Every other Sunday in Salt Lake City’s Pioneer Park, a quiet act of compassion unfolds. A large white van arrives, packed with thousands of pounds of pet food, and is met by a line of people and their pets—dogs of every size and breed, and often a few cats, too. For many of these individuals, their pets are not just companions but lifelines. This is the work of the Street Dawg Crew of Utah, a nonprofit pet food pantry that supports people experiencing homelessness or living on low incomes by making sure their animals are fed and cared for.
As homelessness in Utah continues to rise, the role of organizations like the Street Dawg Crew has become increasingly vital. The group’s outreach events provide not only food and supplies for pets but also a sense of dignity and support for their owners. On a sunny September afternoon, five volunteers kept the operation running smoothly, distributing essentials like dry and wet food, treats, and cat litter to dozens of grateful recipients.
Laurie Christi, one of the volunteers, has been with the group for less than a year. She spends her Sundays asking clients about the size and number of their pets to determine how much food and supplies they need. “I find out how many large, medium or small dogs they have, if they have cats, and then how much dry food we give them,” she explained. “And how many cans, how many treats, and if we give them litter or not.”
The emotional bond between people and their pets is a central theme in the work of the Street Dawg Crew. Christi said her own love for dogs inspired her to get involved. “Imagine your own children and not having enough food for them,” she said. “For some of these people, these are their children.” I found this detail striking—it underscores how deeply pets are woven into the fabric of their owners’ emotional and daily lives.
Robyn Davis, who made the trip from Grantsville to Salt Lake City, brought her huskies, Chummer and Allora, to the outreach event. She described them as her emotional support animals and said she couldn’t imagine life without them. “I rescued these babies; they’re my emotional support,” she said. “There’s no way I’d be without them.”
For Davis, the assistance from the Street Dawg Crew is essential. She said the supplies she receives usually last about a month, and when they run low, she stretches them by adding ingredients like chicken, rice, and vegetables—items she can buy with food stamps. “We just have to wait ‘til we can scrape enough money to drive in here to come and get it,” she explained. Her story reflects a common reality: many people facing financial hardship will prioritize the well-being of their pets, even when it means going without themselves.
Micky Baker, another volunteer, has seen this devotion firsthand. “When folks don’t have a lot of food, you know, they’re going to prioritize feeding their best friends,” he said. For Baker, volunteering is a way to make a meaningful difference, even if it’s on a small scale. “I figure I can’t fix homelessness, but I can at least help some best friends go to bed with full bellies.”
In less than an hour, the van’s contents had been nearly depleted. The team distributed 1,700 pounds of dry food, 300 cans of wet food, 120 bags of treats, and 190 pounds of cat litter. It was a busier day than usual, according to Chelle Hilton-King, the Street Dawg Crew’s director. “You never know what to expect,” she said. “We have our regulars, but every week there’s at least a dozen new people.”
Hilton-King has been with the organization since its inception a decade ago and now devotes about 20 hours a week to the cause, in addition to working full-time. Her commitment is driven by the impact she sees in the community. She recalled a moment that stayed with her—a man who had just marked one year of sobriety gave her his sobriety chip, crediting the love of his pet for helping him reach that milestone.
“You see people at their best, you see people at their worst, but what we see consistently is people trying,” Hilton-King said. “They are trying their best, and they are putting their pets first, and they do what it takes to get here.”
The work of the Street Dawg Crew is a reminder that support for people experiencing homelessness can take many forms. By ensuring that pets are fed and cared for, the organization helps preserve the emotional bonds and sense of purpose that these relationships provide. In a time when the challenges of homelessness can feel overwhelming, the Crew’s consistent presence offers a measure of stability—and a full belly—for both people and their beloved animals.
