CINCINNATI - An area pantry dedicated to feeding cats and dogs is getting bigger along with the need.

Leisa Decker is wiping away tears because she says her dog is more than just that. She says after two tragic losses her dog is her comfort. 

“My daughter passed in 2005 and my grandson was 19 and he passed in 2016,” said Decker, " and she's (dog) is just really special...she's my emotional support dog.”

She says she says the cost to take care of her can be overwhelming too so she came to a pet pantry.

"They are helping by helping me supplement her food and you know my other dog at home, he’s 100 pounds,” said Decker. 

She’s getting help from the new Chow Now pet pantry in Cincinnati. It's the 11th pantry Cincinnati’s SPCA opened since 2020.

“During the pandemic, you know, 2020. there were a lot of people that maybe lost their jobs or laid off for whatever period of time they wanted to turn in dogs, cats to us because they couldn't afford to feed them," said Cincinnati SPCA President and CEO Mike Retzlaff.

With more pantries, he says they’re seeing fewer families giving up their pets because of food costs but he says the pantry itself is in need.

“Our need is, is even greater too, is finding that pet food to give away. You know, we're nonprofit, can't really afford to go out and buy food to give away. So we depend, you know, on the general public,” said Retzlaff.

With the help of donations, he says they want to open more pantries so more animals in the shelter will have a home and a family to bring comfort to.

“That's very nice that these places exist for people like me,” said Decker. 

If you need help feeding your pet or would like to help, click here for more information.