DeKalb County breaks ground on 'pet neighborhood' to address shelter overcrowding

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Published  November 21, 2024 6:52pm EST
FOX 5 Atlanta
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DeKalb County breaks ground on 'pet neighborhood'

Officials in DeKalb County broke ground today on a "pet neighborhood" in hopes of relieving overcrowding at the local animal shelter.

The Brief

    • DeKalb County is building a $4.1 million "pet neighborhood" with ten small buildings to ease overcrowding at its animal shelter.
    • The project, funded by SPLOST II and general funds, will house 120 dogs in prefabricated, climate-controlled structures by mid-2024.
    • Officials encourage adoption to further alleviate the strain on the shelter, which currently holds over 600 dogs and has another 700 in foster care.

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - DeKalb County officials broke ground on a novel project aimed at helping to address the severe overcrowding at the county’s animal shelter Thursday afternoon.

Known as the "pet neighborhood," the 10 small buildings will provide much-needed relief for the shelter, which has been operating far beyond its intended capacity since the pandemic.

The original shelter facility was designed to house about 230 dogs, with a maximum capacity of 400, officials said at the groundbreaking ceremony. It currently shelters more than 600 dogs, with another 700 animals in foster care, they said.

"These numbers are not just statistics about animals," DeKalb County Commissioner Michelle Long Spears said. "They reflect the strain on our systems."

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Groundbreaking for animal shelter expansion

A groundbreaking took place Thursday in DeKalb County for new overflow units for the county animal shelter.

Each building will house 12 dogs in personal spaces equipped with heating and air conditioning.

This will remove 120 dogs from the main shelter in a relatively short time, shelter staff said.

"The neighborhood concept was something that could happen most quickly," Rebecca Guinn, CEO of LifeLine Animal Project, said. "It’ll literally be a little village with sidewalks."

Officials said the project, funded by DeKalb County, will cost $4.1 million, with 60% of the funding coming from SPLOST II funds and the rest from the general fund.

The buildings are prefabricated in Pennsylvania and will be transported to the site once ready, Guinn said.

The county expects the first five buildings to be ready for occupancy by March, with the remaining five to follow by June. The pet neighborhood will be located next to the current shelter on Chamblee Dunwoody Road.

"We invest in solving overpopulation," Long Spears said. "We’re also addressing broader issues—public health, community safety, and even economic concerns."

"It'll be a lot easier for us to manage—a lot healthier environment for the dogs," Guinn added.

Officials encourage animal lovers to help ease the shelter’s current overcrowding by considering adoption.