The homeless pets of Butler County can use your help.

Even if you can’t find a place in your heart and home for one of the canines or felines currently housed in the Greenville Animal Shelter on Commerce St., you can still contribute to their health and wellbeing.

&uot;We know everyone doesn’t have room for another pet, but we certainly appreciate those who help us out in other ways,&uot; Kandys Killough, a member of the Butler County Humane Society and active pet foster parent, said on Tuesday.

The Butler County Humane Society is asking for items to be donated to the shelter, specifically Igloo brand dog houses.

&uot;The Igloo houses work really well for us…they don’t leak and the dogs can’t chew them up the way they can wooden houses. Large houses are best…that way it can house a bunch of puppies or one large dog,&uot; Killough said.

The feline occupants of the shelter would appreciate some cat perches, the volunteer said.

&uot;Either commercially-made perches or anything folks may have at home that would be sturdy enough to handle the cats jumping and sitting on would be great,&uot; Killough said.

There are also plans to hold a yard sale later this spring with the proceeds going to the Butler County Humane Society.

&uot;If there is anyone out there who has leftover items from their own yard sale, or who just wants to get rid of a few things without the hassle of holding a sale, we would really appreciate their donations,&uot; Killough said.

Items for the yard sale can be dropped off at the Greenville Animal Shelter Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donations are tax-deductible.

&uot;Leave your name and address along with the estimated value of the items you are donating, and we will see a receipt is sent to you for tax purposes,&uot; Killough said.

For those who are thinking of adding a furry new face to their family, the Humane Society encourages you to remember there are plenty of pets in need of a home at the Greenville shelter.

&uot;We have about 17 puppies here right now, not counting the puppies Miss Kandys is fostering at her house,&uot; Audra Goss, an eighth-grader at Greenville Middle School who volunteers at the shelter, said.

One litter of seven lively puppies, who appear to be Lab-Golden Retriever mixes, were &uot;found on the side of the road…someone just dumped them there,&uot; Goss explained as she gave one of the wriggling youngsters an affectionate hug.

The young volunteer said the current crop of canines at the shelter are almost all &uot;very friendly and sweet.&uot;

&uot;They will make great pets for people looking for a good dog,&uot; Goss said.

The Humane Society will also bring some of these homeless pets to the Greenville YMCA from 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday, March 25.

&uot;We will also be at the Y on April 8, Kids’ Health Day, and, as far as I know, we will be at Wal-Mart each Saturday during the spring with some of our puppies and dogs in need of homes,&uot; Killough said.

The homeless pets available for adoption have all have their vet checks, shots and worming, Killough said.

There is also a need for additional foster pet parents in the area, she said.

&uot;Even if people can only take in grown dogs we know we can place eventually, rather than puppies, it would be a big help to us.&uot;

Killough said the humane society helps by providing food and other needs for the foster animals.

The animal advocate says there is one sure-fire way pet owners can help the pet over-population problem in the county.

&uot;Spay and neuter,&uot; Killough said. &uot;It’s so very, very important.&uot;

For more information about shelter needs and fostering opportunities, contact the Greenville Animal Shelter at 382-7806 or Kandys Killough at 382-4600.