Somewhere, a dog is snoring near its person, sand between its paws, dreams of a recent walk on the beach causing its eyelids to flutter. Somewhere, a cat is softly purring next to its person. Its next meal, a roof over its head and the possibility of a long life a sure deal.

Earl

But for more than 20 animals at Homer Animal Shelter Monday afternoon, it was the lack of homes and the reality of numbered days that hung heavy in the air.

Reese

“Adoptions seem to have dropped off since we got the new building,” Sherry Bess, shelter director, said of the change she’s noticed since the shelter opened a year and a half ago. “I don’t know if people think there’s more room for animals or if they think we’re keeping them longer or if they think more people are coming in because we have a new building and maybe they don’t need to see who needs to be rescued, but that’s not the case. I do have more room, but not that much more room.”

Joey

In 2005, 620 animals were brought to the shelter: 341 were turned in by their owners, 213 were strays, 11 were boarders and 55 were impounded. Also during 2005: 296 animals found new homes, 117 were reunited with their families and 186 were euthanized.

Name Unknown

“This is a transient area that we live in and a lot of times people are moving from a cabin into a rental unit where they’re not allowed to have a pet. They have to give up a pet in order to have a reasonable place to live,” Bess said.

Ariel

Some of the animals — mostly cats — have been abandoned.

Birdie

“I don’t know why people think cats can survive on their own. They can’t find food or water and then they get into trouble,” Bess said.

Sadie

There is a 10-dog maximum at the shelter. Their stays are limited to three weeks. The lucky ones are adopted before the deadline. Small dogs, even ones with personality quirks and bad manners — fare better than big dogs.

Emily

“It makes a difference with big dogs if they’re extremely noisy and all they do is sit in the run and bark. They have to present themselves well to the public,” Bess said. “A small dog can be a little bit nippy, a little bit more barky, and get away with more things because they’re easier to handle. It’s very seldom that I euthanize small dogs.”

Charlotte

With more room at the shelter for felines, they sometimes have more days than dogs to find a home. Unless they’re problem cats. Those are the first to be euthanized.

Mac

Rabbits, guinea pigs and animals other than dogs or cats come through the shelter’s doors occasionally. Those find homes more frequently than dogs and cats, according to Bess.

Fluffy Louise

Once a week, Bess makes the ultimate decision regarding the fate of her charges.

Dorie

“You take care of them, wish the best for them and then they don’t find a home. When they have to be euthanized, it’s hard on all of us,” she said.

Mocha

An injection by a local veterinarian, done in the shelter’s euthanasia room, brings the animal’s life quickly and quietly to an end.

Lady

“There’s somebody out there for everybody,” Bess said. “It’s just finding them.”

Hobbs

There is a $15 fee to adopt an animal, with an additional $12 if the animal is due for a rabies vaccination. Animals that will live inside Homer’s city limits require a $10 dog license. Homer Animal Friends pays 40 percent of the cost to spay/neuter an animal to be adopted, and the adopting individual or family pays the remaining 60 percent: male cats, $25; females cats, $45; male dogs, $37-75; females dogs, $53-$100.

Cloe

The Homer Animal Shelter is open noon-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Harry

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.