BARK Act of 2025

The Bring Animals Relief and Kibble Act of 2025 (BARK Act) would create federal protections for good-faith donations of pet food and pet supplies to state or local governments or nonprofit organizations that distribute items to qualified animals (pets, emotional support animals, and service animals). The core idea is to encourage charitable donations of pet-related products that might not meet all current labeling or quality standards but are otherwise considered fit for distribution. The bill shields donors and recipient entities from civil or criminal liability related to the nature, age, packaging, or condition of these “apparently fit” items, so long as the donation is made in good faith and distributed to eligible animals. Key protections include allowing recipients to still receive donated items that don’t fully meet standards if the donor informs them of the condition, the recipient agrees to recondition the items, and the recipient is knowledgeable about the applicable standards. The bill preserves existing liability for gross negligence or intentional misconduct and emphasizes that nothing in the act creates new liability or overrides state or local health regulations. The act relies on definitions and terms from the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act to extend a familiar liability framework to pet food and supplies.