Keeping pets with their families

Trying times can be temporary. With a little assistance, a pet owner can often find a way to keep their pet. HSHV’s Bountiful Bowls pet food assistance program and award-winning emergency harbor program can help.

Bountiful Bowls Pet Food Assistance

How to Apply

Because funds are limited, the program should supplement your monthly supply of pet food and not be the sole source of food for pets. You should expect to purchase food for your pets in addition to receiving the program food to meet their full nutritional needs. Online approval is sent via email, please use a valid email and when applying for assistance.

Membership Terms

  • Food for the program is donated to HSHV by the generosity of our community partners; therefore, we can not guarantee that food is always available.
  • Applicants must provide proof of Washtenaw County or Plymouth residency. Don’t live here? See other Michigan pet food banks here and here.
  • Proper identification will be required each time food is picked up.
  • Recipients cannot acquire more animals while participating in this program and will not be allowed to adopt from HSHV. Food will be provided for up to 5 animals.
  • Monthly food pick up is on Sundays from noon-3 pm.
  • Lost food buckets will be replaced at a charge of $5 a bucket.
  • Membership may be revoked at the discretion of HSHV.
  • This program is intended to provide temporary, supplemental assistance for up to 6 months. You may re-apply in 6 months if your circumstances have not changed.
  • All animals in the household must be spayed or neutered, or have plans in place to be spayed / neutered. We can assist with this at discounted or no cost.

Questions about applying for assistance? Please call (734) 661-3523 or email BountifulBowls@hshv.org.

Bountiful Bowls

How to Help

We rely on your donations to keep this program going! Thank you for your support!

You or your company can:

  • Make a monetary donation
  • Place an online order through our Amazon Wishlist and have the food sent directly to HSHV. (Please save your receipt for tax purposes; we cannot duplicate Amazon receipts)
  • Donate unopened or opened bags of dry/wet cat or dog food, provided they are in the original bags, no more than 3 months after the expiration date, are not prescription foods, and free of bugs or rodent waste. Donations can be placed in the blue bin in our entryway anytime we are open.

Questions about donating to the Bountiful Bowls program? Please call (734) 661-3571 or email development@hshv.org.

Emergency Sheltering

Initially designed to give survivors of domestic violence a safe place for their companion animals while seeking shelter for themselves, today HSHV’s award-winning harbor program helps families in other urgent housing situations with no other options, including house fires, natural disasters, and owners experiencing a medical emergency.

If you’re a local resident experiencing an emergency such as relocation after a house fire or natural disaster, need help during a personal medical emergency, or need temporary housing for your pet(s) due to a domestic abuse situation, please contact us.

Housing is space dependent, and may not always be available. HSHV also provides sterilization and veterinary care for all harbored animals as a requirement of the program.

Please call (734) 661-3552 or (734) 662-5585 to arrange to be included in the Safe Harbor Program.