NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KTRE) - A nonprofit organization has spent the past six months working alongside the Nacogdoches Animal Shelter to reduce euthanasia rates and increase the number of animals placed in homes.

Paws 4 Nac, founded earlier this year, has helped raise the shelter's save rate upward of 40 percent.

Co-founder Christian Carr said the shift has been significant."Over the last several years the historical save rate or out alive rate was around a third," Carr said."And the last few months it's been approximately approaching two-thirds."Nacogdoches Animal Shelter Manager Andrea Sparks said the partnership has produced measurable results."The euthanasia rates have gone down, which is something we're really hoping for," Sparks said.