Lorre LaMarca of Woodstock has spent the majority of her adult life volunteering in animal shelters.

She began picking up stray dogs alongside the road at the age of 7 and later started volunteering at local shelters

"Any free time I had I wanted to be with the dogs," she said.

Now Ms. LaMarca has ventured into the pet care business and on Saturday opened her own dog boarding and grooming facility.

The most unique factor about the business is its partnership with Kennesaw-based Mostly Mutts organization to serve as a last-chance shelter for dogs without homes.

Bark Station is on 240 Arnold Mill Road just outside of downtown Woodstock.

The 9,500-square-foot facility offers overnight and all-day boarding, doggy day care and a self-serve dog wash station. Overnight boarding starts at $26 a night, with doggy day care starting at $18.50 per day. Usage of the self-serve dog wash costs $10 per dog and includes supplies.

"I wanted to offer something to people that's luxurious, but affordable," Ms. LaMarca said.

Through the Mostly Mutts partnership, Ms. LaMarca will foster dogs to save them from euthanasia at an animal shelter and find them a permanent home. She plans to start with a few foster dogs at a time, and her goal is to adopt out 100 dogs over the next year.

Paige O'Neill, founder and president of Mostly Mutts, said there is a great need for dog foster homes.

Pet overpopulation continues to strangle local resources as many people are not spaying or neutering their dogs, Ms. LaMarca said.

Mostly Mutts and Bark Station are also partnering with the Spay and Neuter Society of the South to promote spaying and neutering.

Ms. LaMarca said many people don't realize how bad pet overpopulation is or don't have the funds to pay for spaying and neutering. Many people, she said, are facing foreclosures and losing their jobs and cannot afford the procedures.

"We've got to teach people about spay and neutering," Ms. LaMarca said.

About 75 percent of Mostly Mutts' rescue dogs come from the Cherokee County Animal Shelter, said Mrs. O'Neill.

Sue Garcia, director of the Cherokee County Animal Shelter, said the dog overpopulation at the shelter was worse last year, but seems to be improving.

Between January and July 22 of last year, the shelter accepted 679 owner-surrendered dogs and 1,024 stray dogs. It adopted out 484 dogs, saw 269 dogs reclaimed by owners and 392 dogs rescued. There were 614 euthanizations.

From January to July 22 of this year, the shelter accepted 618 owner-surrendered dogs and 867 stray dogs. It has adopted out 356 dogs, saw 248 dogs reclaimed by owners and 457 dogs rescued. There have been 455 euthanizations.

Ms. Garcia said she and her staff routinely provide information about spaying and neutering to visitors to the shelter.

Ms. LaMarca said she hopes pet owners will check out her new facility and walk away feeling comfortable about entrusting their pets to her.

"This is a place where we want their dogs to feel relaxed," she said. "We want to keep a good state of mind for the dogs are here."