It's back to business for furry friends and their human companions in Atlanta as Fulton County and the City have finally buried the hatchet, restoring animal control services after a three-month stand-off. The County Commission unanimously said 'aye' on Wednesday, giving the green light to an intergovernmental agreement that restarted the much-needed service in a snap.
During the downtime, which started on a bone-chilling note in April, emergency calls from Atlanta denizens – who represent a whopping 55% of animal service needs in Fulton County – were left hanging. Despite the chill in services, the Fulton County Animal Services facility stuck to its guns, opening its doors to an influx of 98 dogs from residents caught in the service gap.
Chairman Robb Pitts was all smiles about getting back on track, telling attendees at the commission’s powwow, "I am glad that we have been able to resolve this matter with the City of Atlanta expeditiously and respectfully." According to WABE, Pitts lauded staff from both sides of the aisle who didn't drop the ball in safeguarding both two-legged and four-legged Atlantans during the pause.
With the Atlanta City Council at the helm, comprising of 12 district and three at-large power players, the gears of governance and policy-making keep turning. Under the watchful eye of Council President Doug Shipman, this group doesn't miss a beat, steering the ship on legislation, budget dishes, and big-ticket development undertakings.
Houston, we have no problems – the council's thumbs up to the agreement has put animal control services back on the map. And it's not just about keeping tabs on pets gone rogue; the movers and shakers dealt with a deck of urban development cards and community uplift initiatives at Wednesday's meeting.
