DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Editor's note: The above video is from a previous story.
The DeKalb County Animal Shelter is pleading with the community for assistance in an urgent effort to reduce overcrowding.
The shelter said they are filled to the brim with over 500 dogs, which is spreading staff thin. With the facility being overrun and a lack of volunteers, dogs have only been able to be walked every five to seven days, impacting their quality of life.
Last week, DeKalb County Commissioner Ted Terry and community animal advocates volunteered to walk dogs at the DeKalb County shelter, providing some much-needed relief to the pups. Commissioner Terry is calling for more volunteers and encouraging community members to adopt or foster to lighten the shelter's load.
“Whether you are volunteering an hour or two a week to walk dogs or choose to foster or adopt, you can help save the lives of the dogs at the DeKalb County animal shelter,” Commissioner Ted Terry said. “Through our collaborative action, we can improve the quality of care at the DeKalb County shelter and help transform it into a role model of care for the region.”
Terry is no stranger to the DeKalb shelter, as he adopted his pit bull, Millie, from the shelter in 2013. He said the shelter has dogs of all sizes and breeds in need of love and ready to find their forever home.
“The dogs at the DeKalb County animal shelter are deserving of dignity and love,” said Michelle Schretter, advocate and volunteer. “There have been many improvements at the shelter and the staff is doing all they can with the resources they have, but we need more volunteers so that these dogs can get more exercise and human interaction. We need these animals to be adopted or fostered.”
The shelter's goal is to reduce the number of dogs to 450 so that they can better serve them and ensure proper care and attention.
Those interested in fostering or volunteering can reach out to the shelter by emailing Brian Cooke at bcooke@dekalbanimalservices.com.