Fulton County overhauls animal control and shelter operations
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A dog in a Fulton County Animal Shelter kennel in September. Photo: Kristal Dixon/Axios
Fulton County leaders are moving ahead with changes in how animal control services are handled in its 15 cities and unincorporated areas.
Why it matters: The revamp comes months after a woman was mauled to death in Union City by at least one dog.
- The case, the AJC reports, highlighted how poorly local police and Lifeline Animal Project staff handled the case.
The latest: Fulton County Commissioners last week approved contract changes with Lifeline Animal Project, which manages Fulton County Animal Services.
- The new contract, which takes effect Jan. 1 and is now valued at $7.4 million, calls for the Fulton County Police Department to handle field service and enforcement calls related to animal control.
- That change will save the county about $1.9 million, said Mike Rowicki, the county's director of strategy and performance management.
- Lifeline, which manages the Fulton County Animal Shelter, will only accept animals found or owned in the county.
- All animals will be spayed or neutered before they are adopted, unless a veterinarian documents a medical issue that prevents it.
- The nonprofit will also be required to maintain at least 90% of staffing levels at the shelter, hold at least six adoption events annually and ensure all staff are trained on protocols within 90 days of their hire.
What they're saying: Rowicki said the county has met with leaders of all 15 cities to inform them of the changes.
- Fulton County Police Capt. Nicole Dwyer said the agency will have 26 civilian animal control officers and four sworn officers, including herself, who will respond to calls.
- Fulton County police will initially focus on educating the public and if they see continued animal cruelty, they will pursue criminal charges, Dwyer told commissioners Wednesday.
- "We want to encourage responsible pet ownership," Dwyer said. "A lot of these attacks that we've had, a lot of issues come from irresponsible pet ownership."
Catch up quick: Donna Nguyen, 62, was fatally attacked by at least one dog last summer, the AJC reported.
- A Union City police officer who was dispatched to the call did not respond for 20 minutes, according to the outlet.
- Lifeline did not inform Fulton County police, which investigates criminal cases involving animals, for nearly two weeks, per AJC.
The big picture: Rowicki told commissioners that part of the county's animal control strategy relies on keeping its shelter population under control.
- The county has about 546 animals at the shelter, and another 700 are in foster care.
- Commissioner Khadijah Abdur-Rahman said educating the public on spaying and neutering will also help reduce the animal population.
- "When the economy drops, the first to feel it [are] the shelters, because people take their dogs to the shelter," she said.
What we're watching: Dwyer told commissioners it's unlikely that police will be able to determine what happened during the fatal attack because there were no eyewitnesses or video surveillance.