Faced with increasing costs, some pet owners are abandoning their animals while donations and bequests to the RSPCA have been reduced to a trickle.

The animal welfare organisation is so short of cash it has turned to the Government for help.

At the weekend Chief Minister Jon Stanhope announced the Labor Government would provide $100,000 emergency funding for the RSPCA if re-elected.

RSPCA chief executive Michael Linke said the organisation had seen a 12 to 14 per cent increase in the number of pets handed in to the shelter.

''As people are fighting tough times, some people are choosing to surrender animals,'' he said.

''We're delivering increased levels of services. There's an increased level of cost associated with that because of inflation, and there's less money coming through the door.''

Mr Linke said the organisation's donations appeal was ''running a little bit behind target'' while bequests had almost completely stopped.

''[It] has caused us some short-term cash management issues,'' he said. ''This funding from the ACT Government will get us through those times.''

Mr Stanhope admitted that the Government's rescue attempt had been hampered by the conventions applying to it as a caretaker Government.

No money could be delivered until late next month or early December, after the election.

''We've given a guarantee ... that we would make this a priority in a second appropriation Bill, which we've already announced we would deliver in December.''

Mr Stanhope said the Government would negotiate further financial support for the RSPCA if donations did not pick up over the Christmas-New Year period.