It's the newest animal shelter in our region, designed to house several hundred cats and dogs.

The Mason County Animal Shelter clings to a no-kill policy, vowing to find every animal a loving home.

But it's that compassion that's putting the new shelter in dire straits with numbers already exceeding the increased capacity.

Lisa Davern, the shelter director, says, “So many people found out we were a no kill shelter. Kentucky and Ohio have swamped us.”

Lisa is now cracking down and allowing only animals from Mason County.

All others can send a photo, and Lisa will be more than happy to shop that picture around to find a suitable home for your animal.

The adoption process is not a simple process here.

Don't expect to walk in here and walk out the same day with a new pet.

Lisa explains, “We're really picky about who our babies go to. You pick out the animal you like and then it takes 3 to 4 days, we ask for 3 references and vetting reference."

It’s a detailed process that's all designed to eliminate the overcrowding and make sure that animal doesn't end up back at the shelter.

Lisa says, “We just want to make sure they get a good home and not tied up out back.”

The animals here don't get to pile up for long.

If they aren't adopted locally after a month or so, they go out on transports to rescues in other parts of the country to loving homes.

The Mason County shelter is not the only no-kill facility in our region.

There is one in Putnam County and Little Victories Animal Shelter in Huntington.

All of them have tight policies on adoption to make sure their animals go to loving homes and don't come back to the shelter.

The Mason County Animal Shelter is open from 10 am until 2 pm Monday through Friday.