ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Belmont County Animal Shelter is hosting an Abandoned Animal Appreciation Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Dogs can be adopted at the shelter for $5 during the event. The shelter staff hopes the low cost will help to rehome many of the dogs currently housed at the shelter.

“The shelter is overrun right now. There’s 74 dogs here, so we’re definitely at max capacity,”

Assistant Dog Warden Kodi King said. “A lot of shelter dogs get overlooked. We’ve had many dogs that have been here for over a year. The shelter is never supposed to be a long-term home. It’s more of a stepping stone into a forever home.”

Dog Warden Lisa Duvall said, “We’re hoping to find forever homes for these dogs. They have been passed around multiple times, and others have not been socialized with cats or dogs. The saddest part is some have never had a loving touch from a human,”

To be able to adopt a dog for $5 on Saturday individuals already must have an approved application for a dog license. Without an approved application, the fee for the dog license is $14, and it typically takes 10 days to determine if an individual will be approved.

“We’re taking applications all week up until midnight on Saturday,” King said.

She noted that the shelter is extending the pickup times for the dogs into next week for people who are not able to bring home the adopted dog on Saturday. For those who apply on Saturday at the event and are approved, the shelter will honor the $5 deal for adoption when the approved application comes in the mail.

“If you’re not a Belmont County resident you don’t have to buy a dog license here, you have to do it in your own county,” King added.

Although Saturday is focused on dog adoptions, cat adoptions will also be available for anyone interested in gaining a new feline friend.

Adult cats cost $50 to adopt while kitten adoptions cost $75.

“We just got a whole bunch of new super friendly cats in our cat room,” King said.

Unlike dogs, cats do not need a license to be adopted.

The Belmont County Animal Shelter is located at 45244 National Road West, St Clairsville. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Wednesday through Saturday and from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. It is closed on Tuesdays. The shelter can be reached at 740-695-4708.