Things are ruff at the McKean County SPCA.

Staff said the shelter is nearly at capacity for dogs, and is cutting adoption fees in hopes some local residents are looking to open their hearts and homes to a pound hound.

“We have about 45 dogs,” said Sam Austin, cat staff supervisor, Thursday afternoon. The shelter’s population varies, “but the normal (number) is 25.”

Many of the dogs were brought in as strays, but Austin said, “We have had more private turnovers the past couple of weeks, which is sad.”

Most are medium-sized, and there are a few small dogs. The youngest dog at the shelter currently is about 2, while the oldest is 13.

“We don’t have any younger ones. We have adult dogs,” Austin said. The good news with that is the dog’s personality is readily apparent.

“We have a variety,” she explained — playful, protective, cuddly. “We only have a few that would like to be the only dog.”

Austin said the staff at the shelter work with the animals to help them be more accepting of sharing homes and hearts with other pets.

“We have dogs come in that dislike other dogs, but the staff works with them and then there they are, in the pen with other dogs playing,” she explained. “The staff is very good at what they do.”

The normal adoption fee is $150, but until the end of June, the fee is $75.

“We’re going to see if that helps the adoptions” increase, she said. “We’ve run the special before and done very well.”

Many dog-lovers out there may not be able to care for a pet full time, but Austin said the SPCA could use their help, too.

“We’re always looking for people to help walk the dogs,” she said. “Even if they come down for 20 minutes, it still gets the dog outside an extra time during the day.”

While the current special is for dogs, the shelter is pretty full with cats, too.

“We’re at almost 140 cats now,” Austin said. “Most of them are kittens. Most of them are coming in very young.”