Big hearts for little paws: helping Kiwis keep pets fed and families together

Across Aotearoa, more and more people are making an unthinkable sacrifice – skipping their own meals so their pets don’t go hungry.

Food hubs supplied by the New Zealand Food Network (NZFN) see it every week. For struggling families, pets are not “just animals” – they’re companions, protectors, and a source of comfort in hard times.

“When there isn’t enough pet food, owners often share or sacrifice their own meals to ensure their pets are fed – just as they do with their children,” says a spokesperson from the New Plymouth Food Bank. “No one should be expected to give up their pet any more than they’d be expected to give up a child.”

Nearly two-thirds of Kiwi households own a pet, and for homes with children, that figure climbs to 71%. A recent study also found that many people living in poverty go without food so they can feed the animals in their care – something NZFN’s food hubs witness regularly.

From July to December 2024, NZFN’s partner food hubs reported the top reasons Kiwis sought help were:

• 93% – rising cost of living

• 67% – low household income

• 59% – unemployment

• 51% – unexpected bills or expenses

These figures show just how deeply food insecurity runs in Aotearoa – and how closely pets are woven into the fabric of our whānau.

The big hearts project

To help address this growing crisis, the Petstock Foundation has teamed up with NZFN for the Big Hearts Project – a campaign to keep pets in loving homes and bowls full. Throughout August, the Foundation aims to raise $100,000 across Australia and New Zealand to supply pet food to families in need.

Naomi Mancktelow from the Petstock Foundation explains:

“The Big Hearts Project aims to empower individuals and families struggling to feed their pets. We know hardship often comes with social isolation, and having a pet companion can help alleviate that. Our goal is to strengthen the bond between pets and people, and create lasting impact in local communities.”

Gavin Findlay, CEO of NZFN, says the support is timely and vital:

“Families on stretched budgets often face the impossible choice of feeding themselves or their pets. With the Petstock Foundation’s help, we can take away that decision so no family member – human or animal – goes hungry.”

How you can help

This August, a $2 donation – in-store at Petstock or online at petstock.co.nz – will provide a meal for a pet in need. Every cent goes directly to charitable partners and projects like Big Hearts, with all operating costs covered by the business.

"You will not just fill a bowl; you are supporting the emotional wellbeing of families under pressure, keeping pets in loving homes, and empowering a better future for pets and people,” Naomi says. “Let’s stand together for the pets that inspire us, and for the whānau who love them.”

Because no bowl – and no belly – should ever go empty.