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The Troup County Humane Society is exploring different avenues to better combat overcrowding and possibly bring the pet population issue down in the county.

Troup County Humane Society Executive Director Mandi Bono said Wednesday that the organization was looking into grant opportunities that could assist in its efforts.

“We’re currently working toward securing funding for spay/neuter grants, and we’re working with the shelter and Paws for Change to bring a microchipping event to LaGrange,” Bono said. “We’d be able to microchip people’s pets at no cost to them.”

The microchipping program, Bono said, will use a biometrics program that will allow owners to scan their dogs’ noses, which, like a person’s fingerprints, are unique to each dog.

Troup County does not currently have its own spay/neuter program. The closest spay/neuter clinic to Troup County is HELP Spay Neuter Clinic in Newnan. The LaGrange Animal Shelter also utilizes its Puppy Pipeline program, which sends adoptable pets up north to less crowded shelters.

The shelter is regularly at max-capacity, Bono noted, and unwanted litters usually end up at the shelter.

“As soon as [the Humane Society] adopts one out, we’re pulling another one from the shelter,” she said.

Recently, the Troup County Humane Society was awarded a $5,700 grant to assist the LaGrange Animal Shelter with its operations.

The grant money, awarded partially from the Laura J. Niles Foundation, was used to purchase two new washing machines and three new dryers. Both, Bono emphasized, are heavy duty.

“We go through a lot of laundry here, and the volume we go through is more than a standard machine can handle,” Bono said.

Donations, including wet food, towels, bedding and laundry detergent and blue Dawn dish soap can be donated at the LaGrange Animal Shelter at 1390 Orchard Hill Road.