BARK BARK BARK! Good news for shelter pets. The Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act (H.R. 3732 / S. 1939) has overcome its latest hurdle in Congress. The BARK Act is a bipartisan federal bill designed to reduce pet food waste and support overwhelmed animal shelters by protecting businesses and individuals who donate surplus pet food and supplies in good faith from civil or criminal liability.
The legislation has garnered widespread support from animal welfare organizations like the ASPCA and the Humane Rescue Alliance. It has advanced through congressional committees and has been pushed as a priority to bolster resources for shelters facing capacity crises and rising operational costs.
Here is how the legislation works:
- The Core Objective: It incentivizes pet food manufacturers, retailers and distributors to donate safe, surplus pet food, beds, crates, and toys to shelters and rescues instead of throwing them into landfills.
- The Mechanism: The bill amends the existing Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, which currently protects donations of human food, to specifically include pet food and pet-related supplies.
- Who It Protects: It protects donors, government entities and nonprofit organizations from unnecessary legal liability as long as the products donated in good faith are apparently fit for use.
To see the exact language of the bill or follow its progress through the legislature, check the Congress.gov BARK Act Text.
