"It's a lot easier to get around with him than with my cane and I always feel like I have someone around who I can talk to," Gamel said.

This last year she has often worried about how she will keep taking care of her dog. Food and medicine for him cost about $100 a month.

It's a huge portion of Gamel's fixed monthly income of $674.

"It's been very difficult. There have been times I just didn't know how I was going to feed him," Gamel said. "I have to do whatever I can to make sure I can take care of him because he takes care of me. I can't lose him."

She has relied on the generosity of people like the staff of Harrison Memorial Animal Hospital in Denver. They often get donations from pet food companies who have slightly damaged bags of food that they then can give to patients.

Monday, Gamel picked up a 40 pound bag of food for Odie that would have cost her $65 at the store.

Donations like that have kept the two together during a difficult economic time.

Thousands of other pet owners haven't been as lucky.

Right now shelters and rescue groups all over the Front Range are at capacity because so many pet owners have had to give up their animals because they can't afford to care for them.

That's where Felicia Diamond comes in. She heard about the problem and she and some friends decided to do something about it.

They are teaming up with the Food Bank of the Rockies for the first ever food drive for pets. It's called the Furry Friends Food drive.

"It's sad. Families are struggling to feed and cloth themselves let alone care for their animals. If a family has to choose between feeding themselves and feeding a pet, you know what is going to happen," Diamond said.

Starting Aug. 28, donations of pet food and cash will be collected at local animal hospitals and also at all Mike Shaw Dealership locations.

The drive will end on Saturday, Sept. 12 at South High School in Denver.

"The entire goal of this fundraising drive is to have enough food to feed people's pets throughout the year so that they can stay with the people who love them," Diamond said.

"I think this is really good for everybody who is struggling in the economy right now. Odie and I couldn't have done it without some help," Gamel said.

If you'd like to donate to the Food Bank of the Rockies Furry Friends Food Drive, go to www.causes.com\furryfriends.

The Food Bank of the Rockies will help distribute the donations.

Participating Animal Hospitals, to date:

-Westwood Animal Hospital
-Front Range Veterinary Clinic
-Animal Clinic at the Festival
-Mandalay Animal Hospital
-Coal Creek Veterinary Hospital
-Table Mountain Vet Clinic
-Pets On Broadway
-Cottage Veterinary Hospital
-Leadbetter Small Animal Hospital
-Rocky Mountain Small Animal Hospital
-Aurora Animal Hospital
-Jefferson Animal Clinic