Advocates for DeKalb Animals

10/16/2026

Six months later, DeKalb County’s proposed tethering ordinance remains stalled, and this week’s Board of Commissioners meeting brought more disagreement.

On Tuesday, Commissioners LaDena Bolton and Mereda Davis Johnson questioned whether Commissioner Michelle Long Spears’ efforts to protect animals were coming at the expense of helping people.

Commissioner Long Spears pushed back, pointing to her work on housing and homelessness and emphasizing that helping residents keep their pets safe is also about helping people. Protecting animals and supporting their owners should NOT be competing priorities.

Meanwhile, the proposed tethering ordinance, Agenda Item 2026-0596, still has not advanced. The legislation would prohibit leaving animals tethered and unattended while allowing temporary tethering when an owner is present.

We expect the ordinance to return to the Employee Relations and Public Safety (ERPS) Committee on Tuesday, October 20.
Please CALL AND EMAIL both your district commissioner and your super district commissioner before October 20.

Ask them to support Agenda Item 2026-0596 and move it to the full Board of Commissioners for a vote, even if the committee does not recommend approval.

Your message can be simple:
“My name is [NAME], and I live and vote in District [NUMBER] and Super District [NUMBER]. I support Agenda Item 2026-0596. Please move the proposed tethering ordinance to the full Board of Commissioners for a vote. Our animals and community deserve these protections.”

A bit of good news!
At Tuesday’s meeting, Commissioners Michelle Long Spears and Ted Terry also joined forces to provide funding for a pilot program that would help pet owners without fenced yards create safe outdoor spaces for their animals.
The longer-term goal is to secure $250,000 for the program in the county’s 2027 budget.
This could help address one of the concerns repeatedly raised about the tethering ordinance: how residents will afford safe enclosures for their pets.

Commissioner /District /Phone /Email
* Robert Patrick / 1/ 404-371-3052 / [email protected]
* Michelle Long Spears / 2/ 404-371-2863/
[email protected]
* Nicole Massiah /3 /404-371-2425
[email protected]
* Chakira Johnson / 4/ 404-371-4907
[email protected]
* Mereda Davis Johnson /5 / 404-371-2159
[email protected]
* Ted Terry /Super District 6 /404-371-4909
[email protected]
* LaDena Bolton /Super District 7 / 404-371-2899
[email protected]

10/11/2026

A dog should not spend its life at the end of a chain.
Tethering is more than an animal-welfare concern. It's a public-safety issue.
In 2023, a woman in Columbus, Georgia, lost part of her lower leg after being attacked by a chained dog. Just last month, in Gwinnett County, a dog tethered outdoors died after struggling to lie down without choking.
These are two very different examples of the dangers tethering can pose to people and animals.
Since March, DeKalb County has been considering Agenda Item 2026-0596, legislation that would strengthen protections for tethered animals.
Current county rules allow dogs to be left on trolley systems for up to 12 hours a day. The proposed ordinance would prohibit unattended tethering while still allowing temporary tethering when a capable owner is present.

For more than SIX MONTHS, animal-welfare experts, county staff, advocates, and residents have worked to address commissioners' questions.
Yet the proposal remains before the Employee Relations and Public Safety (ERPS) Committee, chaired by Commissioner LaDena Bolton and including Commissioners Nicole Massiah and Mereda Davis Johnson.

Questions about specific exceptions and circumstances have repeatedly delayed the legislation. Most recently, the committee deferred the proposal again on October 6.
The ordinance is expected to return to the committee on Tuesday, October 20.
After six months of discussion, it is time for the full Board of Commissioners to have an opportunity to vote, even if the committee does not recommend approval.

We need your help BEFORE October 20.
If you live in DeKalb County, please CALL AND EMAIL BOTH your district commissioner AND your super district commissioner.

Your message can be simple:
"I live and vote in District [NUMBER] and Super District [NUMBER]. I support Agenda Item 2026-0596. Please move the tethering ordinance to the full Board of Commissioners for a vote, even without a committee recommendation for approval."

Not sure which commissioners represent you? Find your districts here: LINK IN THE COMMENTS

Commissioner contact information: LINK IN THE COMMENTS.

Call. Email. Ask for a vote. Do it before October 20.
Please share this with your DeKalb County neighbors.

10/10/2026

Don't forget to vote. This is a helpful list.

QUICK REFERENCE LIST of Georgia state lawmakers who sponsored beneficial animal-related bills in the 2025-2026 legislative cycle is below. Lead sponsors manage bills through the legislative process. This list also includes those who sponsored a bill that originated from the other chamber. SPECIAL THANKS to all lawmakers listed!
Rep. Beth Camp (3 bills)
Rep. Sharon Cooper (3 bills)
Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (3 bills)
Sen. Randy Robertson (2 bills)
Sen. Carden Summers (2 bills)
Sen. Jason Anavitarte
Sen. Lee Anderson
Sen. Matt Brass
Rep. Joseph Gullett
Rep. Scott Hilton
Rep. David Huddleston
Rep. Rick Jasperse
Rep. Jan Jones
Rep. Rob Leverett
Rep. Martin Momtahan
Rep. Esther Panitch
Sen. Shawn Still
Sen. Brian Strickland
Rep. Brad Thomas
Sen. Rick Williams

To view bills, cosponsors*, and voting records, click on the bill number at this link: https://www.gapetcoalition.org/legislation
*Cosponsorship signals public support for a bill.

