Citrus County Animal Services officials said this week they were appealing to residents to remember the pets of those who must rely on local food banks for help during these difficult economic times.

More residents than ever now depend on help from the community’s many food banks -- from the small church and community food banks to the biggest five -- to help them get by.

While residents who donate food and funds are helping their neighbors in a time of need, Animal Services Shelter Operations Manager Pattie Amon said, they may not think about peoples’ pets. Rather than surrendering their beloved pets, pet owners depending on food banks end up sharing their own food with the pets.

“It just makes more sense to be feeding them relatively inexpensive pet food that is specially formulated for the animals, so any kind of pet food donated to the food banks is appreciated,” she said.

Amon said she checked with five of the primary food banks in the county, Daystar, Citrus United Basket, Salvation Army, the Family Resource Center and the We Care Food Pantry of the Homosassa Civic Center, and all said they welcome pet food donations and are happy to be able to distribute it.

The Animal Services shelter also takes donated food that it distributes to the needy when they present a certificate obtained from the Citrus County Humane Society on Smith Avenue in Inverness.

For information, call Animal Services at 352-726-7660.

Citrus United is located at 103 North Mill Ave. in Inverness (phone: 352-344-2242), the Daystar Life Center is located at 6751 West Gulf to Lake Highway east of Crystal River (352- 795-8668), the We Care Food Pantry in Homosassa is located at 5330 Mason Creek Road (352-628-9333), the Salvation Army is located at 3975 W Grover Cleveland Boulevard in Homosassa (352-621-5532) and the Citrus County Family Resource Center is located at 2435 North Florida Avenue (U.S. 41) in Hernando (352-344-1001).