PHOTOS | Dogs, like their former owners, suffer in Venezuela

Venezuelans struggling to feed their families let alone pets amid an unprecedented economic crisis are increasingly dumping scrawny animals in streets, parks and makeshift shelters. WARNING: Some of these photos, and the stories behind them, may be disturbing to some readers.

WARNING: Some of these photos, and the stories behind them, may be disturbing

CBC News · Posted: Sep 07, 2016 6:45 PM EDT | Last Updated: September 7, 2016

The food crisis is forcing many to leave their pets behind.

Venezuelan is a nation of shortages where daily routines include waiting in long lines for water, medicine and dwindling food stuffs. The shortages mean many are simply unable to feed their families. They have also led to a major influx at animal shelters like this one in Los Teques, just south of Caracas.

Dog food is beyond the reach of many Venezuelans.

A 20-kilogram bag of dog food can cost around $50 US at the black market exchange rate, Reuters reports, which puts it out of reach for many in Venezuela.

This dog, named Duke, had been at the shelter for about five months before he escaped from his kennel and was killed in a fight.

Maria Artegna (in the green shirt in the photo above) said hundreds of skinny dogs have been dropped off at the shelter, which she started after the strays she took in, like Bolibomba below, took over her home.

"People are abandoning their dogs because they can't afford food and because they're leaving the country."

Volunteers arrive daily to donate and help distribute food to the dogs.

Some of the dogs at Artegna's shelter have been there for years, but these days she says new ones, including pedigree breeds, are arriving by the hour in vehicles driven by people headed to greener pastures beyond Venezuela's borders.

Mancha, above, was named for the black "stain" over his eye. Maria Silva (in the pink shirt) said she was an aggressive dog and died about a week after this photo was taken. Pintica, below, was named for her spots. Silva said she was the "posh girl" of the shelter and did not like to get her feet wet. Pinticia also died after her photo was taken.

The pets' plight comes despite pushes to protect animal rights.

In 2013, President Nicolas Maduro set up Mission Nevado — named for independence hero Simon Bolivar's dog — to rescue and protect strays. But times are hard now and even the police are rationing food for sniffer dogs.

This dog, named Enfermera, was found by a nurse and now serves as the shelter guard dog.