The Anne Arundel County SPCA has a happy story about an American bulldog, nearly starved to death, who had been brought to their shelter in Annapolis.

Carmela was a lucky dog.

“She was so malnourished. We got her to the vet immediately and on medication and a special diet to gain weight,” said Jennifer Stuby, foster coordinator for the SPCA. “A foster family helped get her healthy, fell in love with her and adopted her.”

The holiday season is often a prime time for pets to be adopted from the facility on Bay Ridge Avenue, but it's also a time when many pets are given up at the shelter.

“We can get about just as many surrendered as we have adopted this time of year,” Stuby said.

The Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Center has taken in more than 600 pets since Thanksgiving, said spokeswoman Bailey Deacon — which is on pace with the rest of the year. However, the largest shelter in the state does see an increase in adoptions around the holidays.

“We don't see a significant uptick at this time of year [for intake], but we certainly do with adoptions, and we really encourage that. We actually waive adoption fees for the entire month of December every single year,” with a promotion called the “Gift of Life” adoption program, Deacon said.

She said the holidays are an opportune time to adopt for some people.

“Most people have extra time during the holidays. Families are home. Kids are home. Parents take off, and that's actually a really good time to bring home a pet. It gives them a lot of time to get used to the house, get used to the people before getting back to the hustle and bustle of the 9-to-5 work week.”

But “If you need to travel [for the holidays], it might be better to wait until afterward.”

While more families are thinking of welcoming a pet into their home during the holidays, they shouldn't be thought of as presents, Stuby said.

“They think it's a nice gift, they are cute,” Study said. “But they are also a commitment and a big responsibility. We discourage pets as presents.”

Adopting is the bottom line at the SPCA, as it will not put animals down.

“We adopted 2,156 pets in 2015,” said office manager Lisa Gyory. “But some are harder to place.”

Cats and dogs dominate the adoptable animals at the Anne Arundel County Animal Control shelter in Millersville, too.

“In the cold months intake generally decreases,” administrator Robin Catlett said. “Adoptions are steady or may increase a little bit.”

Stuby said families can become foster families for pets, like the family that adopted Carmela.

“You can also become one of our volunteers,” she said, passing a volunteer sitting in a rocking chair, cuddling a young cat.

The cat was busy purring in the volunteer's lap.

Baltimore Sun reporter Brittany Britto contributed to this article.