VALDOSTA— Lowndes County Animal Shelter will hold a Clear the Shelter event, noon Saturday, Aug. 19, providing pet adoptions free of cost. 

The Lowndes County Animal Shelter, 337 Gil Harbin Industrial Boulevard, has approximately 30 dogs and 20 cats available for adoption, said Linda Patelski, Lowndes County animal welfare director. 

Patelski said people will receive tickets as they arrive, and groups of 10 will be taken through the shelter. Potential pet owners must bring an ID, which will be used to register the adopted pets in their names. The event will continue until 4 p.m. or until all pets are adopted, whichever occurs first. 

Patelski said the event is sponsored by VIP Pet Care, which will be giving away $200 worth of veterinary pet services such as microchipping and vaccinations.  

Patelski provided advice to people planning to attend the event Saturday. 

“Be prepared to walk in, fall in love and take a pet home,” she said. 

Patelski said the animals are displaced family pets, and by adopting them, the pet owners are not perpetuating the pet trade or puppy mills. She said the spaying and neutering services provided by the shelter are also beneficial. 

Animals available for adoption can be viewed at lowndescounty.com/345/Pets-Available-for-Adoption. 

For more information, call the Lowndes County Animal Shelter, (229) 671-2760. 

Kimberly Cannon is an Intern Reporter with The Valdosta Daily Times. Her extension is 1376.