Emergency Relief

Currently accepting applications from designated responders and animal welfare organizations directly affected by California wildfires.

Purpose of category:

We're here to help in the event of large-scale natural disasters in the United States and Canada. In case of an emergency, funds are available to assist during the direct rescue, relief, and/or recovery stages for qualifying organizations seeking to assist companion pets impacted by the disaster.

Grants to qualifying organizations during time of disaster can support:

• Purchases for necessary immediate sheltering needs for up to 30 days (gas/lodging, kennels, crates, carriers, food, waste management, bowls, leads/leashes)
• Medical expenses to provide required and/or necessary vaccinations and immediate medical care for impacted pets

Eligible organizations include:

• American 501(c)(3) public charities and municipalities (City, County, State, Tribal) and Canadian registered charities and municipalities (City, County, State, Tribal, First Nations, Metis or Inuit entity).
• Organizations directly affected by large scale natural disaster that are unable to operationally function
• Organizations in the designated impacted area that are requested to respond by agencies having jurisdiction or the Emergency Operation Center/Emergency Management Center
• Organizations in the impacted area evacuating or relocating shelter pets to provide surge capacity for displaced owned pets as part of the disaster relief effort
• Designated shelters for owned pets with programs supporting their family reunification

Requests not eligible for consideration:

• Capital/rebuilding projects after disaster
• Emergency Preparedness efforts or requests for infrastructure or vehicles
• Hoarding or animal cruelty seizures
• Incidents effecting personally owned property
• Self-deploying organizations (organizations not requested by the Agency Having Jurisdiction over the disaster response efforts)
• Organizations depopulating or pulling pets from shelters prior to disasters
• Pet parent requests to support food or medical care for individual pets
• Requests to support equine, livestock or wildlife
• Private foundations, for-profit organizations, or organizations or programs that operate outside the U.S. and Canada.

If your request serves pets impacted by a natural disaster meeting the qualifying criteria above but is not within the aforementioned states, email emergencyrelief@petsmartcharities.org to inquire about Emergency Relief assistance.

View the sample Emergency Relief Application