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TRENTON — Saturday was a great day for an outing, said Hamilton resident Ray Lubbers.

Lubbers, his step-son, Thomas Dingeldien, 10, his granddaughter, Shannon Dunaway, 18 months, and his dog, Samantha, took a walk on the haunted nature trail created by volunteers for the Animal Friends Humane Society's third annual Howlfest.

More than 300 visited the shelter to volunteer or get information about adopting a pet.

Lubbers had previously adopted "Sammy" from the humane society.

"Where else are you going to find a pet?" Lubbers said. "I would rather save an animal than go buy one from a pet store."

Middletown resident Sarah Sparks, her son, John, and his grandfather, Mark Sherman, also were on hand to walk the homeless dogs at the shelter.

Sparks, who has two adopted pets, and her son visit the shelter about every two weeks to walk and brush the dogs and to get informed so they can "educate others about adopting from the humane society," she said.

John, 6, said he likes walking the dogs because "they are really cool."

"It was exciting to get so many people to the shelter," said Leland Gordon, executive director. "But it was an average day as far as adopting and intakes — we never win."

Ten animals were adopted, eight were returned to their owners and two animals were sent to rescue.

However, 14 animals were brought in by their owners, 10 animals were euthanized, four pets were returned after being adopted and 17 were brought in as strays.

Between 7,000 to 8,000 animals are dropped off at the humane society each year — 20 to 50 a day.

Almost every stray brought in Saturday was not spayed or neutered and did not have tags, Gordon said.

"Owning a pet is not rocket science — you have them spayed and neutered and you put tags on them."

To make a donation, adopt or volunteer at the AFHS, 225 Trenton Road, Trenton, Ohio 45067, visit their Web site at www.animalfriendshs.org or call (513) 867-5727.