MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) _ A central Indiana animal shelter has starting charging people $25 when they surrender a pet they can no longer care for.

Muncie Animal Shelter Director Phil Peckinpaugh says the money generated by the fee will go into the shelter's spay and neuter account.

She tells The Star Press (http://tspne.ws/1i6IBT7) the fee that took effect last week is “one more fee we can apply to help animals.''

Nearly half of the 5,000 animals the shelter received so far in 2015 were surrendered by their owners.

Peckinpaugh says the shelter will consider it if someone doesn't have $25 because they've lost their home or are on government assistance. But she says if someone simply doesn't want to pay the fee, they'll have to find an alternative home for their pet.