A Place for ALL Jews

The measures helped, but not enough to offset low adoption numbers and an overwhelmed staff. DeKalb County Animal Shelter Director Kerry Moyers-Horton said the facility typically has one staff member doing animal care and feeding for 75 dogs, and that still leaves many animals without adequate care.

“It’s not good for the dogs, they’re not benefitting from it,” Moyers-Horton said.

Public relations manager Artist said adoptions are down 31 percent from last year.

“We’re not taking in any more, but people aren’t adopting,” Artist said.

The organization said the reason for the dropoff could be economic hardship, with people’s budgets tightening and little extra cash left for high pet care costs. LifeLine officials also point to housing as a limitation because many apartment complexes have

What do you think?

Appen Media and the Dunwoody Crier want to hear from residents — how do you feel about this story? What questions do you have? Let us know by emailing newsroom@appenmedia.com.

and vocal on trafficking and prostitution issues, and I find it hard to believe he would support the informal policy.”

Readers also submitted a series of questions raised by the article.

They asked whether the Dunwoody City Attorney, municipal court or Georgia Attorney General’s Office had been consulted about the policy, why so many of the cases originating by these investigations are cleared in municipal court, and whether the department would agree to some type of oversight when using the policy.

When posed these questions by email, City of Dunwoody representatives declined to comment but did provide a statement.

“We appreciate your interest in the city’s efforts to proactively fight human trafficking,” Dunwoody Communications Director Jennifer Boettcher said. “The de- strict restrictions on pets and breed types. The shelters are left with primarily large dogs, unable to be adopted or fostered by people living under strict housing regulations.

Earlier this year, a strain of canine flu ripped through the shelters, further complicating the situation. There was no space to properly quarantine the infected dogs, and they could not be sent out to foster homes with existing pets for fear of spreading the illness.

DeKalb resident Melissa Laboy said she tried to foster from the shelter months ago, but she was turned away because of the risk of canine flu to her dog at home.

When she saw the shelter’s call for fosters before the Jan. 31 deadline, she decided to remind the shelter she was available.

“I was like, ‘Hey, I still want to do this!’” Laboy said.

The shelter let Laboy foster a dog, and she took home Gigi on Jan. 27.

Meanwhile, a pair of young boys peered through the glass to look at one dog, declaring they wanted a girl. They liked the one named Majorette, a large white and brown spotted dog the shelter described as athletic and affectionate.

Moyer-Horton said the community “really rallied around” the shelter once it partment’s means and methods are legal. If you have further questions, we’d refer you to the Georgia Attorney General’s Office.

Readers also questioned Appen Media’s motives for publishing it’s article.

“If the goal is to let human traffickers flourish in Dunwoody, publish the cooperating hotel locations where stings occur,” a reader who asked to remain anonymous said. “If the goal is to stop the scourge of human trafficking, continue the sensible informal policy of publishing the City Hall address as opposed to the cooperating hotel address.”

Appen Media Publisher Hans Appen responded to the comments, saying the media company is dedicated to investigating how and why public authorities make decisions, so readers can make informed decisions about their community.

“We report facts and leave it to the readers to make their own judgement on the practice and its implied tradeoffs,” Appen said. “However, they would not have known they were making those tradeoffs without our reporting. So, at the end of the day, if the public decides that it is OK with the risks associated with the practice in exchange for the perceived benefit, I will be glad that we gave them the information they needed to make that informed choice. An engaged and informed public fosters good governance and accountability.” announced the deadline. On Jan. 26, 300 people came in looking to foster or adopt. The next day, two hours before closing, 181 people dropped in.

In seven days, the DeKalb County shelter’s canine population dropped from 593 to 312. Support for the shelter expanded beyond its doors and into the community, with other organizations signal-boosting the calls for adoption. Atlanta Lab Rescue, a nonprofit dedicated to finding homes for large breed Labrador Retrievers offered to pay for a group training class for dogs adopted from the shelter before the deadline.

Cortland, a company that manages apartment complexes in Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Johns Creek, Alpharetta and Roswell offered to waive pet fees for residents who adopt from LifeLine Animal Project.

The outpouring of support keeps Moyers-Horton positive, but she doesn’t want people to ease up.

“We are making progress, but we’ll fill up again in weeks if we don’t keep these numbers going,” Moyers-Horton said.

DeKalb County Animal Services can be contacted at 404-294-2996 or at 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Road in Chamblee. Fulton County Animal Services can be contacted at 404-613-0358 or at 860 Marietta Blvd NW in Atlanta.