KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Pet owners complain they're unexpected victims of the government shutdown.

Government SNAP benefits aren't available to everyone and dogs and cats are paying the price.

Phones are ringing with cries for help at animal shelters, including Independence Animal Shelter. Families who’ve lost their SNAP benefits during this lengthy government shutdown complain they can’t afford to feed themselves or their pets. Many of them are asking for donated dog or cat food. Others are surrendering their pets.

Christina Heinen manages the shelter. So far in 2025, Heinen said the shelter has shared more free pet food than it did in all of 2024.

"It's scary. We have a lot of calls," she said.

The shelter's leaders are seeing an increase in heartbroken pet owners who can't afford to ke

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