BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- Just days into the new year, our Kern County shelters say many dogs need out now. "We probably see a 20-30% increase in adoptions when we waive our fees or go under $20," said Joshua Proctor, animal behaviorist with the Bakersfield Animal Care Center. To start off the new year on a happy note, Proctor with the city shelter said they're waiving adoption and redemption fees Friday and Saturday. Dogs like Lupe -- an Anatolian Shepherd mix -- and Poe -- a shepherd mix -- have been wagging their tails since October in hopes of finding their forever family. The harsh reality is the longer a dog stays at the shelter, the more likely it is to be at the top of the euthanasia list. "There are dogs behind them who also deserve a chance to try and get adopted," said Proctor. That means time is ticking for Lupe and Poe, as well as for the pit bull sisters Pecan and Sugar, who have been at the shelter since late November. "So, there's still a lot of adoptable dogs being euthanized for space," Proctor explained. "During peak season, when we're at the highest intake, is six weeks [a dog can stay]. When we're at the slowest, we can go all the way up to three months." Proctor said already in 2025, the shelter has euthanized 32 dogs. In 2024? "For dogs, our euthanasia rate was actually down by 300 to nearly 400 dogs," Proctor said. "And our intakes were actually down over a thousand dogs, which is the first year ever we had it trending downwards." He said the focus was on preventing animals from being brought into the shelter in the first place -- like because of canine overpopulation. "Doing public spay and neuter clinics, nearly two or even three times a month all year long. And that's [why those numbers are] down," Proctor said. Burger Hut is good, but go somewhere else, owner says: He’s already too busy Here are the city shelter's numbers for 2024 -- over 6,100 dogs and 800 cats were taken in. Over 1,100 dogs were adopted; over 1,900 rescued; and nearly 2,200 euthanized. Nearly 400 cats were adopted; 17 rescued; and over 300 euthanized. Compare that to 2023 -- over 7,300 dogs and nearly 1,500 cats were taken in. Nearly 1,300 dogs were adopted; over 2,400 rescued; and nearly 2,600 euthanized. Over 300 cats were adopted; 50 cats rescued; and over 1,000 cats euthanized. "The dog side's our biggest struggle, because we can't turn away dogs, unlike cats. We can manage our cat population a little better," Proctor noted. Meanwhile, Kern County Animal Services -- the county shelter -- said no animals have been euthanized yet this year. They said in 2024, 9,851 dogs and 4,706 cats were taken in. 3,295 dogs were adopted; 3,174 rescued; and over 2,264 dogs euthanized. Over 1,564 cats were adopted; 294 cats rescued; and 632 cats euthanized. In 2023 -- 9,224 dogs and 5,613 cats were taken in. 3,469 dogs were adopted; 2,368 dogs rescued; and 2,458 dogs euthanized. 1,448 cats were adopted; 185 cats rescued; and 825 cats euthanized. The county shelter said so far in 2025, no animals have been euthanized but 35 dogs and four cats have been taken in. Proctor said there's room for hope, especially with the help of the community. Later this month, about 40 dogs are leaving for rescue via a ground transport. "[And] next month will be a flight to Canada, which will be February 22nd with one of our amazing rescue partners," Proctor said. For the up to 50 dogs set to fly, fosters will be needed. "[Fostering is] really easy, and we already know the dog's going somewhere, it's short term," Proctor said, encouraging fosters. For waived adoption fees, visit the city shelter Saturday, Jan. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call the shelter at 661-832-7387.