You see them everywhere, the homeless of Beaufort County — some by the side of the road, victims of traffic speeding by; some wandering the roads and fields aimlessly; others digging through trash to find sustenance.

Others end up in the local shelter. Whether they ever have a chance to find a home is a matter of people reaching out to help.

This month is “Dog Adoption Month” at the Betsy Bailey Nelson Animal Control Facility, also known as “the shelter.”

During the month of October, dogs and puppies at the shelter will have an adoption fee of only $40 — that’s $25 less than the usual rate of $65. The fee includes spaying/neutering, the first round of shots for an adopted dog or puppy, a microchip and worming. The reduced fee is courtesy of the Humane Society of Beaufort County — the nonprofit pays the difference.

Many animals make their way through the local shelter, and many of those end up making great pets. Dogs are man’s best friend, so the saying goes. But anyone who’s ever adopted a dog, or given a home to stray, knows that rescued animals are ridiculously grateful for their new lease on life.

Some are a little leery of adopting animals from a shelter, and would rely instead on breeders. But anyone who watches the news knows that puppy mills are rampant and the conditions found in such places can be horrifying. Just because a dog has a pedigree doesn’t necessarily mean that animal comes from a healthy environment.

At the Beaufort County animal shelter, there are animal control staff and Humane Society volunteers who care for these dogs. They get to know them. While they may not know that dog’s pedigree or even exactly what breed he or she is, what they can tell you about is personality — who that dog is and how he or she may fit in with a single owner; a family with young children; a household with other animals.

The Humane Society is doing a great service to the community by offsetting the costs of dog adoptions throughout the month of October, but they do another every time volunteers help match up pets and their people. They’re doing their part. Now it’s up to everyone else to show up with a new leash and save a life.