Last verified 2026-04-25 by Jessica Brooks. We re-check this offer every quarter.
Hill’s Science Diet does not mail unsolicited free bags to anyone who asks, but the brand runs two well-documented programs that put real food into new pet parents’ bowls at no cost or steep discount. The first is the Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love shelter program: adopt a dog or cat from one of Hill’s partner shelters and you walk out with a free starter bag. The second is the new-pet-parent Autoship coupon code AUTO35, which knocks 35% off your first qualifying online order from shop.hillspet.com.
What you’ll get
- Free Science Diet starter bag at adoption from a participating shelter — usually a 4 lb bag of Adult Dog or Adult Cat dry food, age- and size-matched to your new pet.
- 35% off your first qualifying Autoship order at shop.hillspet.com using code AUTO35 (capped at a maximum dollar discount per the latest terms; excludes Science Diet dry food bags 30 lb and over).
- 5% off recurring Autoship orders after the first.
- Free shipping on orders over $50.
- Periodic veterinarian-issued coupons for Prescription Diet products (when you have a covering vet authorization).
- Pet of the Month sweepstakes entries — submit your pet’s photo for a chance at a year of free food.
If you are stacking pet freebies, our Petco Pals birthday-treat guide covers an annual freebie that does not require a recurring purchase, and the Chewy welcome offer (we cover that next) gives you a $20 eGift card on a $49 first order — together those three programs cover most of a starter pet pantry.
Eligibility
- US residents in all 50 states plus DC.
- For the shelter free bag: adopt a dog or cat from one of Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love partner shelters. The shelter list is searchable on Hill’s website.
- For the Autoship coupon: must be a new shop.hillspet.com customer; one use per household.
- The 30-lb-bag exclusion applies — large-volume Science Diet dry kibble bags do not qualify for AUTO35.
- Prescription Diet products require a vet authorization on file (Chewy.com is often easier for prescription diets).
How to claim it
- For the shelter free bag: visit hillspet.com/shelter-program and use the shelter finder to locate a Hill’s partner shelter in your area. Most US metro areas have at least one within driving distance.
- Adopt a pet from that shelter following the shelter’s standard process. Mention you are new to Science Diet — most shelters hand the starter bag and a coupon stack at adoption.
- For the new-pet-parent Autoship coupon: visit shop.hillspet.com/shelter-pet-parent.
- Click “Find Your Formula” and complete the food finder quiz — Hill’s matches a Science Diet variety to your pet’s species, age, weight, and any sensitivities.
- Add the recommended food to your cart, select Autoship at checkout, and enter code AUTO35 in the promo field.
- Confirm the discount applied. The cap and exclusions show on the order review screen.
- Place the order. Hill’s ships free over $50 and delivers within 2-5 business days.
- To cancel or pause Autoship, log into your shop.hillspet.com account, go to Subscriptions, and adjust the schedule. Cancellation is one click.
What to expect after signing up
The shelter starter bag comes home with you on adoption day — there is no shipping wait. The shop.hillspet.com first order arrives within 2-5 business days. Hill’s sends an order confirmation email and a shipping notification. After your first Autoship order, the cadence email arrives a few days before each subsequent shipment, giving you time to skip, swap, or cancel. Marketing emails are weekly: a Hills nutrition newsletter, occasional new-product announcements, and seasonal sales. You can adjust frequency in account settings without unsubscribing entirely.
Watch out for
Three honest catches. First, the AUTO35 discount has a per-order dollar cap (typically around $20-$30) — on a small starter bag it covers most of the first order, but on a large bag the percentage discount is mathematically clipped. Read the terms shown at checkout. Second, Autoship default-renews every 4 to 8 weeks unless you adjust the schedule. The cancel button is in your account, not in the order email — make a note of where it lives. Third, Science Diet dry kibble bags 30 lb and over are excluded from AUTO35. If you have a large dog and were planning to use the code on a 35-lb bag, the discount does not apply; you can split the order across two smaller bags or use the included free-shipping benefit instead. Hill’s also shares marketing data with veterinary partners; if you bought through a vet recommendation, expect cross-promotion mailers from your clinic.
FAQ
Can I get a Hill’s free trial bag without adopting?
Generally no — the free bag is tied to the Food, Shelter & Love adoption program. Veterinarians sometimes hand out single-serving Hill’s trial sachets at wellness visits; ask your vet directly.
Does AUTO35 work on Prescription Diet?
The code applies to most Prescription Diet products as long as you have a vet authorization on file at shop.hillspet.com. Some specialty therapeutic diets are excluded; check the product page disclaimer.
Can I cancel Autoship after the first order?
Yes. There is no minimum subscription period. Log in, navigate to Subscriptions, and click Cancel. Hill’s does not penalize one-and-done discount users.
Are Hill’s coupons good at PetSmart and Petco?
Manufacturer coupons from Hill’s redeem at PetSmart, Petco, Pet Supplies Plus, and most independent pet stores. The shop.hillspet.com Autoship discount is online only.
What about wet food samples?
The shelter starter bag is dry food only. For wet food trials, the Science Diet Variety Pack on shop.hillspet.com qualifies for AUTO35 and gives you 12 single-serve cans across multiple flavors at a meaningful first-order discount.
Final word
Hill’s Science Diet’s two new-parent programs are the strongest legitimate freebie path for veterinarian-recommended pet food in the US. Adopt from a partner shelter and the starter bag is free outright; if you bought your pet from a breeder or another channel, AUTO35 is the code to use on your first online order. Pair the discount with a vet-recommended food finder result and you have $25-$50 in real savings on the most-recommended dry food in the country.
Last verified: 2026-04-25. Sample programs change — tell us if you find this offer is no longer available.