The Animal Rescue Fund in Amelia, Ohio, for instance, said it has seen a dramatic increase in the number of abandoned pets at its facility, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Saturday.

"We're seeing a 60 percent increase over the homeless (pet) situation last year, and it's on the rise. Homeless animals through homeless families," said Peggy Lyle, whose 17-acre Animal Rescue Fund is home to more than 200 animals.

"What are you going to do? We just have to scoot over and stack up and bring them in."

The newspaper reported experts say many families are embarrassed they cannot afford to feed their pets, so they just let them loose.

Beckey Reiter, director of the Boone County Animal Shelter in Kentucky, is trying to stem the tide of abandoned animals. She works with the local Meals on Wheels program to send pet food to senior citizens with companion animals.

"We had heard that some of the people ... were feeding (their pets) part of their meal, which just about brought me to tears," Reiter said.