Mamdani-backed NYC budget funds pet food pantry, free spay/neuter care

With costs rising for just about everything, New York City pet owners just got some news that could help their bottom line. The city's budget for fiscal year 2027, which was signed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani on July 1, is set to include programs that will make pet ownership more affordable to those struggling.

The programs include expanding access to free or low-cost spay and neuter services, which will mean fewer unwanted animals abandoned at shelters, and, for the first time, creating pet food pantries to provide free food so no pet goes hungry.

For a total investment of $1.5 million, the city will grow its existing spay and neuter program with a $750,000 infusion in 2027, up about $250,000 from the prior year. A separate $750,000 will be allocated to launch the city's first-ever pet food pantry pilot program, according to the council's animal welfare caucus.

"This budget recognizes that keeping families and pets together, preventing animals from ending up on the streets or in shelters, and supporting the rescuers who care for our city's most vulnerable animals are all part of NYC's affordability agenda," the caucus wrote in a social media post.

New York City Council Member Lynn Schulman said he's pleased that his vision has come to fruition.

"This budget reflects our values of equity, dignity, and care. I am also very proud that this budget invests in the spay/neuter pilot initiative I introduced last year and provides for a pet pantry program," Schulman said. "These investments will save lives, reduce harm, and build a stronger, healthier city for everyone."

What are these new programs?

The city of New York has allocated $750,000 to pet owner assistance and animal welfare. The core of these programs is to address rising pet care costs and ensure that if a family faces financial hardship, they can still care for their beloved pets and won't have to surrender them to a shelter.

Spay and neuter

No-cost and low-cost sterilization, meaning spay and neuter services, will help to cut down on the amount of strays in the city, while also helping pets live longer lives. A study of over two million dogs and over 400,000 cats showed that neutered male dogs lived 18% longer and spayed female dogs lived 23% longer. Spayed female cats in the study lived 39% longer, and neutered male cats lived 62% longer.

The program will operate via mobile clinics and a voucher program, and Flatbush Cats, a charity looking after stray and feral felines, will be a primary provider of the subsidized spay and neuter services funded by a $500,000 baseline grant, reports the New York Post.

Pet food pantries

While volunteer-run food pantries for pets exist in NYC and around the country, this is the first city funded pilot program. The pantries will operate out of existing community food networks and neighborhood hubs, and eligibility will generally align with established low-income public assistance guidelines, Secret New York reports.

More details about these programs will be shared by the city's official partners as the rollout begins. If you're in New York City, you can check in with your local council member's office or the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for updates.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mamdani-backed NYC budget funds pet food pantry, free spay/neuter care

Reporting by Tanya Edwards, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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This story was originally published July 9, 2026 at 5:24 PM.