The Mohawk Hudson Humane Society made an urgent plea for adopters and foster families on Monday, citing a sheltering crisis brought on by a large increase of stray animals.

In a statement, the animal shelter in Menands said it was caring for 262 cats and 126 dogs in 85 dog kennels. Dog intakes from Albany, Watervliet, Schenectady, Troy and the town of Colonie increased by more than 43% in 2022, and this year's numbers are trending higher, according to the MHHS.

"For at least the past 8 years, MHHS has not had to euthanize for space," it said in the statement. "But today, a mounting animal welfare crisis that has been playing out all across the US and locally is forcing the Society to seriously reconsider that possibility."

CEO Ashley Jeffrey Bouck said the shelter is reducing adoption fees to $50.

“We’ve been talking about the lack of kennel space in our community and the need for more municipal support," she said. "We have a finite amount of space and we cannot be the only solution.”