North Fulton Today

Several members of Congress are working to make sure animal shelters are able to feed the homeless animals they care for by protecting pet suppliers from liability when they donate food to help shelters out.

It's all part of the Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act introduced by Reps. Lucy McBath (D-GA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Fred Upton (R-MI) and Young Kim (R-CA).

"In the face of COVID-related challenges, the BARK Act will eliminate barriers, mitigate waste and direct surplus pet food to shelters in need," McBath said in a press release on her website. "I am proud to support bipartisan legislation that will nurture America's shelter animas as they await adoption to their forever homes."

According to the release, pet stores are throwing away tons of expired pet food over worries they could be held legally responsible for any repercussions, instead of donating the food to shelters that are now faced with a dwindling supply of food and fewer donations coming into their facilities. 

If approved, the BARK Act would change the 1996 bipartisan Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act to also include criminal and civil liability protections to people and businesses making who donate pet food and supplies to animal shelters, the release said. The same protections are already offered to people and businesses making "good faith donations" of food to nonprofits who help feed the hungry.

To date, 20 members of Congress have signed onto the BARK Act, which has also received support from the Animal Welfare Institute, according to the release.