Metro animal shelters waiving fees for adoptions due to overcrowding

Officials said the county's shelters are full.

Credit: LifeLine Animal Project

Credit: LifeLine Animal Project

Officials said the county's shelters are full.

The public animal shelters in DeKalb and Fulton counties took in about 500 dogs and cats since last week, prompting officials to waive adoption fees through this Sunday, Nov. 3.

The waiver is estimated to be a $300 value, and includes the pet’s spay/neutering, a microchip and vaccinations, according to LifeLine Animal Project, a nonprofit that manages animal services for the two counties.

Since last week, about 230 animals came into the DeKalb shelter, and the Fulton shelter took in nearly 270, LifeLine said.

“LifeLine Animal Project is issuing an urgent plea for Atlantans to adopt or foster from their shelters,” the statement said.

Kerry Moyers-Horton, the shelter director in DeKalb, said the majority of the intakes are strays. Intake typically decreases in October, she said, so “we aren’t sure why so many are entering the shelter now. Putting ID on your pet, including a microchip and tag, is one of the best ways to prevent them from becoming a stray.”

Animals can be adopted from the main county shelters, as well as the LifeLine Community Animal Center and the LifeLine Cat Adoption Center.

“If you’re looking to adopt a pet, now is truly the time. And if you can’t adopt, consider fostering, even for just a few weeks, to also save lives,” Fulton Shelter Director Lara Hudson said in a statement.

To find the addresses and hours of the shelters — and to look at pictures at the available animals — visit LifeLine's website.

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