The nonprofit that feeds 1,100 pets and supports 400 families every month across Pierce County is shutting down on July 27, after donations fell short of what it takes to keep the doors open.
DeeDee Howe, president of the Puget Sound Pet Food Bank, told the Tacoma News Tribune on Tuesday, July 15, that both the Tacoma location at 608 S. Washington St. and the Spanaway site at Spanaway United Methodist Church will close indefinitely.
She doesn't know how long the closure will last but said she is not giving up on finding a permanent home.
"There's some place out there, I'm convinced. We're not just throwing up our hands and giving up," Howe said. "We plan to reopen. I just, I need to figure it out."
Demand outpacing donations
Howe said monetary and in-kind donations are no longer enough to cover operating costs and feed every family that shows up. She has been renting two storage units and storing supplies in her own garage to keep the operation running, but called the arrangement unsustainable.
The need has grown worse since early 2025, according to Howe. People who hadn't visited the food bank in years are returning. Some are skipping their own meals so their pets can eat.
On a distribution day earlier this summer, Howe said, 10 new families showed up unannounced.
More than 100 of the food bank's client families live in low-income housing or tiny-home villages in Pierce County.
Not the first close call
This is the second time in less than a year the food bank has faced closure. In late 2024, Howe announced the Tacoma location would shut down. Two donors stepped in after reading a Tacoma News Tribune article in January 2025, keeping it open for about five more months. That lifeline ran out.
What the food bank provides
The Tacoma location operated every other Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Monday afternoons from noon to 3 p.m. It distributed food for dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, and guinea pigs, plus prescription food and supplies like beds, bowls, collars, leashes, crates, and toys. Veterinary partners also ran free wellness and spay/neuter clinics on site.
How to help
Howe is looking for a permanent location that can serve clients from both Spanaway and Tacoma, store supplies on site, and host veterinary clinics. Anyone who knows of a suitable property can email her at [email protected]. Monetary donations are accepted at pugetsoundpetfoodbank.org. Volunteers are also needed to help move existing donations when the lease ends.
Where families can still get pet food
The Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County operates a Pet Food and Supply Pantry at 2608 Center St. in Tacoma, open every Wednesday and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Satellite locations include the Tillicum Community Center in Lakewood and Comprehensive Life Resources in Tacoma.
