Pet Food Pantry

The ARL offers this supplemental service to help alleviate some of the costs associated with purchasing pet food for pet families.

The ARL Pet Food Pantry helps provide pet food for pet owners who are struggling to feed their pets due to financial difficulty. Owners are able to pick up food from ARL Animal Services, the ARL's Pet Help Center, or food pantries across the Des Moines metro.

How the ARL Pet Food Pantry works – NEW!

• A household can use the pantry twice a month
• Individuals may pick up food only for their household
  • Dogs – Food may be picked up for a maximum of 3 dogs (max of 6 bags)
    • Under 30 pounds – One 2-gallon bag per dog
    • Over 30 pounds – Two 2-gallon bags per dog
  • o Indoor Cats – Food may be picked up for a maximum of 3 cats (max of 3 bags)
    • One 1-gallon bag per cat
    • One container of litter per household

ARL locations

ARL Pet Help Center, 5452 NE 22nd St., Des Moines, IA 50313

Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

ARL Animal Services, 1441 Harriet St., Des Moines, IA 50317

Monday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

When supplies allow, the ARL does it best to supply pet food to the food pantries listed below.

Bidwell Riverside Center	Caring Hands Eastview Food Pantry	Catholic Charities Outreach Center
Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC)- Food Distribution Center	Joppa	Knock and Drop Iowa
Partnership Place	Pet Project Midwest	Polk County River Place Food Pantry
Salvation Army Citadel	St. Vincent de Paul	West Des Moines Human Services

The ARL has teamed up with Greater Good Charities to be an ambassador for their GOODS Program. Thanks to this partnership, we are able to bring more low-cost pet food and supplies to the Des Moines area, allowing us and the food pantries we work with to stretch our dollars further and impact even more pets and people.