Longtime Chamblee resident Debi Campbell has a goal for 2025. Her goal was to become a volunteer at the lifeline DeKalb facility located in Chamblee. Debi says she's in the early stages of achieving that goal. "Over the last years, I've just really become a very strong proponent for dog rescue," Debi says. She has attended the initial orientation at the facility and is preparing for a mentorship meeting. "I'm excited to go through the mentorship and to figure out what I can do to help." She says that when hearing that the shelter was struggling with overcrowding, she was prompted to get involved and volunteer.
Her own dog, Halo, is a rescue, and within the past year, Debi, along with her husband John, have fostered two dogs from different Georgia facilities, a Pitbull mix breed they named Falco and a Brittany Spaniel named Beau, that have since gone on to their forever homes. Debi says both dogs went to amazing homes. "Doing our job of learning as much as we could and connecting them with their new family, it was just so incredibly rewarding," Debi says." She says she still stays in touch with the families that adopted the dogs and that makes her happy. "I can continue to see the dogs as they thrive in their new homes."
Debi says she's not sure exactly what her volunteer role will entail - but whether she takes the dogs for walks and write shelter notes or something else, she says she's happy to help. She says she thinks about the fact she could become attached to the animals and that it could be emotional. “I hope I don’t come home crying every day,” she says, knowing it’s going to be a challenge not to become too attached, but she adds that she’s excited to help.
An expansion to the Chamblee facility was announced recently. The expansion will help to relieve some of the overcrowding at the facility. "I'm so excited to see that growth," Debi says. "It'll be nice."
Debi, a mortgage banker with Ameris Bank, says she loves the Chamblee community having lived in the area for most of her adult life, and she’s fortunate to be able to work from home with the opportunity and flexibility to spend more time in the community. "We have really watched Chamblee grow, and we have come to love it more every year that we're here because of all the great things that have come into the community," she says. "My husband and I are both very outdoorsy, and there are so many awesome things in this community for us to do outdoors."
On the weekends, Debi says they try hard not to use their cars. "We love to be able to walk or bike to places. It just makes it much more interesting and much more enjoyable for us."
And Debi says what makes it even more fun to be in Chamblee, is that they've developed strong friendships with their neighbors. "We run into friends and neighbors, and it makes you feel a part of a great community," Debi says. It's something you don't always find in metro Atlanta. And the fact that Chamblee is dog friendly, she says they love to include Halo in some of their outings.
Given the chance, she says she’s proud to tell others she lives in Chamblee. "I very proudly say I live in Chamblee," Debi says. "I credit our leadership here in the city for turning Chamblee into a place people want to invest in."
If you have a passion on your heart for animals, Debi encourages others to volunteer too. "They have so many different needs," she says. "It's a great way to put your talents to use in whatever role suits you."
According to the website, Lifeline is the largest animal welfare organization in Georgia, and helps more than 43,000 animals per year. Their mission is to end euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals through innovative programs, low-cost spaying and neutering, affordable veterinary care, and pet retention services. Those who want to help can adopt a pet, foster a pet or volunteer in a number of ways. If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer at the shelter in Chamblee or to donate, visit lifelineanimalproject.org.
"I'm excited to go through the mentorship and to figure out what I can do to help." Debi Campbell
"Doing our job of learning as much as we could and connecting them with their new family, it was just so incredibly rewarding." Debi Campbell, about fostering and placing two dogs in their forever homes.