Sunday's adoption party at the Miami-Dade animal shelter did not start out so well for Frack. A 2-month-old terrier mix, Frack sat alone in his cage, drawing some looks from folks who streamed through the shelter, but no real interest.

Then along came the Garcia family of Homestead. It was love at first sight for 10-year-old Rachel, and her parents agreed Frack was a good fit for the family.

''They thought I was responsible, and I had good grades,'' Rachel said of her parents as she held the happy puppy, renamed Charlie.

''He was cute,'' mom Barbara Garcia said of the newest addition to the household.

That was one of the small success stories Sunday at Miami-Dade Animal Services Shelter in Medley, where the department held an adoption party to celebrate the agency's third birthday.

In 2005, what was then a unit of the police department spun off into an independent county department.

Though pet adoptions take place daily at the shelter, 7401 NW 74th St., Sunday's event was intended to highlight the shelter and its services.

It was also intended to help spur adoptions, which are literal lifesavers.

Last year, the shelter took in about 34,000 strays, lost pets or owner surrenders, according to Dr. Sara Pizano, animal services director.

Of those, about 1,500 were reunited with their owners, 3,000 were saved by rescue groups and 6,000 were adopted. The rest -- more than 22,000 -- were euthanized.

Sunday's event yielded 78 adoptions.

''This year we saved more animals than ever, but it's still a heartbreaking problem,'' Pizano said. ``We need the community's help.''

She said help can come in two ways: owners can spay or neuter their pets, thus helping reduce overpopulation; and owners can make sure their pets have proper identification so the owners can be easily tracked and reunited with their animal is lost.

Also Sunday, the department collected donations of toys and other items that make the animals more comfortable.

One big need: shoeboxes, which cats use to sleep, play or hide in if they feel afraid in their cages.

''It's like a bedroom in their house,'' said Xiomara Mordcovich, a community outreach and development supervisor with Animal Services.

The shelter also signed up volunteers, who are needed for everything from cleaning cages to providing affection for the animals.

Adoption fees are $65 for dogs 4 months and older, $75 for puppies younger than 4 months, and $35 for cats and kittens.

The fees include sterilization, rabies vaccine, de-worming, heartworm tests and licenses for dogs, Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus tests for cats, the first set of vaccines, and a microchip.

For details on adoptions, volunteer opportunities and donations to the animal shelter, go to www.miamidade.gov/animals or call 305-884-1101.

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