Imagine being homeless and desperate for a safe place to stay—but you also have a dog or cat you love dearly. Giving up that pet to a shelter, where it could face an uncertain fate, isn’t an option. Yet most homeless shelters don’t allow animals.
That dilemma is at the heart of a new bipartisan bill from U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks). The “Providing for Unhoused People with Pets Act of 2025,” or PUPP Act, would give shelters additional funding so people in crisis don’t have to choose between a roof over their head and keeping their pet.
“This bill was shaped directly by what I’ve heard from local shelter staff, service providers, and advocates,” Fitzpatrick said. “One of the biggest barriers families and veterans face in seeking help is that shelters often can’t take in pets. For people in crisis, those pets are their source of stability, security, and hope.”
The measure is co-sponsored by Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.), and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.).
According to available data, an estimated 10 percent of homeless people have pets, and concerns about those pets can prevent them from accessing available shelter.
“With more than 70,000 people nationwide experiencing homelessness with pets. This isn’t a small gap; it’s a systemic one,” Fitzpatrick said. “The PUPP Act gives shelters the resources to safely accommodate pets, remove a major barrier to housing, and treat every family and veteran with dignity.”
Crow added simply, “Pets are family. No one should be forced to choose between having a roof over their head and keeping their pet.”
Under the PUPP Act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture would provide $5 million a year for four years to local governments, nonprofits, and shelter providers. The funds could be used to retrofit facilities, expand pet-friendly accommodations, and offer supportive services such as basic veterinary care.
Pamela Van Blunk, Bucks County controller, called the idea both compassionate and practical.
“Anything we can do that helps the homeless get off the streets and get the help they need is a good thing,” she said. “Our pets are part of our families, and losing them due to homelessness can be traumatic. I applaud Congressman Fitzpatrick for trying to help.”
The bill has the backing of more than 60 organizations, including the ASPCA, Best Friends Animal Society, and the Humane World Action Fund. Christine Kim, founder and executive director of My Dog Is My Home, said the legislation “creates a clear path for communities to adapt their systems so people and animals can remain together in shelter and housing in times of crisis, which is when people need their animals the most.”
Fitzpatrick, who leads the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, has long championed legislation to safeguard pets and support service providers on the front lines. With the PUPP Act, he hopes to extend that work by promoting policies that protect the human–animal bond while helping more people move from the streets into stable housing.
The bill has been referred to the House Agriculture and Financial Services Committees.