g person? If so, the new DeKalb Animal Coalition Shelter has the volunteer job for you working to help stray or unwanted animals find new homes.
Opening for business as a “soft opening” Monday, Nov. 6, the shelter’s director Megan Moore said they will most likely have a grand-opening ceremony once the engraved bricks, purchased by supporters of the shelter are laid in the front of the building around the walk way.
Moore, her part-time assistant James Wilkerson, and several new volunteers took in 25 wayward animals in the first week alone.
“We actually had a lot of stray turn-ins where dogs had been abandoned,” Moore said. “We did have quite a few of those over this last little bit. We did have a dog that was just dropped off overnight and just left. That is not allowed and people who do that will be on camera as we’re using a surveillance system with cameras.”
As far as if the week went as she suspected, Moore said she knew she would be busy but thought more cats than dogs would come in.
“I was actually guessing we would be fuller of cats than dogs, I thought maybe 6-8 dogs and 10 cats and we ended up with 13 dogs and 12 cats,” Moore said. “Most of them were strays with a couple of owner surrenders.”
With the shelter having two paid staff, it relies heavily on volunteers to get things done.
“So far, we’re doing pretty well, I’ve got a few applications and we’re working up a schedule, but for the time being the volunteers are coming in every day for orientation.”
The DeKalb facility is a low kill shelter that makes every effort to place its animals in good homes. Local residents have been very supportive of the shelter and its goals.
“It’s a very concerned community and that’s become apparent to me the longer I’ve been here,” Moore said. “I hope they continue to be involved and come out and help be a solution.”
The biggest thing people can do to control the growth of stray animals is to spay and neuter their pets we have a puppy litter and a cat litter and that wouldn’t be so much of a problem if people would spay and neuter their pets.
The shelter currently has two litters, one cats and one litter of dogs but Moore reports she has gotten over 56 phone calls since the facility opened about cats. As far as spay and neuter public education is going, Moore believes people are starting to become aware.
“I think people are actually understanding it’s a problem now as time goes on,” said Moore. “But we’ll find out when we get some statistics in here.”
We’re very grateful for the donations, monetary funds and people who just come out and ask what can we do? The shelter also accepts donations, both monetary and expendables like non-clumping kitty litter, pet food, small blankets, laundry detergent, dishwasher pods, dryer sheets, paper towels, baking soda, Nylabones, triple antibiotic ointment, Kog toys, dispensary latex gloves, poop bags, and stretch-and-scratch cardboard cat planks.
Business hours are Monday through Friday from 12 noon until 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 12 noon and they are located on a four-acre site near the solid waste transfer station, behind Tenneco off of Highway 70 East, or you can call at 615-597-1363. Adoption fees are $90 for unaltered dogs with a $50 refundable deposit included and $40 for altered dogs. Cats are $30 for unaltered and $20 for altered cats. Since they are a limited intake shelter they will intake as long as there’s room. They do not euthanize for space or time spent.
Pet seekers will soon be able to see what the shelter has to offer through “Pet Finder” and “Adopt a Pet” and a “Pet of the Week” will be featured on Facebook.
City officials said the old shelter on Smith Road will soon be demolished now that the new shelter is open.
