After after almost a year of allegations about shelter operations, small cages, sanitation, clogged air ducts, and overcrowding, DeKalb County announced this week an external audit will be performed on DeKalb County Animal Services, which is managed by LifeLine Animal Project.
The audit is the result of a resolution presented by DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. The external audit will examine animal shelter operations, policies, and practices.
“I am proud to move along this resolution to assure the residents of DeKalb that decisive actions will be taken to remediate any adverse conditions and ensure best practices at LifeLine Animal Project,” Cochran-Johnson said. “To achieve this goal, we cannot rely on LifeLine to provide an internal evaluation of their systems, policies, and current conditions. We must rely on external professionals with empirical knowledge of animal shelter operations.”
Cochran-Johnson first asked for an external audit in late 2023, “out of an abundance of concern and caution to remediate adverse animal shelter conditions and to ensure best practices,” according to a press release.
Commissioner Michelle Long Spears, who has been an advocate of safer animal conditions, announced the first State of DeKalb Animals address to be held Wednesday, April 10, in Decatur Square at 11 a.m.
The lunchtime event with keynote speaker Dr. Gregory Berns and a panel of experts will bring new ideas to the issues facing DeKalb.
“Many of you are already aware that animal issues in DeKalb reflect the issues our citizens face: housing, health and wellness, crime and safety, and increased economic pressures,” said Long Spears.
Legislation was passed on Sept. 26, 2023, DeKalb County to increase funding to the Lifeline Animal Project to support additional resources, shelter operations, and staffing for animal services.
LifeLine has appealed to the public for more pet adoptions due to severe overcrowding in shelters in both DeKalb and Fulton counties. In December,