More than 20,000 animals are put down every year in El Paso. Despitehaving the best adoption year in 2012, Animal Services and the Humane Society said the number of euthanizations haven't gone down.

The facilities work together to try and find these animals a home.

"On average,we probably bring in about 30,000 animals and this year we've probably euthanized about 21,000 within the city limits," said Dr. Nina Cloud,director of Animal Services.

2012 has been the best adoption year with more than 6,200 animals finding a home. Despite having the highest number of adoptions this year the number of animals being put down has remained the same.

"We work very closely with animal services to pull as many animals as we possibly can over here so they won't be euthanized but no matter how many adoptions we facilitate our facility is always full," said Betty Hoover, executive director of the Humane Society of El Paso.

A majority of the issues that contribute to the overpopulation have to do with irresponsible pet owners.

"We really need you to be responsible pet owners the spaying, neutering, micro chipping vaccinating, keeping your pet confined that is a very big deal," said Cloud.

Hoover and Cloud said another problem they regularly see is pet owners not registering their pets properly. It causes a major issue when a pet becomes lost because the owner cannot be located.

As the 2013 approaches, both women are hoping for a better year ahead.

"As we say here at the humane society, 'four paws at a time,' " said Hoover.

"We're going to change that 20,000 euthanized to the number adopted. I'm really looking forward to that," said Cloud.

Black Friday, Christmas and New Year's Day are the most popular for adoptions.

In an effort to start 2013 off right, all animals up for adoption will be half price on New Year's Day.

Total cost to adopt that day will be $60 and includes microchipping, spay, neutering and vaccinations.