The Bowling Green/Warren County Humane Society held its annual “Critter Classic” event on Saturday in Diddle Arena. While WKU basketball went head-to-head with FAU, the Humane Society held on-site adoptions outside.

The event has been held for about eight years, giving fans the opportunity to find their new best friend at the game. The Humane Society brought four cats and six dogs to the event, hoping to find them forever homes with adoption fees being 50 percent off.

Donations from the organization’s wish list were also being accepted, and anyone who brought an item to donate to the Humane Society received a voucher for free Lady Topper basketball tickets.

Shortly after the event began, the Humane Society had already received around $200 in donations. In an email, the shelter said two dogs were adopted during the game, and there were several inquiries about other animals.

“We are looking for a home for each and every one of these animals,” said Alicia Phillips, adoption counselor at the Humane Society. “Our biggest goal here today is not the donations but to give these animals homes.”

Phillips also said she wants the public to understand what the Humane Society does besides simply taking in animals. After taking in an animal, it gets vetting done, including a spay or neuter procedure.

“That’s the biggest part of what we do,” Phillips said. “Without that spay and neuter, we’re gonna keep having animals in the shelter.”

The Humane Society is also pushing for laws to be passed in Kentucky which require all pets to be spayed or neutered. Many states have already implemented these mandatory spay and neuter laws to help with overpopulation of homeless animals.

Dena Wilson, a manager at the Humane Society, said she hoped the “Critter Classic” would bring more attention to the shelter and give the community an opportunity to learn more about it.

Along with the on-site adoptions, the Humane Society also offered a variety of pamphlets on dog and cat behavior such as housetraining and obedience training.

The shelter will also open up an educational building soon to give information to the public about what it does and why it is important. It will be holding a variety of events, including kitten yoga and game night.

“Everybody has a sad aura when it comes to shelters,” Phillips said. “They would not be here if you spay and neuter your animals. It literally starts with you.”

The Humane Society will be holding another “Critter Classic” with on-site adoptions on Thursday at the Lady Topper Basketball game. Donations such as clay cat litter, clorox wipes and liquid detergent will result in a ticket voucher for free admission to the game.

Features reporter Kelley Holland can be reached at 270-745-6291 and [email protected].