Sure, they may bark and be a little too hyper every now and then, but there is a special bond between a dog and its owner that is impossible to describe.

The Humane Society of Northeast Georgia held a "Life Savers" launch party yesterday to recognize the changing of its name and the enhancement of its mission.

The free event featured music, munchies supplied by the Varsity, Jeff McClure magic and tours of the facility. Even Santa was present for pictures with pets.

On Oct. 14, the nonprofit humane society split from Hall County Animal Control, which has opened its own Barber Road facility. The enhancement in mission for the humane society moves the agency away from euthanizing animals for lack of space to becoming a selective shelter.

"We only will take those animals that are available for adoption," said Rick Aiken, the president of the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia. "We’re committed to keeping those animals as long as they stay physically and mentally healthy."

The size of the spay/neuter clinic also is being doubled.

"Right now we have one veterinarian doing 30 surgeries a day, and we’re hoping that next year at this time we will have two veterinarians doing 60 surgeries a day," Aiken said.

Aiken said that the humane society hopes to reduce the number of animals coming into shelters and place an emphasis on education programs and pet responsibility.

"Sixty-five percent of what we were doing last year was animal control issues," Aiken said. "And we didn’t have enough time to focus on the issues that we need to be focusing on as a humane society."

Aiken said that when the staff sees an animal adopted, it is like Christmas to them because they have nurtured the pet.

"They get so excited," Aiken said. "And I’m the same way. It is almost like seeing your kids move on, and you think, ‘oh boy, they’re going to have a great life.’"

Dogs and cats of all ages and breeds were available for adoption Saturday. The $100 adoption fee covers health exam, spaying or neutering, microchipping, first vaccines, rabies shot for animals old enough, deworming, flea treatment, a feline leukemia combo test for cats and kittens and a heartworm check for dogs and puppies.

Dara Lavallee, a home economics teacher at Chestatee Middle School, was at the launch party with students who are a part of the school’s IMPACT club, a student driven group that gets kids involved in community service events.

"We made homemade dog biscuits, and we brought the workers chocolate chip cookies," Lavallee said. "We are a group that wants to make an impact on society."

Lavallee believes that people should come to the humane society to adopt because there are so many good animals that need homes.

"A lot of the time when people buy a pet from a pet store or a puppy mill, they don’t keep it, and it ends up at the humane society," Lavallee said. "It is much better to adopt from the humane society."

Lavallee has four dogs that are a part of her family, and she may even adopt another in the future.

IMPACT club members Dylan Gearin, 12, and Trevor DeLancey, 11, were walking around the humane society parking lot with a dog that looked eager for attention.

"I really love animals a lot, and I decided maybe this is the best way to come and help them out, because they don’t get a lot of attention here," Dylan said.

He believes that it is important for kids to have pets.

"It could make you very happy if you are stressed about school, or maybe your parents got a divorce or something. The pet could help out and be a friend to talk to."

Trevor is hoping to get a big dog one day, specifically a chocolate Labrador retriever. He plans on naming his dog Nestle, like the chocolate.

Shirley Price also decided to spend her morning at the humane society because of her love for animals. She admits that she is more of a cat person than a dog person. After all, she has not one but three cats at home.

"I think I picked up every kitten in there," Price said with a laugh.

She believes that pets are a part of the family and that the love of a pet is unqualified — they love you no matter what.

"Whenever you can give them love, they will take whatever you are willing to give, and they give back," Price said. "You can fuss at one and in the next five minutes, he’s trying to get you to pick him up and hold him. They’re so comforting."