DeKalb County's commitment to animal welfare takes center stage as Commissioner Michelle Long Spears announces the second annual "State of DeKalb Animals" address. Scheduled for May 16, the meet-up invites the community to dive into updates on the Save Our DeKalb Animals (SODA) Initiative. Taking place at the Emory Conference Center Hotel at 1615 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, with doors opening at 10:30 a.m., this event promises in-depth discussions and progress reports on animal services in the area. Registration for the address and accompanying luncheon is now open, and you can grab your spot on a first-come, first-served basis due to limited seating.
As laid out by DeKalb County's announcement, the gathering will zone in on five critical goals which include expanding shelter capacity and offering comprehensive support to local residents with pets. Offering a keynote address will be Cole Thaler, Pets in Crisis Support Program Manager at Atlanta Humane Society, delving into the connections between human and animal welfare.
Other important figures from DeKalb County and beyond are set to contribute their perspectives. CEO Lorraine Cochran Johnson, Chair Sonali Saindane, CEO Rebecca Guinn of LifeLine Animal Project, and Natasha Wallen, the Director of DeKalb County Animal Services Enforcement, are on the roster. They will talk on various aspects of animal service efforts, from shelter conditions to legal updates, including commentary by Nikisha McDonald and Matthew Welch from the county attorney's office, and legislative insights from Peggy McCarthy of the Georgia Pet Coalition.
Commissioner Spears underscored the essence of the upcoming event, "This event is a testament to our community’s commitment to animal wellbeing," she said on DeKalb County, in a statement echoing through the corridors of the county's dedication to its non-human residents. Join the May 16 dialogue on how to ameliorate living conditions for our animals and, by extension, our community at large. Event details and registration are accessible here, where interested parties can also review the "Plan for a Better Tomorrow."
