With only two days left in the Lawrence County Adopt A Pet Month of June, county officials and Lawrence County Humane Society members decided to extend the event through July.

The humane society is offering a free certificate to have any pet adopted from the pound spayed or neutered. The new owner need only bring appropriate documentation from the pound to take advantage of the offer.

Thus far, the specially designated month has not produced an influx of prospective pet owners looking for a dog or cat. Only 30 dogs have been adopted thus far in June. That is fewer than the 34 dogs adopted or redeemed in April and 42 in May.

Lawrence County Dog Warden Bill Click said he thinks this time of year, people are preoccupied with vacations and other activities and adopting pet is not a priority.

“I think when school gets out people have other things on their mind and it (pet adoption) slows down,” Click explained

Click said most of the 15 dogs he has available for adoption are medium to large mixed breeds; there is one small Jack Russell mix. The shelter has cats as well — 12 kittens and two female cats. Click said both are pretty and one has been spayed.

The cost to adopt a pet: $27 for puppies up to three months of age, $37 for dogs three months and older, $10 for kittens and $15 for cats. The price for canines includes the required county dog tag that must be purchased yearly.

Lawrence County Humane Society member Alberta Wise said, thus far, only six people have requested the certificate to have their new pet spayed or neutered.

Five certificates were handed out; one puppy was too young to be altered.

Wise said the humane society members met Monday evening and agreed to extend their free spay and neuter program through the end of July to allow more people the opportunity to adopt a pet and receive assistance having the cat or dog spayed or neutered.

Click said regardless of the month, the animal shelter is open and those people seeking a pet are encouraged to see what he has to offer.

“We’ve always got nice dogs and cats. They may not be purebreds but we’ve always got good pets,” Click said.

The dog pound is at 1302 Adams Lane, Ironton and may be reached by calling (740) 533-1736.