Twelve Midcoast Humane Society animals found a home Feb. 9 during a pet adoption in Boothbay Harbor. The local pet shelter held its monthly adoption Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with 11 puppies, two dogs and five cats seeking a new family during an event at Boothbay Region YMCA. Midcoast Humane Society is sponsoring a monthly pet adoption attempting to find homes for its shelter’s 10 dogs and 30 cats.

And two dozen locals showed up 30 minutes before the doors opened, anxious to take home a new friend. Valery Curtis of Wiscasset arrived early with an eye on two dogs. She spotted Hannah, a white Jack Russell terrier-mix on the society’s Facebook page. Curtis played with Hannah and another dog she spotted on the Facebook page. “I just saw Hannah and I melted,” Curtis said. She already owns a pet, a Puerto Rican street dog named Ellie who is also adopted. Curtis loves dogs and wants a playmate for Ellie.

“If Hannah or Little Girl (another shelter dog) is available I want to take them home,” she said. “There are so many dogs that need rescuing so I think it’s silly to buy one.”

But others weren’t as anxious to adopt. They took a wait-and-see approach. Boothbay Harbor resident Carrie Langlois heard about the pet adoption on Facebook and wanted to check out the kittens. She already owns two cats: a 17-year old cat named Raven and a six-month old kitten Oliver. “My 17-year old’s health is failing and I’m looking for a companion for my six month old. Cats are lovable, good company and make me laugh,” she said.

Robin Brewer of Boothbay Harbor is looking for a companion for her dog Noisy. She previously owned two Shih Tzus. “I love dogs and I remember how much they loved to ride,” she said.

The 12 adopting families were required to fill out an application and receive counseling before owning a new pet. Midcoast Humane Society Community Resource Coordinator Tammy Walsh explained the goal is finding a good match for both owner and pet. “We are looking for the best possible fit so it requires some counseling to understand how to handle a particular animal,” she said.

Walsh wasn’t surprised by the large turnout. She reported the previous two also had a large number of pet lovers lining up well ahead of the event. The next pet adoption is Saturday, Feb. 16 at Petco at the Topsham Fair Mall.