Elected officials and Lifeline Animal Services representatives at a groundbreaking ceremony at the DeKalb animal shelter on Nov. 21, 2024. (Zoe Seiler/Decaturish)
DeKalb County, Lifeline Animal Services and other local and state officials broke ground on overflow units being constructed at the DeKalb animal shelter on Nov. 21. The “pet neighborhood” will have 10 units that can house 120 dogs.
Five units will be completed by March 2025, and the remaining five will be completed by June 2025. The total cost of the project is about $4.1 million. About $2.5 million of the project is being funded by the DeKalb special purpose local option sales tax.
Construction will include pouring a concrete pad that the kennels will sit on, as well as utilities and stormwater infrastructure.
A rendering shows the 10 overflow units that will be constructed at the DeKalb animal shelter. (Photo courtesy of DeKalb County)
Commissioner Michelle Long Spears previously told Decaturish that she started to become familiar with animal-related issues by looking at the shelters, but she realized that the shelter is how the county is managing the problem, and it’s not necessarily getting to the root of the problem.
“Having the overflow means there’s going to be an extra 120 spaces for dogs, but we’re going to fill up,” Spears previously said. “Say perhaps we did another 120, it would just fill up. You have to get to the root of the problem.”
During the groundbreaking event, Spears said the project is not just a temporary shelter and infrastructure, it’s also a testament to the compassion and dedication of the community and recognition that the challenges animals face are intertwined with the challenges people face.
“When we invest in solving overpopulation, [it will] also address broader issues, [like] public health, community safety and even economic concerns, because healthy, safe neighborhoods benefit everyone,” Spears said during the groundbreaking ceremony. LifeLine Animal Services has managed the shelter since 2013. There are currently over 600 dogs at LifeLine and the shelter’s capacity is 475. In August 2023, there were 670 dogs at the shelter, which was a record high for LifeLine.
“These numbers are not just statistics about animals,” Spears said. They reflect the strain on our systems. Stray animals often end up in dangerous situations, leading to calls for emergency services, interactions with law enforcement and public safety concerns. The overflow units we’re breaking ground on today will shelter an additional 120 dogs, allowing us to meet the immediate need while continuing to work towards systemic solutions like increased spay and neuter initiatives.”
She added that it’s also about launching short and long-term solutions to address the root causes.
LifeLine CEO Rebecca Guinn said it’s an honor to partner with the county in delivering animal services.
“This expansion is a part of a larger strategic initiative,” Guinn said. “This expansion is going to help us improve the quality of life for the animals in our care, but the whole initiative is to improve the quality of life for the pets and people of DeKalb County.”
Sonali Saindane, an animal services advisory board member, added that the overflow units will provide a better, safer environment for the animals in the county’s care.
“While this temporary solution is not the final answer, it will make an incredible difference for many animals facing life-or-death situations simply due to overcrowding,” she said. “The reality is the current space has been stretched beyond its limits, with some dogs having to be housed in areas meant for cats. This temporary space will allow us to better care for the animals in the meantime, ensuring they have room to stretch comfortably and heal while we wait for the expansion of our current shelter.”
This story was provided by WABE content partner Decaturish.
