If you’re gonna be stuck at home for a few weeks, you might as well get a new furry friend to keep you company, right?
Since metro Atlantans began isolating in their homes and limiting contact with others, the public animal shelters in Fulton and DeKalb counties have seen a spike in interest.
From March 13 to 20, residents adopted or fostered 764 pets, according to LifeLine Animal Project, the organization that handles animal services for both counties and has its own private shelter.
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That tally includes 41 cats, 297 dogs and one guinea pig that were adopted and 44 cats and 381 dogs who went into foster homes. LifeLine put out a plea for adoptions as the coronavirus continued to spread, offering free adoptions for the week.
“We are very moved by the Atlanta community’s outpouring of support,” said Rebecca Guinn, LifeLine’s founder and CEO. “We hope it continues as is it still critical to move as many shelter animals into loving homes as possible.”
Through March 31, the nonprofit is offering pet adoptions for $20, which includes the animal’s spay/neuter, microchip and vaccines.
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LifeLine is trying to get as many animals as possible out of the shelters in case staffing has to be reduced or the shelters have to close to the public and cease adoptions due to the virus. About 40 to 60 animals come into the shelter every day.
To avoid the spread of the coronavirus, LifeLine is offering appointment-only visits. Staff members will bring animals outside to meet people at their cars.
Visit LifeLineAnimal.org/foster or LifeLineAnimal.org/adopt to make an appointment and learn more. LifeLine's website also has the locations and hours of its shelters and pictures of the pets that are up for adoption.
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