An ideal Animal Shelter for DeKalb County

Therra C. Gwyn November 6, 2012 at 06:52 pm

No kill. I know it's not easy, I know what it requires, but I also know other cities have done it, successfully. Atlanta has one of the highest kill rates of any comparable sized city. No kill is the way. It's humane, it's effective and for taxpayers it's actually less expensive in the long run. "No kill Atlanta!" is my wish.

Judy Simon November 6, 2012 at 10:06 pm

Interesting question. Would include all of the above with the optimal goal of no-kill. This can only be accomplished with the support, direction and supervision of a like-minded Director. We need to get the new facility built correctly because we won't get a second chance. It doesn't count if we get another facility that doesn't meet the needs of the unwanted and thrown away animals of this county. Optimum = well built facility in prime location to encourage and welcome potential adopters + like-minded Director + trained and compassionate employees + lots of volunteers who are willing to stand behind their principles,even when it's tough. It's not an impossible goal,but it takes a village of people sharing one goal.
Looking forward to reading everyone's views. This will make our County shine, not hide in shame.

Kay Fullmer November 7, 2012 at 03:06 pm

Kay Fullmer
Our CEO promised a new shelter and is looking at sites. Apparently some sites are just land and some have existing buildings. I wonder how an existing building can be properly adapted to provide proper drainage for all the cages, etc. I would like a new building designed by an architect with experience in designing shelters. The county has an abysmal record of running the shelter. If the new Director can't turn it around quickly it should be outsourced to a nonprofit animal group.

Judy Simon November 8, 2012 at 01:08 pm

It would be my hope that every DeKalb County resident visit the current animal control facility to see the environment as it is now, and then voice their opinions about the perfect facility vision. Do DeKalb County residents even know about the status of the current animal control facility? Do they know that there is a process underway to improve conditions at the facility? Do they know that current employees care about the situation and want to make it better? WE NEED TO BE AWARE!!! Please play a positive role in your county operations at animal control. The animals are counting on you to be a responsible, informed citizen of DeKalb County. There are lots of ways to work toward the perfect facility, and it's our time to make it happen. County government + citizen support = success.

Vicki November 8, 2012 at 03:15 pm

I would offer up the model used by the shelters in Washington, DC (at least when I lived there.) I'm not 100% sure of all the details, but the animal control operation was run by the City, but the shelters were also staffed, and the animals cared for, by volunteers of the amazingly well-run Washington Humane Society? Plus WHS has it's own low-cost spay/neuter clinic. It was a good partnership for the animals.

Muffie Michaelson November 8, 2012 at 08:15 pm

I would hope that DeKalb could achieve "all of the above," and it could be possible with a public-private partnership. A truly inspiring shelter is Chicago's PAWS. Check it out at www.pawschicago.org. I also think that a shelter could be even more successful if it was located next to a youth or senior center; both could be sources of volunteers to help with animal care and socialization.

Sully November 8, 2012 at 10:49 pm

Pairing up with organizations such as the Wounded Warrior program (not sure how close Fort Benning is but we have one here at Ft knox). They provide service dogs for wounded veterans as therapy for many different conditions. It's a wonderful program and it helps place homelsess dogs with good families.

Judy Simon November 9, 2012 at 02:55 am

I'll have to check out the Chicago site. Public-private partnership may be an option.

Judy Simon November 9, 2012 at 09:28 pm

With the right facility, more people will be willing to donate their time and skills to help place these dogs and cats in all kinds of surroundings. We could all use some pet therapy, whether we know it or not. But you need to get people in the door, and that is all I hear right now -- I can't bear to go there. While I understand where they're coming from, I cannot agree with that approach. Those are the animals that need us the most. That's exactly why we need a new, hopefully state-0f-the-art facility. If we don't get it right, we'll be faced with the same type of unacceptable maintenance environment that we currently have in a few short years. None of us want that, so we have to be careful, think things through, and spend money wisely.

Kathy November 10, 2012 at 01:32 pm

Leadership! DeKalb Animal Services still has one of the lowest adoption rates and highest euthanasia rate in GA. Employee turnover is high. The facility is perpetually understaffed. Why? It has never been a priority for DeKalb County leadership. There is a task force that created a comprehensice plan for animal services but has been ignored by our CEO and his team. We need leadership that is willing to make this a priority because it makes economic and moral sense!

Tara November 10, 2012 at 01:34 pm

Leadership! DeKalb Animal Services still has one of the lowest adoption rates and highest euthanasia rate in GA. Employee turnover is high. The facility is perpetually understaffed. Why? It has never been a priority for DeKalb County leadership. There is a task force that created a comprehensice plan for animal services but has been ignored by our CEO and his team. We need leadership that is willing to make this a priority because it makes economic and moral sense!

Tara November 10, 2012 at 01:54 pm

oops...My comments have showed up twice! I thought that it did not go through the first time because of something to do with my login name already in use. Sorry!

pat November 10, 2012 at 02:18 pm

I would want a shelter - that is just that - a shelter for homeless animals until they can find good homes. A shelter that has the staff needed to provide care, a shelter that is clean and is a decent place for the animals and the staff - that has an active adoption program, that is located in a place convenient to the public.

Judy Simon November 14, 2012 at 12:44 pm

It's clear from all of the comments that everyone has extremely similar goals for the perfect shelter. Now -- how do we motivate an entire village to make this a reality? If you have an answer, please pass it along, because we have a desperate situation here in DeKalb County, with animals -- waiting -- for an answer and some action.

Judy Simon November 21, 2012 at 12:15 pm

Where does DeKalb County stand with a new animal control facility?? Has a site been selected?