As part of a partnership with Texas A&M University, the shelter sent 63 dogs to the college's veterinary school last month. While they there, the dogs were spayed by students in their last year of veterinary training. The dogs were also checked for heartworm and vaccinated.

Ordinarily, people who adopt dogs have to wait to take them home because they have to be taken to a veterinarian first. That's because state law stipulates that dogs have be spayed or neutered before they can leave a shelter, said Judy Long, director of development at the shelter.

But since the procedure has already been performed on the dogs that went through the program, they can be taken home the same day their new owners pick them out. Long said the shelter is especially interested in getting the dogs adopted because of the special care they have received.

As of Wednesday afternoon, 36 of the dogs in the program had been adopted, Long said. Most of the purebred dogs have already found a home, but Long said there are still a few purebred dogs remaining.

"Since they got this treatment, we felt like they're an investment and we want to get them adopted," Long said.

The cost of adopting the dogs is $65. That fee includes the dog's first visit to a veterinarian, puppy vaccinations, rabies vaccination and the spaying.