The week before the Fourth of July was hardly a time of celebration at the Huntsville Animal Shelter on Triana Boulevard.

The shelter was taking in animals. But very few people were adopting them. On one day alone, the shelter took in 26 dogs when it normally takes in about 10.

“To take in 26, it scared us,” said Huntsville Animal Services Director Karen Sheppard.

“I think a lot of people have plans for that holiday,” she added. “So maybe the stray animal they were taking care of, they thought ‘the one thing we have to do before we get out of town is get that stray pet over to the shelter.’ “

As of Thursday, there were 137 animals at the shelter, 73 dogs and 64 cats.