PORT ALLEN — A year ago, the West Baton Rouge Parish Animal Shelter held its first "Come Have Hot Dogs with Our Hot Dogs" adoption event and drew about two dozen visitors, most of them friends of the shelter. No adoptions were announced.

Saturday's second annual event told a different story.

Three cats and one dog went home with new families during the event at the shelter's Ted Denstel Road facility. The morning also brought in visitors who had never set foot in the building before, a shift from last year's turnout, which leaned heavily on familiar faces.

The event ran from 9 a.m. to noon and featured free hot dogs, music, face painting and a pool party for the shelter's dogs. Mosquito/Animal Control Superintendent George Bragg, who oversees the shelter, was on hand to make sure the event ran smoothly. Animal Control Supervisor Sue Jerezano and her staff worked alongside volunteers, introducing visitors to adoptable animals, including kittens young enough to still need bottle feeding.

Jerezano, who led last year's event under the same conditions, was back again Saturday, holding a tabby kitten up for a young girl to see while the child's eyes went wide.

Staff and volunteers rotated dogs through the outdoor splash pool and spent time walking families through the adoption process, answering questions about individual animals and what it takes to bring one home.

It's still a small event. But it's growing. Last year the shelter staff kept the energy up for a crowd that barely showed. This year, the crowd showed up for them. Four animals left with new families, and the people who run the shelter had reason to believe next year could be bigger.

The West Baton Rouge Parish Animal Shelter is located at 3183 Ted Denstel Road in Port Allen. Residents interested in adopting or volunteering can contact the parish office for more information.