HENDERSON, KY (WFIE) -
The ASPCA is in Henderson is helping alleviate over-crowding at the shelter Friday.
Humane Society officials says after receiving dogs from some recent court cases, they wanted to make sure those animals are sent to good homes.
The Humane Society tells 14 News about 50 dogs puts them at full capacity and right now, they have around 80.
Friday, the ASPCA did behavior testing on the dogs to see what type of home suits them best.
"It feels great. It does," said John Caldwell.
Friday, Caldwell took home a new best friend named Angel.
Pit bull Angel, along with 30-40 other dogs will leave Henderson soon, hoping to find new families and more space.
"We knew we were getting to the point where we'd have to make some tough decisions, so that's when we called the ASPCA," said shelter director Joshua Cromer.
Cromer says due to over-crowding, the guillotines in these double kennels had to be lowered, giving dogs half their normal space.
Friday, members of the ASPCA checked the dogs out medically and did behavior testing, seeing how they would react to eating and playing, even reacting to a pretend toddler.
"Are they a dog that should be in a country home, in a city home? Are they a dog that is great for a first-time dog owner," said Vice President of the ASPCA's anti-cruelty behavior team Dr. Pamela Reid.
Friday, we saw gentle dogs and some more rambunctious ones.
The shelter says many of these dogs come from animal cruelty cases, like the 15 taken last month from a home in Spottsville, but for many like Caldwell, something bad like over-crowding or abuse can mean something good, a new companion.
"Instead of going out and paying for a puppy mill to continue, I'd rather rescue one," Caldwell said.
This weekend, the ASPCA says they'll take the dogs in a custom vehicle and shelters in different states, including Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio and Missouri in hope to help them find homes.
