MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — A local organization that helps pets is seeing requests for help skyrocket, as many families continue to face hard times.

Chained Dogs MKE is a volunteer organization that helps pets that are kept outside 24/7, by educating owners and providing resources.

"We’re totally judgment free. We’re just there to help. We just want to make sure every animal has a belly full of food," said Katrina Rasler, the president of Chained Dogs MKE.

The organization regularly connects with more than 260 dogs and families in the Milwaukee area, performing supply donations and welfare checks on a daily basis.

“Our main goal is to try to get the dogs inside, if we can," Rasler explained. "If we can’t, we just try to make them as comfortable as possible outside, just because under the law, there’s only so much we can do.”

Although some outdoor pets may be living in poor conditions, Rasler said many of the cases they see are not against the law.

"Under the law, it just states that they need some kind of shelter and some kind of bowls there," she explained. "They don't necessarily have to be filled, and they don't necessarily have to be a doghouse."

Last week was Chained Dogs' biggest outreach event of the year, dropping off dozens of dog houses with other care items.

“We had a bunch of trailers, SUVs filled," said the group's vice president, Gracie Marchese. "We were caravanning all over the city with all of our supplies.”

Volunteers planned to make 60 stops, but halfway through, supplies ran dry as they faced unexpected demand.

"We knew we had a little bit left in storage, so we came back," Rasler said. "We went back out with the little supplies we had, and it went within an hour. We definitely felt defeated."

For the first time, the organization was completely out of pet food, litter, toys, and treats.

“We came home and we cried, and then the next day we posted for donations," she said. "I mean, we were completely out.”

Thankfully, people saw the posts on social media and have been stepping up to help.

"We have a lot of stops, and addresses, and owners to catch up on," Marchese said.

While the volunteers are struck by the need, as long as supplies keep coming, they will keep serving.

“Once you see a dog start gaining weight or be able to go inside of the house, the families that are grateful just for our help, it brings us the energy to keep going," Rasler said.

Chained Dogs MKE is always in need of pet food, litter, treats, Nyla-bones, and other donated items.

Click here to visit their donation page.