The Lincoln County Animal Shelter has a new strategy to save more pets’ lives.

A dog named Joshua recently had surgery he needed to remove one of his legs. He is alive today because new programs at the Lincoln County Animal Shelter have helped cut down on euthanasia.

Joshua has been at a rescue facility for the past month. Rescue owner Bill Kreitzer took him to a veterinarian to get his leg checked out.

“He could actually get around better without the leg that is deformed than he was before, and he has not slowed down since,” Kreitzer said

Joshua came to the shelter as one of several puppies in a litter of strays.

Shelter manager David Workman admits in the past, Joshua would have likely been put to sleep.

“Most counties just don't have the money,” he said.

But Workman said this year, the shelter has worked hard to identify rescues like Kreitzer's that take in strays. They have also gone to a local pet store to offer shelter animals for adoptions.

By this time last year, they had put down 58 percent of the animals they took into the shelter. This year, that number is down to 46 percent.

“That's our main objective, to get the animals out to homes so we don't have to euthanize the animals,” Workman said.

Workman said in the coming months, the shelter plans to offer adoptions at two more stores and expand its foster care program. He said the goal is always to find safe homes for animals like Joshua.

The leader of the shelter where Joshua is kept is considering using him as a therapy dog in pediatric hospitals to give hope to children dealing with severe injuries.