Pennies and $$ more $$

First gas, now pet food.

For the past three months, consumer watchdogs -- not to mention pet owners -- have seen pet food costs rise. According to the U.S. bureau of Labor's Consumer Price Index, pet food prices are up by between 8 and 9.5 percent over the same time last year and represents the largest pet food increase in years.

A story this week in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette cites several factors contributing to the spike, including the higher cost of ingredients such as grains and meats that manufacturers are having to pay.

And, yes, there's also a gas pump link -- delivery costs, way up.

High gas prices and other rising expenses are also hitting animal shelters hard, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Soaring fuel costs are biting into the budgets of Central Florida's animal shelters. ... And taxpayers are bearing the brunt of it as the price for everything from dog kibble and flea dip to gasoline and medicine keeps going up. 

Meanwhile, there's also new demand for help at pet food banks and discount vets, according to this MSNBC story.