Here's some good news. Nearly 5,000 animals found new homes last year, thanks to the efforts of the Animal Rescue League of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

That's a lot of animals "saved," and it's a record-breaking number for the Larimer shelter.

Staff and volunteers had set a 2007 adoption goal of 5,000, and the year-end tally was actually 4,816.

"I know that with the help of the local media and the public we can reach our goal" in 2008, said ARL executive director Charlotte Grimme.

"The Drive for 5" thousand adoptions in 2008 will include a weekly email featuring shelter residents that have been there the longest and animals that have just arrived at the shelter.

There will also be a "spay-the-mom" program. When people drop off a litter of puppies or kittens at the shelter, free spay surgery will be offered for the mother.

Shelter officials want people to sign up for the emails by sending a message to animals@animalrescue.org with "join" in the subject line. They're also asking for donations to cover the costs of advertising and spay surgeries. Call 412-345-0345 for that.

The first pet to be featured in the emails will be Tiny Tim, found in November along with a six-foot alligator. The pit bull was emaciated when the Animal Rescue League took him in, but he's looking a lot better now.