Rescue groups and members of the community answered Huntsville Animal Services’ call to adopt or foster dogs at its shelter on Triana Boulevard.

But the shelter remains “pretty full,” according to animal care supervisor Stefany Moseley.

“We did really good before the holiday, but then we started taking them in over the weekend because of all of the fireworks,” Moseley told AL.com. “Fireworks are a dog’s worst enemy. They get scared. They run. They hide. They take off if they are loose. It’s just like a vicious cycle on that weekend.”

Moseley said there were 104 dogs at the shelter before Animal Services put out the call for help before the Fourth of July holiday weekend. As of midday Wednesday, there were about 80 at the shelter.

“Our comfortable capacity is about 75,” she said. Mosely said Animal Services prefers to keep the number under 75 to give the dogs more kennel room.

“We always have large breed dogs,” Moseley said. “Our smaller dogs tend to go faster. Fifty-to-60-pound dogs are harder to adopt.”

Mosely said the cat population is also high at the shelter with summer being peak breeding season.

“Luckily, our cats do tend to get adopted pretty quickly,” she said. “But we are pretty full in cats, too.”

Moseley said Animal Services still seeks residents who are interested in adoptions. Some of the dogs at the shelter have been there for several weeks or longer. Most adoption fees at the shelter are between $35 and $50.

“We do waive fees every now and then,” she said. “Even with the $35-50, that’s your spay and neutering, microchipping, three months of flea and tick preventative, heart worm tests on dogs. They are fully vaccinated.”

Animal Services also continues to seek residents who will foster some of the animals to give them a break from their time in the shelter.

“Even if they can’t adopt, they can foster,” Moseley said. “We do even have short term fosters called sleepovers. They can just take them over for a night or over the weekend. Then they can bring them back. They can write a little bio for the dogs. That way we know a little more about the dog outside the building. It gives the new adopters more information. Do they get along with kids? Do they get along with their cats? Things like that.”

To become a foster, residents must live in Madison County, be 19 or older and complete a foster application. Potential adopters and fosters can then visit the shelter to find a dog that matches their home and lifestyle.

The shelter is also in need of volunteers who will come and walk the dogs. Information about becoming a volunteer is on the Animal Services webpage on the City of Huntsville website.

Animal Services is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 256-883-3782, visit HuntsvilleAL.gov/Animal, or visit their Facebook page to learn more about the animals available for adoption, fostering and volunteer opportunities.