Visiting the Adoptable Pets of Lifeline Facebook group will likely elicit tears of joy, or sadness. The board is a litany of adorable pet pictures, mostly dogs, many of which are posted with a ticking clock countdown to be adopted before they are euthanized. Sprinkled throughout those posts are some more encouraging messages from new owners who stepped up to adopt just in time to save a life.
On Dec. 28, Taylor Land, posted a video and pictures of her children with their new dog String Cheese which Land rescued from the euthanasia list.
“This dog is absolutely amazing!!,” she wrote. “He is so kind, friendly and playful! If anyone is considering getting a dog, please look at these lists! String Cheese is kid and dog friendly and absolutely loves life. There are so many wonderful dogs out there that deserve a second chance.”
A few posts below Lands’ is a sadder one: pictures of 16 dogs from Fulton Animal Services that must be adopted by Monday Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. or they will be euthanized. Among them are two puppies, Paulo and Araminta, a sweet senior named Black Star and a cutie named Carti.
Credit: Courtesy of Lifeline Animal Project
Credit: Courtesy of Lifeline Animal Project
Credit: Courtesy of Lifeline Animal Project
Credit: Courtesy of Lifeline Animal Project
Lifeline manages both Fulton and DeKalb County Animal shelters, where overcrowding is a daily struggle. Every day on the Lifeline website, Lifeline publishes its daily dog count at each shelter. On Dec. 28, at the Fulton County shelter, there were 391 dogs, which is 16 beyond Lifeline’s max capacity of 375. At DeKalb County, there are 543, which is 8 over the max capacity there of 535. This means between the two shelters, there are 24 dogs at risk of being euthanized if not adopted by Monday night at 8 p.m.
“Our ultimate goal is to be below the maximum capacity ... We are working in increments each week to achieve this, but until we can make that goal a reality, unfortunately, euthanasia is a potential outcome for any animal brought into the shelter given this space crisis,” reads the Lifeline website.
Credit: Courtesy of Lifeline Animal Project
Credit: Courtesy of Lifeline Animal Project
Social media campaigns are one way Lifeline uses to help find pets homes before they are euthanized. Another is by periodically waiving adoption fees for certain pets.
Right now, and for three more days until the end of the year, Lifeline Animal Project will waive all fees for adopting any dog or cat over the age of seven. Microchipping, spay/neuter and vaccinations are included for new owners who choose to adopt. Lifeline also offers low-cost vet services at several locations across the city to aid owners who might be worried about long-term costs of pet care.
Adopting a senior pet, whether they are on the euthanasia list or not, helps free up life-saving space.
Another way to shorten the list for dogs slated for euthanasia is by temporarily fostering a dog. Families who foster a dog buy time, can help find suitable forever homes and help gather information that will be helpful to their future owner.
“Fostering saves lives and helps to get home notes for these pups for adopters,” writes Nicole Hurdt, who posted about the 16 dogs up for euthanasia this weekend. “A lot of the time you can’t base personalities on kennel behavior due to stress. They really need to be in a home environment to get accurate behavioral information.”
Credit: Courtesy of Lifeline Animal Project
Credit: Courtesy of Lifeline Animal Project
As the new year approaches, Lifeline hopes individuals or families might be willing to home a new dog, either permanently, or temporarily.
To see a list of all Lifeline’s adoptable or fosterable pets, visit lifelineanimal.org/adopt/. Click on the “at risk dogs” buttons to see the lists of dogs on the ticking clock to be euthanatized. To search for pets with waived adoption fees, search for senior animals over the age of seven.
Credit: Courtesy of Lifeline Animal Project
Credit: Courtesy of Lifeline Animal Project
About the Author
