ); The Independent (3 ); The Harris Poll (4 ); Tampa Bay SNAP Gap Mega List (6 ); WFTS Tampa Bay (7 ); Humane World for Animals (8 )

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

MENAFN17112025005728012573ID1110356191