WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congress Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), Co-Chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, led a bipartisan coalition of colleagues, including, Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06), Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07), and Congressman Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) in introducing the Providing for Unhoused People with Pets Act of 2025 (PUPP Act)— legislation designed to provide targeted federal funding to retrofit homeless shelters so they can safely accommodate pets.
Across the country, more than 70,000 Americans experiencing homelessness own pets. In most communities, shelter space for these individuals simply doesn’t exist. This leaves families and veterans—often in moments of crisis—facing an impossible choice: surrender their companion animal or remain without shelter.
“I’ve sat with shelter staff, service providers, and advocates in our community and heard the same message time and again: no one should have to give up a beloved pet just to find a safe place to stay. Yet for too many, that’s the reality when shelters aren’t equipped to house animals. The PUPP Act invests directly in our shelters to change that—ensuring people and pets can stay together, removing a major barrier to housing, and helping our neighbors rebuild their lives with dignity and the comfort of their trusted companion by their side,” said Fitzpatrick.
“Pets are family. No one should be forced to choose between having a roof over their head and keeping their pet,” said Crow. “That’s why today I’m introducing a bipartisan bill to better support homeless shelters so that people don’t have to part ways with their beloved pet.”
“New York is facing a real housing affordability crisis. For folks experiencing homelessness, their pet may be their only source of comfort and stability, yet too often, animal shelters can’t accommodate the influx. The PUPP Act helps local governments and nonprofits provide safe housing options without forcing people to choose between a roof over their head and the animal they love. I’m proud to back this effort while continuing to expand access to housing and treating people and their pets with the dignity they deserve,” said Lawler.
“So many of us know how quickly our dogs become part of our families – they bring us emotional support, companionship, and a sense of purpose,” said Pettersen. “No one should be forced to choose between abandoning their pet or putting a roof over their head. Unfortunately, that’s the heartbreaking reality that many families and veterans who are experiencing homelessness face. The PUPP Act will help ensure emergency shelters don’t force that decision by accommodating people with their pets. I’m proud to introduce this bill to help more people get the support they need without leaving their beloved animals behind.”
National animal welfare leaders underscored the need:
“Pets play a pivotal role in the lives of their human caregivers, regardless of their income level or housing situation, and unhoused people with pets will often refuse assistance if it means giving up their pet, further exacerbating the homelessness crisis,” said Susan Riggs, senior director of housing policy for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. “No one should have to choose between keeping their pets or securing stable housing for themselves and the PUPP Act would ensure they don’t have to by providing homeless shelters with grants to help accommodate pets and fund pet-related costs like basic veterinary services. We thank Representatives Crow, Lawler, Fitzpatrick, and Pettersen for introducing the PUPP Act, which will remove barriers to emergency housing and ensure unhoused people can access shelter with their pets.”
“Through our work with homeless services organizations nationwide, My Dog Is My Home has seen firsthand that providers understand how critical it is to preserve the human–animal bond—especially for homeless veterans. The Providing for Unhoused People and Pets Act creates a clear path for communities to adapt their systems so people and animals can remain together in shelter and housing in time of crisis, which is when people need their animals the most,” said Christine Kim, Founder and Executive Director of My Dog Is My Home. “We are grateful to Representatives Crow, Pettersen, Fitzpatrick, and Lawler for their leadership in ensuring homeless veterans never have to choose between a safe place to sleep and their best friend.”
Under the PUPP Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture would award $5 million annually for four years to local governments, nonprofits, and shelter providers to retrofit facilities, expand pet-friendly accommodations, and offer supportive services, including basic veterinary care, for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
The bill is endorsed by more than 60 organizations, including the ASPCA, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Animal Welfare Institute, Best Friends Animal Society, Housing Equity & Advocacy Resource Team (HEART), Humane World Action Fund, Michelson Center for Public Policy, My Dog Is My Home, The Street Dog Coalition, Urban Resource Institute, and Voters For Animal Rights.
Throughout his tenure in Congress, Fitzpatrick—who leads the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus—has been a leading voice for animal welfare, championing bipartisan legislation to protect pets, strengthen enforcement against cruelty, expand shelter resources, and support the communities and service providers on the front lines. The PUPP Act is the latest in his ongoing efforts to advance practical, compassionate policy solutions that safeguard the human–animal bond and remove barriers to housing for families and veterans in crisis.
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