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People, pets & a little help

Indiana Community Resources

One community. Many helping hands.

We all need a little help sometimes. A full food bowl, an affordable vet visit, or a safe place to sleep can change a family’s tomorrow. Our pets are family, and asking for support is an act of love. Here in Indiana, we can show up for one another—with kindness, a shared resource, or a bag of pet food. Together, we can help more people and pets stay safe, healthy, and loved.

Listings checked October 26, 2026 · Call ahead for availability and requirements.

01 · Keep the bowl full

Pet food banks & pantries

Find food assistance for dogs and cats, including programs run by humane societies, churches and community partners. This includes all 28 locations in Pet Friendly Services of Indiana’s published pantry table, plus three additional directory/provider listings. It is not a guaranteed list of every food bank that sometimes receives pet food.

Pantry names and contact locations are credited to the linked provider and statewide directories. Food brands, quantities, schedules and eligibility can change. Ask about diet-specific needs before traveling.

Boone County

Humane Society for Boone County – Advance

Pet food

Parking lot across from the Fire Department, Advance, IN

877-473-6722

Ask this pantry about current supplies, pickup arrangements and eligibility.

Boone County

Humane Society for Boone County – Lebanon

Pet food

St. Joseph Church, 319 E. South St., Lebanon, IN 46052

877-473-6722

Ask this pantry about current supplies, pickup arrangements and eligibility.

Hendricks County

The Chow Pantry

Multiple pickup sites

Brownsburg-based · distribution at partner food pantries

Use the linked directory and provider distribution calendar to confirm a partner location before traveling.

02 · Care within reach

Affordable spay/neuter & shots

These providers offer low-cost services, qualifying discounts or financial help. Service badges show which options are listed; not every provider offers every service. Ask for the total cost, including an exam, deposit, pain medication or extra surgical fees.

Statewide surgery assistance: Pet Friendly Services’ Spay-Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) helps income-qualified Indiana residents. Certificates are limited; check eligibility, participating vets and possible extra charges before applying. Check SNAP eligibility ↗

Monroe County

Pets Alive Indiana

Spay/neuterVaccines

Bloomington, IN

Low-cost surgery and preventive care. Use the provider’s contact page for the current address and scheduling; no income proof is required for its surgery service.

03 · Safety for the whole family

Shelter options for people with pets

These listings specifically describe family-pet support. Friend’s Place is an overnight homeless shelter for adults. The other four shelters serve people escaping domestic or sexual violence and have different admission criteria. Call an advocate first about eligibility, beds and your pet’s species, size, health and accommodation.

Need a homeless shelter that can accommodate your pet? Call 211 or 866-211-9966, or text your ZIP code to 898-211. Ask the navigator to confirm a current pet-friendly placement before you travel. If you do not meet a survivor shelter’s criteria, ask about other housing and temporary pet-care options. Indiana 211 ↗

Shelters with pet accommodation

Pet acceptance is documented by the provider, SAF-T or the linked City of Bloomington report. Space is not guaranteed, and a pet area may be separate from your sleeping space. Call for intake instructions; no confidential shelter addresses are published here.

Madison County

Alternatives Incorporated

People + petsDomestic/sexual violence

Anderson area · call for intake

866-593-9999

Emergency housing includes a pet sheltering area. For survivors seeking safety; ask about pet space and intake before traveling.

Vigo County

CODA Wabash Valley

People + petsDomestic violence

Terre Haute area · call for intake

800-566-2632

Its emergency shelter is pet-friendly. Tell the advocate about your pet and ask whether it can be accommodated.

Temporary pet care while you find shelter

These programs help care for an animal while the owner gets support elsewhere. They do not provide a human shelter bed or guarantee an immediate foster placement.

Marion County

SOAR Initiative

Temporary pet careHousing crisis

Indianapolis and surrounding communities

Pet fostering can support people entering shelter or treatment. This is care for the pet, not a human shelter bed; eligibility and placement capacity apply.

Marion County

Beacon of Hope Crisis Center

Temporary pet careDomestic/sexual violence

Central Indiana

317-731-6140

Temporary foster homes for survivors’ pets, generally up to 90 days. Pet-friendly hotel help depends on funds. People do not stay at the pet foster home.

Lake County

Humane Indiana · Crisis fostering

Temporary pet careHousing crisis

Northwest Indiana

219-922-3811

Ask about short-term crisis foster options and shelter-diversion support. This is an animal support program, not a shelter for people.

When you have a little extra

Be someone’s helping hand.

Ask a local pantry what it needs before donating unopened food or supplies. Share this page, offer a ride when you can, or volunteer through a provider’s own program. Small acts of kindness help keep families together.

Suggest a resource or report an update ↗

Coverage note: this is a researched directory of published resources, not a live stock, price or shelter-bed system. A county without a card does not mean no help exists. Use the statewide lookup links or Indiana 211. Contact details and pet policies should be reconfirmed directly.