No pet should suffer because their family is afraid to step outside.

Across Massachusetts, some pet owners are avoiding food pantries, veterinary clinics, and public events due to increased ICE activity in their communities. When people feel unsafe leaving their homes, their animals are put at risk too. Missed vet appointments, empty food bowls, untreated medical conditions, and lack of basic supplies can quickly become life-threatening for pets who depend entirely on their caregivers.

In response, MSPCA-Angell’s Community Outreach teams have shifted to a mobile model, delivering pet food and medicine directly to homes, arranging private meetups, and helping with transportation to veterinary appointments. This compassionate pivot ensures that animals receive the care they need even during periods of uncertainty and fear.

But mobile outreach requires sustained funding, coordination, and state-level support.

Animal welfare organizations cannot carry this burden alone. When communities face instability, whether from enforcement actions, economic hardship, or public health crises, emergency access to pet care must be part of the response. Pets are family. They provide comfort, stability, and emotional support during stressful times. Protecting them protects families too.

This petition calls on the Massachusetts Legislature, local municipal leaders, and state agencies to provide expanded funding and logistical support for mobile pet aid programs statewide. That includes grants for outreach teams, partnerships with community health programs, and resources for transportation and supply distribution. Ensuring that pets receive food, medicine, and basic care during times of disruption should not depend solely on charitable donations.

Massachusetts has long been a leader in animal welfare. Now is the time to strengthen that commitment. By investing in mobile support infrastructure, the state can ensure that no animal goes hungry, untreated, or abandoned simply because their owner cannot safely access services.

Pets should never become collateral damage of larger crises. Access to veterinary care and essential supplies is a matter of basic compassion and public health.

Sign this petition to urge Massachusetts leaders to expand support for mobile pet aid programs and ensure that every pet in our communities can receive care, even when families cannot leave home.