Roswell-area families looking to adopt a dog or cat can do so for $25 through Aug. 26 at Fulton County Animal Services, where LifeLine Animal Project's annual Clear the Shelters campaign has cut fees from the usual $85. Starting Aug. 27, adoption fees disappear entirely through Aug. 31.
The $25 fee covers spay/neuter surgery, a microchip and essential vaccinations, services LifeLine says would cost more than $250 if done privately.
"We have so many dogs and cats coming in every day, so every adoption and foster makes a difference," Sam Moore, a LifeLine employee, told the Southerner Online on Aug. 17.
The urgency is real.
As of May, the shelter at 1251 Fulton Industrial Blvd. NW was dozens of dogs over capacity, according to a Fulton County press release. Fulton County Animal Services is an open-intake facility, meaning it cannot turn animals away. Moore said the crowding raises the risk of disease outbreaks and strains the staff's ability to provide care.
LifeLine, Georgia's largest nonprofit animal welfare organization, operates the shelter under contract with Fulton County. The facility serves residents across the county, including Roswell, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek and Milton.
The organization's goal for August is to place 2,000 dogs and cats across Metro Atlanta, up from the more than 1,500 adopted through the campaign last year, Fulton Neighbor reported. Clear the Shelters is a national effort launched in 2015 by NBCUniversal that has helped more than 1.3 million pets find homes nationwide.
What to know:
- Cost: $25 through Aug. 26; free Aug. 27–31
- Location: Fulton County Animal Services, 1251 Fulton Industrial Blvd. NW, Atlanta
- Includes: Spay/neuter, microchip, vaccinations
- Serves: Roswell, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Milton and other Fulton County cities
The campaign's five-day grand finale runs Aug. 27–31, with all adoption fees waived for dogs and cats.
