February is Adopt a Dog for Life month in Carbon County.

During the county commissioners' meeting on Thursday, the board made the move to again name February in honor of dog adoptions in the hopes of finding forever homes for more dogs in the shelter. This is the second year the county has done this.The commissioners also approved lowering the adoption fee from $100 to $50 for the month.Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard thanked shelter Director Tom Connors and the employees and volunteers for all their work to turn the shelter around.Connors thanked the board for supporting the shelter.He then showed a few photos of dogs that either went to rescues or were adopted.One dog, Bessie, was a special story, Connors said.Bessie, a beagle mix, was adopted this month after being at the shelter for seven months.Before that she had been the pet of a person who passed away. At the time, the family couldn't keep her, so she came to Carbon County Animal Shelter.She was adopted and lived with her new owner for three months before the owner had to move and was unable to take her along.Because of this, she was returned to the shelter. She didn't like other dogs or children, so she waited until her perfect companion found her.And they did, Connors said. Bessie is now in a loving home.He said the shelter's new education room, as well as the freshly muraled kennel walls, have helped brighten up the place and make it inviting.As of Thursday, Connors reported nine dogs were available for adoption, but that number fluctuates daily.Commissioner William O'Gurek also thanked Connors for doing an exceptional job at the shelter."It's amazing," he said.The Carbon County Animal Shelter is operated by the county, but depends on community support of monetary and supply donations to keep the doors open.Gerhard thanked the community for also supporting the shelter and working together to help the dogs that need homes."We did a 360-degree turn up there," Gerhard said. "We fought hard to keep that shelter, and I'm very proud that we did."For more information on the shelter or to adopt a dog, visit the Carbon County website at

www.carboncounty.com; Facebook "Carboncounty Animalshelter"; call 570-325-4828; or visit the shelter at 63 Broad St., Nesquehoning, on top of the Broad Mountain off Route 93, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.