It was a “Super Dog Saturday” at the South Carolina State Museum.

Located on Gervais Street, the museum served as an adoption site in partnership with the City of Columbia Animal Services.

Pet lovers had the opportunity to meet 5-6 friendly canines on Saturday and adopt one or more dogs at no cost. Normally, adoption costs are $35 plus a $5 city fee if purchased at the shelter located at 127 Humane Ln.

“All the dogs that leave here today will be free,” said Sara Jackson, the foster and outreach coordinator for the city. “It’s kind of our way of helping them get out of the shelter and get into their forever homes.”

As a result of the animal overpopulation at the shelter, Jackson said such events provide an opportunity to quickly provide new homes for pets in need.

“We are extremely overwhelmed. Right now, we are over capacity,” she said. “The month of August, we’re actually going to be doing a free event. All the cats and dogs with the facility are going to be free. It’s kind of our way to help get them into homes and be able to open up some more space.”

Jackson said some of the pets at the museum are “adoption ambassadors,” meaning they already have homes.

City of Columbia Animal Services has held at least four adoption events this year. Jackson said there are plans to hold a similar event at a flea market in September.

“We have all different breeds at the facility,” Jackson said. “We have cats, kittens, puppies, full-grown dogs, so we have a good variety of everything.”

A Service Animal Day will take place at the museum on July 30, as part of the “Dog Days of Summer” campaign. Visitors will have the opportunity to see service animal demonstrations from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services (PAALS).

The museum is also showing “Superpower Dogs,” narrated by Chris Evans, at the planetarium. It is described as an “immersive adventure to experience the life-saving superpowers and extraordinary bravery of some of the world’s most amazing dogs.”

It was a “Super Dog Saturday” at the South Carolina State Museum.

Located on Gervais Street, the museum served as an adoption site in partnership with the City of Columbia Animal Services.

Pet lovers had the opportunity to meet 5-6 friendly canines on Saturday and adopt one or more dogs at no cost. Normally, adoption costs are $35 plus a $5 city fee if purchased at the shelter located at 127 Humane Ln.

“All the dogs that leave here today will be free,” said Sara Jackson, the foster and outreach coordinator for the city. “It’s kind of our way of helping them get out of the shelter and get into their forever homes.”

As a result of the animal overpopulation at the shelter, Jackson said such events provide an opportunity to quickly provide new homes for pets in need.

“We are extremely overwhelmed. Right now, we are over capacity,” she said. “The month of August, we’re actually going to be doing a free event. All the cats and dogs with the facility are going to be free. It’s kind of our way to help get them into homes and be able to open up some more space.”

Jackson said some of the pets at the museum are “adoption ambassadors,” meaning they already have homes.

City of Columbia Animal Services has held at least four adoption events this year. Jackson said there are plans to hold a similar event at a flea market in September.

“We have all different breeds at the facility,” Jackson said. “We have cats, kittens, puppies, full-grown dogs, so we have a good variety of everything.”

The museum will hold a Service Animal Day on July 30, as part of the “Dog Days of Summer” campaign. Visitors will have the opportunity to see service animal demonstrations from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services (PAALS).

The museum is also showing “Superpower Dogs,” narrated by Chris Evans, at the planetarium. It is described as an “immersive adventure to experience the life-saving superpowers and extraordinary bravery of some of the world’s most amazing dogs.”