AIKEN, S.C. () – St. Patrick’s Day isn’t until Monday, but you can get a head start on the celebration and find someone to celebrate with this weekend.

Here at the Aiken County Animal Shelter, there’s always a chance an animal can get lucky with your decision to adopt. It’s the goal during the shelter’s “Change Their Luck” adoption event.

“He’s my buddy, we ride, we walk, he keeps me busy. He’s just a great dog,” John Downs said.

Just two months ago, Duke had nowhere to call home, and his adopter John Downs felt he’d no longer experience the companionship a dog gives, again.

“I’m, I’m turning 68 this summer and I’ve had a lot of dogs since I was six years old, and I thought my time with having companions was running out. But after losing the three I’ve had, previously, and then we saw him and said, ‘you need to go get him.’”

Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., you’ll have the chance to connect with four legged friends of all kinds.

“It’s basically about changing the luck of our shelter dogs and kind of helping them find homes at a time when we’re super, super full,” FOTAS Programs Coordinator Kathy Cagle said.

This event will give you the opportunity to skip the usual fees that come with adopting or purchasing cats and dogs.

“All of our dogs are fee waived. So, we have sponsors for everybody, and then we do have a few cats available too, and they’re gonna be $10 adoption,” Cagle said.

The multi-step process to a new family member, made a little easier.

“Very easy process. Came in, told them who I wanted to see, where I had seen him and they brought him out, and he was a just an, he was an attention getter. He was a good dog, he– he just, he caught my heart,” Downs said. 

With your decision to adopt a new furry friend, you may be the lucky one after all.