Deborah Verret knows just how special a shelter pet can be.

Verrett, a housing inspector with the city of Port Arthur who used to work in the animal control department, came across the “best dog I’ve ever owned” at the shelter.

Dixie, a black and white terrier, had been found in a dumpster and was up for adoption when Verret took her in. The dog lived to be 16-years-old.

The dog was “very, very spoiled,” according to Darlene Thomas-Pierre, director of inspections and code enforcement, said with a laugh.

Verret still misses Dixie so she adopted Pixie, another shelter dog.

The public has a chance to find that special pet during the Clear the Shelters event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Port Arthur Animal Shelter, 201 E. Fourth St. in downtown Port Arthur.

“Last year we had about 20 animals adopted and hopefully we’ll double that number this year,” Anthony Mitchell, director of the shelter, said.

Adoption fees will be waived but a $10 license fee is required for Port Arthur residents for all dogs over the age of four months.

NBC and Telemundo owned stations are teaming up with hundreds of shelters across the country to host Clear the Shelters, a nationwide pet adoption drive on Saturday, Aug. 18 to help find loving homes for animals in need. More than 150,000 pets found their forever homes since 2015, according to information from Clear the Shelters.