and in the Mountains A Friend To Pets

Organization aims to expand no-kill movement in Georgia with opening of new adoption center

By Clare S. Richie

Intowners concerned about cats and dogs in Atlanta animal shelters have a reason to be optimistic. Best Friends Animal Society, the national organization dedicated to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters, is here. To promote the no-kill movement in the southeast, Atlanta Pet Rescue and Adoption (APRA) has joined Best Friends Animal Society and is now Best Friends – Atlanta.

“We’re thrilled. It’s a good fit for both,” said Best Friends – Atlanta communications director Rachel Pomberg. “APRA was a (Best Friends) network partner for many years. In 16 years APRA saved 19,000 animals. That work will continue and now Best Friends has a regional center to increase work in the southeast.”

Both share the same philosophy, but Best Friends brings to the rebranded pet adoption center the resources of a national organization that works collaboratively to reduce the number of animals entering shelters and increase the number who find homes. Since its founding in 1984, Best Friends has helped reduce the number of animals killed in American shelters from 17 million per year to an estimated 4 million.

Best Friends is no stranger to the city. It has been collaborating in the region for more than a decade with 23 network partners in greater Atlanta. In February, it launched a community cat program with Cobb County Animal Control that has sustained a save rate of 90 percent up from 50-60 percent for the same period in 2015.

Best Friends – Atlanta center is poised to play a critical role in the national organization’s bold goal.

“Our ultimate mission is to the end killing of dogs and cats in U.S. shelters by 2025,” Judah Battista, a second-generation co-founder and local city programs director, explained. “The best way to reach the southeast is to be here – what better place than Atlanta?”

Best Friends - Atlanta will prioritize the adoption of at-risk animals from shelters in Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb and Gwinnett counties while developing a local coalition.

Once these four counties have at least a 90 percent save rate, Best Friends-Atlanta will expand to other counties until the no-kill movement has spread throughout Georgia and the Southeast.

During the month of December, Best Friends – Atlanta’s adoption fee is just $25 for a spayed/neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped cat or dog. For more information, visit bestfriendsATL.org.

Pet Pick

Oreo has lived in a home his whole life and so is bewildered to be at a shelter again. He was adopted from PAWS as a small pup. He is taking it in stride though and making a lot of friends. He loves people like him – calm, collected, into a nice and easy life. We think he would be fairly happy with or without another pup, though. If you are looking for a wise, laidback guy, who loves a good sniff and strut, then Oreo is your guy. To adopt Oreo or any of the other available cats and dogs, visit PAWSAtlanta at pawsatlanta.org or the shelter at 5287 Covington Highway in Decatur.

Pet Briefs

The 6th annual Pet Winter Wonderland will be held at the Georgia International Convention Center on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 18, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

The exposition will feature a huge mega-adoption event with a variety of adoptable pets who are looking for a new forever friend and home from local Atlanta rescue and adoption organizations. There will also be live presentations, free nail trims, low-cost vaccinations, and competitions on the contest stage. There will also be pet photos with Santa. Along with the activities and events, there will be more than 100 exhibitor booths featuring various unique pet products, pet clothing and accessories, pet treats, holiday shopping, and more. For more information, visit holidaypetexpo.com.

History Repeating

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 20 years since the city played host to the Summer Olympic Games. The event brought international recognition to Atlanta and was the catalyst for much of the transformation of Downtown. Last month, the Georgia Historical Society and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority hosted a dedication ceremony for a new state historical marker in Centennial Olympic Park, which remains a lasting legacy of the games. Known officially as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, the sporting events were held in and around the city July 19 to Aug. 4, 1996.