Over 100 Animals Turned into NE GA Animal Shelter After Re-opening Tuesday

On Tuesday, the Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter re-opened to the public and began taking in surrendered and stray dogs and cats after a 14-day quarantine due to a case of parvo confirmed in a puppy.

By Wednesday, over 100 animals had been turned into the shelter already overcrowded with dogs and cats, which has created a crisis of space and care.

“Within a two-day period we have taken in over 100 animals to a shelter that is already slam-packed full,” said Shelter Director Tammi Jourdenais Wednesday morning. “So are begging anyone looking for or considering adopting a dog, cat, kitten, or puppy to come to the shelter and adopt. We have a wide variety to choose from – some beautiful animals right now. We have a lot of puppies available for adoption, and a lot of cats and kittens available for adoption. And so many beautiful, precious adult dogs and cats who will not fail them, that’s not going to let them down again.”

Normally, Jourdenais is able to get dogs and cats that have been at the shelter the longest into no-kill rescue groups up and down the east coast.

But with inflation and the rising costs of everything, other shelters or rescue groups that would normally have room, are in the same situation as the Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter – they’re full.

That’s why she’s encouraging anyone who has been considering adopting a dog or cat or adding another pet to your family or home to come to the shelter and adopt.

“Our adoption fee for puppies is only $100 and for adult dogs it’s only $75. That includes a certificate to get them spayed or neutered, the rabies vaccine, and they’ve age-appropriate vaccines since they’ve been with us. Kitten and cat adoption is only $45 and that also includes the spay or neuter and age-appropriate vaccines,” Jourdenais explained.

Jourdenais said with the overwhelming number of dogs and cats, comes an even bigger need for donations of dog, puppy, cat, and kitten food and other supplies.

“Having this many animals, trying to save each one’s life and wait on rescues to be able to take them or people to come to adopt them, trying to give each animal a fair opportunity and not give up on them, it takes a lot to feed them. It takes a lot to clean up after them. If you have a couple of dogs at home you know how much food you go through. Having 100 that we have to feed, it’s a lot of food that we go through on a daily basis. A lot of these dogs come to us really skinny and malnourished and they have to be fed two or three times a day. So we’re asking that during this hard time for us that people donate,” she said.

Jourdenais said they also need cleaning supplies, towels, and old blankets or area rugs are all desperately needed as well as shredded paper.

You can drop off donations or come to adopt every Tuesday and Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 11a to 4p.

The Shelter is located on Bear Creek Road in Lavonia next to the Lavonia City Shop.

They can be reached at 706-356-5363 or you can message them on their Facebook page.