Homeless Pets Can Get Free Food in This California City Thanks to Musician John Legend
Grammy award-winning musician John Legend recently made headlines for a very different reason than usual. Alongside Project Street Vet and his pet food brand, Kismet, Legend helped unveil a new pet food pantry in Long Beach, California, that’s free to access for anyone experiencing homelessness.
This public service project was a product of Legend’s passion for pet care and humanitarian efforts, as well as Dr. Kwane Steward, the veterinarian behind Project Street Vet. Dr. Steward began this nonprofit as a way to help care for the pets of the homeless living in Southern California. This pet food pantry is an opportunity to provide a different kind of care, though it’s just as essential to the well-being of animals in Long Beach.
What a beautiful event to celebrate a milestone in affordable pet care! Pet food pantries like this should be available in all homeless shelters, but the Long Beach Multi-Service Center is truly paving the way. This pantry is open whenever the center is open and will be continually stocked with Kismet brand cat and dog food, so anyone experiencing homelessness can visit the center to ensure their furry friend has a bite to eat.
Source: @longbeachpost
“We’re witnessing a trend of more dogs in shelters coming from unhoused individuals. Programs that help keep pets with their owners are very much needed,” said Rocky Kanaka, pet rescue advocate.
Dr. Steward and Project Street Vet opened their first pet food pantry on Skid Row, and it was a huge success. This inspired the CNN Hero of the Year to team up with Legend to unveil this pantry.
He told ABC, “We wanted to create the best dog food on the market and then also provide welfare for some of the neediest pets out there.” It’s safe to say that they’re keeping this promise, one pet food pantry at a time.
Helping the Pets of the Homeless
By providing access to free pet food and vet care, Legend and Dr. Steward are making a huge positive impact on the unhoused community in Southern California. These animals provide priceless hope and companionship to people who are trudging through their most difficult days, and it’s only right that they get resources, too. Homeless pet owners will use what little they have to ensure their buddy is safe and healthy, but now they can visit The Multi-Service Center instead. The ABC Shelter in North Long Beach also now welcomes pets, so there are more and more resources available for unhoused pet owners every day.
Although some commenters feel as if resources would be better spent fighting homelessness in other ways, others understand just how severe the need for affordable pet care is. In January 2024, Los Angeles residents raised concerns over dogs belonging to the unhoused after one dog repeatedly attacked passer byers. More and more homeless pets in LA are lacking food, training, and shelter, though projects like this aim to make life a bit easier for the residents who need it the most.
Long Beach’s Multi-Service Center is located at 1301 W. 12th St. and is open Monday to Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursdays. California homeless shelters can learn more about the state’s Pet Assistance Programs to open their own doors to pet owners, while pet owners in need can contact nonprofits like Pets for the Homeless to find a helping hand near them.
