LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB Fox 41)---In just a week, officials at the Shelby County Animal Shelter planned to euthanize some animals.
The shelter is currently over capacity with dogs and cats.
It's a shelter designed for 150 animals combined, but since May, it's taken in around 240.
"The economy, a lot of people are downsizing their homes and moving to apartments and they're forced to give up their animals. There's not as many people adopting. It's a daily struggle with different occurrences like that," says Bradley King, the Animal Control Supervisor.
The shelter, which has been a no-kill shelter and hasn't euthanized adoptable pets in almost 4 1/2 years, was on the verge of having to put some of the animals down.
The deadline to get many of them adopted was September 1st.
"Our volunteer program has really stepped up and we found a lot of adoptions through the PetSmart program in Louisville, and fosters have came forward and placed many animals," says Bradley King.
With help from the public, the shelter is now getting a huge response.
"We're doing 8-10 dog and cat adoptions a day," says Bradley King.
With so many pets being adopted out, workers believe they'll be able to stick to their mission of maintaining their no-kill status.
Local businesses have stepped up to help pay the fee for the dogs to be currently adopted.
Cats over 4 months old are also currently free.
Although the shelter is still over capacity, officials say the shelter is reaching its goal of getting back to capacity size.
"We feel like we're gonna make it through this battle, but we've got a long ways to go," says Bradley King.
Officials say people can still help these animals by being part of a foster program, or donating food, money and bleach to the shelter.
They are currently expanding the building to make room for the pets.
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