Why Stephen and Tyson Support the SOS Act
Shelter animals cannot speak to lawmakers. We can—and one message can help show Congress that humane shelter care matters.
At Inspired by Tyson, our work has always been about more than the products we build. It is about recognizing dogs as family, respecting what they contribute to our lives and speaking up when their welfare depends on human action.
That is why Stephen & Tyson Gill—the human-and-dog team behind Inspired by Tyson—support the Supporting Our Shelters Act, also known as the SOS Act.
Animal shelters provide a vital safety net. They take in lost pets, animals surrendered by families facing hardship, victims of cruelty and neglect, and dogs whose owners can no longer care for them. Shelter employees and volunteers provide food, medical treatment, safety, enrichment and another chance at finding a home.
But compassion cannot pay every veterinary bill, repair every kennel or hire every employee a shelter needs.
What Is the Supporting Our Shelters Act?
The Supporting Our Shelters Act, H.R. 5020, was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Veronica Escobar of Texas. The proposal would amend the Animal Welfare Act and direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish a grant program supporting eligible animal shelters.
According to the bill and its sponsors, grant money could support core needs including animal food and housing, veterinary care, recreational and enrichment activities, and the hiring, training and retention of shelter staff.
What the proposed grants could support
- Food and humane sheltering for animals
- Veterinary treatment and preventive care
- Exercise, recreation and behavioral enrichment
- Hiring, training and retaining shelter employees
- Other essential services that improve animal care
The proposal allows grants to last as long as three years, with possible renewal when required reports are submitted. Participating shelters would report animal intake and outcomes by species as well as how grant funds were spent. The USDA would then report to Congress on how the program improved animal care.
That accountability matters. Supporting animal welfare should include making sure resources reach the animals and communities they are intended to help.
Why Shelters Need More Support
Animal shelters are being asked to do more while operating with limited space, staffing and money. The ASPCA reported that nearly six million dogs and cats entered shelters and rescues during 2025. Many shelters remain at or near capacity, and dogs are often staying longer before adoption. Animals with medical conditions or behavioral challenges may require specialized attention, additional time and more expensive care.
Every longer stay creates more costs. A shelter must continue providing food, cleaning, veterinary treatment, exercise, human interaction and a safe place to sleep. At the same time, another stray, surrendered or injured animal may arrive needing immediate help.
Shelter overcrowding is not a problem that adoption campaigns can solve alone. Adoption matters, but shelters also need strong foster networks, accessible veterinary services, trained employees and programs that help families keep their pets during temporary hardship.
Federal grants would not solve every challenge facing shelters. They could, however, give qualifying organizations another tool for protecting animals and improving the care they receive while waiting for permanent homes.
Why Stephen and Tyson Are Speaking Up
Tyson cannot contact a member of Congress. Neither can a frightened dog sitting in an unfamiliar kennel or an injured animal waiting for veterinary care. They depend on people to speak for them.
Stephen and Tyson support the SOS Act because a dog’s opportunity to receive proper care should not depend entirely on whether a local shelter collected enough donations that month. Communities rely on shelters to protect vulnerable animals, reunite lost pets with their families and help homeless animals find new homes. Those shelters need dependable resources to carry out that responsibility humanely.
Tyson has a home, a family and people who protect him. Supporting this legislation is one way we can stand beside animals who do not have those protections yet.
Inspired by Tyson grew from the relationship between one man and his dog. That relationship reminds us that every shelter dog is more than an intake number. Each has an individual personality, needs, fears and the potential to become an irreplaceable part of someone’s family.
This is not about choosing federal support instead of personal responsibility. Shelters will still need adopters, foster families, volunteers, donors, veterinary professionals, rescue partners and responsible local leadership. The SOS Act would add another source of support to that larger community effort.
Your Voice Can Help Shelter Animals
The Supporting Our Shelters Act must receive enough congressional support and move through the legislative process before it can become law. The ASPCA has created an advocacy form that allows people to ask their members of Congress to cosponsor and support H.R. 5020.
The form requests identifying and contact information so the ASPCA can match each participant with the correct elected officials and deliver the message. Completing it does not guarantee that the bill will pass. It does give constituents an opportunity to tell their representatives that animal shelter funding matters to them.
We encourage readers to review the proposal, make their own informed decision and speak up if they agree that shelters deserve this support.
Stand With Stephen and Tyson
Shelter animals cannot write Congress. If you believe shelters deserve the resources to provide humane care, ask your representatives to support the Supporting Our Shelters Act.
Tell Congress: Support the SOS ActYou will leave Inspired by Tyson and continue on the ASPCA’s secure advocacy form.