Task force takes on rising animal euthanizations
- 5/20/11
- Categorized in: DeKalb News
A private animal shelter in DeKalb County says it is turning away a record number of animals every day.
Because of the economy, pet owners are losing their jobs and homes, and moving to apartments that do not allow pets. Others, simply can not afford to keep their pets, said Tara Mitchell, director of operations for Paws Atlanta.
And an increasing number of animals are being euthanized in DeKalb County. Between 2007 and 2009, the number of euthanized cats and dogs has risen from 3,800 to nearly 5,500, according to county records.
The county “has no choice but to euthanize,” Mitchell said. “We can’t store a million animals in one building.”
In response to those numbers, the county has formed the DeKalb Animal Services Task Force to implement strategies that will improve quality of life for animals and reduce the numbers of euthanized healthy or treatable animals.
According Susan Neugent, chairwoman of the task force, 17,000 animals were taken in between 2009-10. Of those, 1,200 were adopted and 2,200 were rescued by private shelters. The county euthanized 10,000 animals during that time and spends approximately $1.75 million annually on euthanizations.
During an eight-month period, animal task force members will review existing practices in DeKalb and other communities to determine ways to protect animals in the county.
The task force will consider promoting good choices by pet owners; restructuring DeKalb Animal Services; enhancing and developing new collaborations between agencies, non-profit organizations and concerned residents; improving enforcement tools and practices; and enhancing facilities used to institutionally house or manage pets in DeKalb County.
Mitchell said the answer to the pet overpopulation is to enforce laws for spaying and neutering.
“It’s the only way we’re going to make a dent in the problem,” Mitchell said.
Janet Hart, president of A Welcome Home Animal Rescue, said the animal overpopulation is a fact of life.
“There aren’t enough homes for animals,” Hart said. “People are too irresponsible to take care of them.”
“I hate euthanasia, but I hate worse keeping animals in cages for years,” Hart said. “It’s better than keeping animals in cages for years and it’s better than letting stray animals fend for themselves on the streets.”
Residents can help the task force by participating in a brief online survey at www.dekalbcountyga.gov/astf.
I live in South DeKalb County, District Three, Larry Johnson Commissioner. Before I could walk my dog home from the laundromat today I had to wait on two people walking Three Pit Bulls down the other side of the sidewalk. People have fought dogs up and down I-20 from Boulevard to Lithonia ! It is not nearly as bad now as it use to be infact it is much better. However one third of the Pants on the Ground neighborhood thugs all about South DeKalb think they are Dog Breeders ! They are Breeders Alright ?
Enforce the current laws (good luck on that-can't even stop the Illegal Gambling in South DeKalb) and cnarge every Dog Breeder in This State and surely DeKalb County A $2,000 to 10,000 Fee for a Breeders Lisence !
You might also call our DeKalb Board of Commissioners, EACH & EVERY ONE OF THEM and ask each one how they found the money to provide they and their staffs CATERED MEALS, some from Ted's Montana Grill, costing everyone in DeKalb County thousands of dollars every month.
The DeKalb Board of Commissioners providing themselves and staff with lush meals while our Police and Fire Departments are woefully underfunded is nothing less than an absolute VIOLATION OF THE PUBLIC TRUST.
And where are the other Elected Officials of DeKalb County while The DeKalb BOC is "cleaning our clocks" ?
It seems fairly obvious that he is only posting to solicit business. So does The Champion plan to do anything to eliminate this spam from its comment section?
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