Here are 4 things to know this week if you live in The Woodlands area. 1. The Montgomery County Animal Shelter is offering free pet adoptions for the holidays until Saturday. The Home for the Holidays program allows individuals or families to adopt a cat or dog for free—normally $80—in an effort to try to adopt 300 pets. The effort is one of several programs new animal shelter director Charles Jackson said he hopes will encourage the community to become more involved with the shelter. 2. Thinking about getting more involved in The Woodlands community? Beginning Dec. 29, filing will begin for more than 100 positions to serve on The Woodlands Residential Design Review committees and village associations. The filing period lasts until Jan. 19, and the elections will be in February. Filing is open to residents or property owners in The Woodlands who are older than age 18. 3. Registration is almost open for the township's 2017 signature races, including TWFG Muddy Trails Bash, CB&I Tri and the Memorial Hermann 10 for Texas. Registration begins Jan. 1, and all three races will be capped. TWFG Muddy Trails Bash will be April 1, the CB&I Tri will take place May 6, and the Memorial Hermann 10 for Texas will be Oct. 14. For more details, visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/races. 4. The Woodlands Township is seeking input for the Bear Branch Park master plan update through a new survey. Answers and feedback from the survey will help develop priorities for the park's future. To take the survey, visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/1255/Recreation-Surveys.