Mutual Aid at Urban Tails

We have always known that Minnesotans take care of each other. The first half of 2026 really solidified that for us.

Through our Pet Food Mutual Aid Drive, we collected over $14,000 as well as hundreds of pounds of dry food, wet food, litter, toys, and treats to support neighbors in our community.

It’s time to make mutual aid permanent and sustainable at Urban Tails.

We believe that people should never be forced to choose between feeding themselves and feeding their pet.

 

By the Numbers


Monetary Donations

Between January and February, folks donated $14,522.32 😱

Here’s how those funds were used:

  • $1,449.36 purchased 220 bags of premium unscented clumping cat litter
  • $1,533.93 purchased a wide assortment of toys and treats for both cats and dogs
  • $387.56 purchased 2,000 pee pads for folks sheltering in place
  • $98.30 purchased 210 rolls of poop bags because… dogs gotta 💩
  • $3,844.60 purchased 120 bags of dry dog food and 120 bags of dry cat food
  • $7,208.57 went into a store mutual aid account used to cover specialty items off the shelf for folks with specific pet needs (hip & joint supplements, limited-ingredient diets, brushes, beds, crates, etc.).

So far, $1,891.87 from the store mutual aid account has already been used to purchase goods on the spot for folks in need. More updates on this fund below!

All funds donated after February 28th through today have gone directly into the Urban Tails Mutual Aid Account.

Physical Donations in January & February

 

Urban Tails also accepted physical donations of pet supplies in January and February. Our event space filled to the brim because of your generosity.

These supplies were distributed through:

  • Immediate mutual aid pickup, no questions asked.
    We saw many regular pickups from folks serving 5+ families at a time, along with neighbors simply helping neighbors. Y’all are so friggin’ amazing. We love seeing the work you’re doing.
  • Local pet pantries like Machi & Summit Pet Pantry.
  • These are micro, free goods stands in different neighborhoods throughout Minneapolis (think Little Free Library).
  • Mutual aid distribution to two Minneapolis schools:
    Andersen Elementary and Sullivan Elementary
    (Orders often included requests for 30+ bags of food and litter!)
  • Our longtime partner: North Minneapolis Pet Resource Center
    These folks know mutual aid. It’s what they do. They’re an incredible resource for Minneapolis and serve countless members of our community. We’re obsessed with them, and you should be too.

The Future


Urban Tails has committed to making mutual aid permanent at our shop. Our goal is to continue serving our community with free pet supplies. With your support, we can achieve this vision!

Urban Tails is accepting monetary donations to our Mutual Aid Account. This will allow us to purchase whatever items are needed for folks in our community. All products will be purchased with an “at-cost” discount, meaning Urban Tails will not make a profit from mutual aid sales. This will make the donations go further!

 

How can YOU help?

Donate to our Mutual Aid Fund in-store or online. 100% of funds donated to mutual aid will be added to the mutual aid account so we can get products into the hands of our neighbors.

Are You in Need of Mutual Aid?

Urban Tails provides pet food and/or cat litter to community members in need.

Check in with a staffer when you arrive, let them know you are picking up mututal aid, provide your first and last name, and tell us what you need.

We will use the mututal aid fund to pay for your pet food and/or cat litter.

Each customer can pick up pet food and/or cat litter using the mutual aid fund a maximum of once every thirty days.

Need more? Check our our friends at North Minneapolis Pet Resource Center for a wider variety of pet supplies.