Pets help to round out our families. But unfortunately, not every pet has found their forever home.
Chamblee City Lifestyle spoke with Jabari Gadsden, director of animal care, DeKalb County Animal Services, about the shelter in Chamblee and the different processes and ways people can help.
Jabari came to DeKalb County Animal Services with a passion for animals after having pets while growing up as a young boy. He initially thought he might become a veterinarian, but after time in the military, he found himself working in a doggy daycare program. From there, he went on to start a doggy daycare program at a local veterinarian hospital before joining DeKalb County and the Lifeline Animal Project in 2018 as an Animal Care Supervisor. Currently, he is the Animal Care Director serving the animals in his care by providing a hospitable culture while offering visitors an efficient and positive experience.
“My passion has always been with animals,” Jabari says. “I’ve never actually held another industry job that didn’t deal with animals in my entire adult career.”
The animal shelter in Chamblee can have more than 500 animals and it takes a lot of manpower to feed and care for them. Jabari says there are a number of ways people can help.
Adopting a Pet
First and foremost, adoptions help move the animals from the crowded environment of the shelter into loving forever homes for the animal.
Jabari says there are two ways to adopt. The first is by finding a pet through the online system, completing and submitting an application, and then coming into the facility for a meet and greet.
Or you can come into the facility first and start the application process with an adoption counselor. Jabari says the counselor will identify key behaviors and personality traits based on what the family or individual is looking for and then they’ll find a match.
Either way, Jabari says it’s a quick and easy process. Their process is “Adopters Welcome” and means they generally don’t exclude anyone from adopting.
“We treat everything on a case-by-case basis,” he says, adding that they work to match both personalities and lifestyles between the pets and potential pet owners. Animals are observed for key behaviors and those behaviors are matched with those of potential owners. For example, for those potential owners who tend to lead a more sedentary lifestyle will likely be matched with a pet that’s not as active.
Animals are observed in different settings by a number of staff members who come in contact with the animal during their routine roles and by volunteers. All key behaviors are noted by the observations made and allows for the best match for both the pet and owner.
Jabari says that with more than 500 animals, they see a variety of different breeds. He says adoptions are always on a first come-first served basis, and he suggests that if you’re looking for a certain breed to keep checking the website for the options available.
Fostering an Animal
If you aren’t ready to have a forever pet, you can help by fostering a pet. Jabari says there are two main foster programs.
Foster to adopt is basically a two-week trial period with an animal. Two weeks allows time for the animal to decompress after living in a shelter environment and allows the potential owner to get to know the animal and any potential behavior or medical issues. It also allows any other pets and the potential new pet time to get to know one another and to see if they’re a good match.
And then there’s the basic fostering program, where a person or family is able to help by fostering an animal for a determined amount of time. This is a tremendous help to the shelter by keeping the numbers down to help prevent overcrowding.
Keep in mind, there are also short-term opportunities with the Dog for a Day Program and the Weekend Warrior Program. With Dog for a Day, an animal can be taken for a day of fun. It’s a great outing for the dog. For the Weekend Warrior Program, dogs go for a short-term overnight stay. And again, it’s a great way to give the pup a break from a stressful shelter environment.
Volunteering at the Shelter
Jabari says you can sign up to volunteer by registering online. There's an orientation to attend, and then also a mentorship program for those new to volunteering – new volunteers are paired with a current volunteer to learn the ropes. Volunteers can help with clinics, dog walking, play groups, and more.
For more information, to find your next pet, or to learn more about how you can help, visit lifelineanimal.org.