BARK Act of 2025

This bill aims to make it easier to donate pet food and supplies. If someone donates items in good faith to a nonprofit or a state or local government, they won’t be sued or charged just because of the items’ nature, age, packaging, or condition—so long as the items are “apparently fit” and meet quality and labeling rules, even if they aren’t easy to sell due to things like appearance or age . The same protection also covers the nonprofits and governments that accept these donations. This protection does not apply if someone acts with gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

If donated pet food or supplies don’t fully meet all rules, donors can still be protected if they tell the recipient what’s wrong, the recipient agrees to fix the items to meet standards before giving them out, and the recipient knows how to do that reconditioning. The bill does not create new liability and does not override state or local health rules.

• Who is affected: People and businesses donating pet food and supplies; nonprofits; state and local governments; animals that benefit include pets, emotional support animals, and service animals.
• What changes: Good‑faith donors and recipients get legal protection for sharing “apparently fit” pet food and supplies; there’s an exception for gross negligence or intentional misconduct; a path exists to fix items that don’t fully meet standards before distribution .
• When: No start date is listed in the text provided.