TAMPA, Fla. - Staff at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay say they’ve seen a noticeable rise in owner surrenders in recent weeks — families who love their pets, but simply can’t afford food or veterinary care.

To help, the organization runs a pet pantry program that gives away small bags of dog and cat food free of charge every Tuesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

:In addition to the free food, the pantry now offers collars, leashes, crates, beds, toys, and canned wet food for suggested donations but ultimately free of charge — all designed to offset the cost of caring for a pet during tough economic times.

What they're saying:

"The last thing we want is for someone to have to surrender their animal just because they’re struggling financially," said Lon Savini, Director of Facil

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