"They were out of pet food, because the demand was so great," Cox said.

She's among the growing number of pet-owners being squeezed by the economy.

Officials at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg, N.C., Police's Animal Care and Control and Second Harvest Food Bank said Tuesday they hope to begin providing relief next week.

Groups are setting up barrels to solicit donations of pet food, which will be distributed by food banks that Second Harvest serves. The program is scheduled to begin Monday.

"Some people are losing their homes," said Melissa Knicely, of the animal control agency. "They cannot afford pet food. Our goal is to help keep animals with their owners."

The alternative: people either turn in their pets at the animal shelter, or turn them loose.

"That is not what we want," Knicely said.

Kay Carter, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank and owner of two cats, said her agency is eager to help.

"We think all animals should be happy," Carter said, "just like we think all people should be happy."

The program has been conducted on a small scale for a couple of months, but organizers are going to the public, asking for donations so they can increase the amount of pet food available.

Knicely said Mecklenburg, N.C., residents surrendered 4,589 pets between July 2007 and June 2008. She said that at the current pace, the number of pets turned in at the animal shelter for the period between July 2008 and June 2009 will be more than 5,100.

"People aren't making what they used to make in this economy, and pet food is getting more expensive," said Cole, whose two grown daughters also have pets at the home.

Last week, she came home from the Pet Food Bank with another cat after a woman gave it up.

___

Want to help?

Food donations can be dropped off at CMPD Animal Care and Control, 8315 Byrum Drive, Charlotte; or at Second Harvest Food Bank, 500-B Spratt Street, Charlotte. Starting next week, collection barrels will be set up across the county.

Financial donations can be sent to CMPD Animal Care and Control, Attn: Pet Food Bank Donation, 8315 Byrum Drive, Charlotte, NC 28217.

Need help?

A list of locations where pet-owners can pick up food will be published Monday on the Second Harvest Food Bank's Web site, www.secondharvestmetrolina.org ; and at www.charmeck.org (go to the section for Animal Care and Control). A list of sites will be published early next week in the Observer and at www.charlotteobserver.com.

___

(c) 2009, The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.).

Visit The Charlotte Observer on the World Wide Web at http://www.charlotte.com/

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

_____

PHOTO (from MCT Photo Service, 202-383-6099): petfoodbank For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. 1071231

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.