09/22/2026

VOTE!
The general election is exactly six weeks away. Every race on the ballot, from local offices to statewide seats, will be decided by voters who show up. Your vote matters, and the first step is making sure you are registered.

Take a few minutes today to check your registration status on the Georgia My Voter Page at mvp.sos.ga.gov. The deadline is Monday, October 5.

Here are the key election dates to mark on your calendar:
• Tuesday, October 13: First day of early voting
• Friday, October 23: Last day to request an absentee ballot
• Friday, October 30: Last day of early voting
• Tuesday, November 3: Election Day

09/18/2026

We were proud to stand with the City of Tucker and the DeKalb County SODA team in support of this legislation being passed. Thank you Georgia Pet Coalition, Inc. and Commissioner Michelle Long Spears DeKalb District 2 SODA team for working on this important next step in getting all of DeKalb's Cities to embrace better animal welfare.

THE CITY OF TUCKER became the 20th jurisdiction in Georgia to adopt an ordinance prohibiting the sale, barter, or display of dogs, cats, and rabbits in public places such as parking lots, sidewalks, roadsides, and ALL flea markets. This local law enables animal control and law enforcement to write citations in accordance with the 2025 state law, O.C.G.A. § 4-11-10.1.

VERY SPECIAL THANKS are extended to Mayor Anne Lerner, Councilmember Roger Orlando and City Attorney Ted Baggett for sponsoring the ordinance and to the entire City Council for their unanimous support. APPRECIATION is also extended to DeKalb advocates Dana and Sarah who spoke eloquently in support of the ordinance, and to the many dedicated DeKalb advocates who support our efforts through their attendance at meetings.

Once a local government adopts an ordinance prohibiting the same illegal conduct as in the 2025 state law, both law enforcement officers and animal control/code enforcement officers are authorized to cite violations under local code. Without a local ordinance, only P.O.S.T. certified law enforcement (e.g., police, sheriff) can enforce violations of O.C.G.A. § 4-11-10.1. (*Peace Officers Standards & Training)

WHO WILL BE NEXT?

FAQs for O.C.G.A. § 4-11-10.1 and a sample local ordinance to expand enforcement options are available on the GA Pet Coalition website:

https://www.gapetcoalition.org/ga-law-ban-on-pet-sales-in-public-areas

Please contact the GA Pet Coalition if you would like assistance with passing an ordinance: [email protected]

08/26/2026

An important message for Nat’l Dog Day

August 26 is National Dog Day -- a reminder that ALL dogs deserve adequate food, water, shelter, exercise, basic vet care, socialization, and humane treatment by guardians, regardless of breed, purpose, or location.

As our understanding of canine behavior has evolved, so have the laws that govern responsible dog ownership. Reflecting this shift, communities across the country are moving away from breed-specific legislation (BSL) toward breed-neutral laws that hold all owners accountable for the humane care, custody, and control of their dogs (National Canine Research Council).

In regard to dog bite prevention, BSL for pit bulls is on the decline because studies have consistently shown that dog breed alone is not a reliable predictor of behavior or aggression, and methods of identifying a dog's breed are often unreliable. Further, research has shown that dog bite rates do not generally decline after BSL is enacted.

The Georgia Pet Coalition, along with multiple veterinary and animal welfare organizations, supports the enactment of breed-neutral dangerous dog laws and opposes laws that mandate restrictions based solely on breed.

Georgia’s dangerous dog law, O.C.G.A. 4-8-20 through 4-8-33, is breed neutral.

# # # # #

Why BSL is an ineffective policy for public safety and dog bite prevention:

* Placing restrictions on an entire breed affects many well-behaved dogs because of their appearance while overlooking dangerous behavior of other breeds.

* BSL often targets pit bulls, a broad label that includes multiple breeds and mixes and is frequently misidentified by animal control and news media.

* In contrast to breed-neutral dangerous dog laws, BSL overlooks dog behavior which is the real indicator of risk.

* Breed bans ignore owner responsibility. Abuse, neglect, poor socialization, and lack of supervision by owners are key contributors to aggressive behavior. Lack of sterilization is also a co-occurring factor in many dog bites.

* Public safety is better served by addressing behavior, enforcing containment and leash laws, preventing dogs from roaming, educating owners, and holding owners accountable for their pets.

* BSL wastes limited enforcement resources on breed identification instead of addressing actual threats to public safety. Strong dangerous dog laws provide more effective tools for protecting communities.

# # # # #

Additional policies supported by the GA Pet Coalition:

* Expand access to affordable spay/neuter services to prevent mate-seeking and roaming behaviors;

* Require spay/neuter for dogs involved in repeated ordinance or dangerous dog violations;

* Educate owners on responsible dog ownership and the laws;

* Prohibit ownership, possession, or cohabitation for repeat offenders; and

* Adequately fund and empower animal control agencies at a level that reflects their critical role in public safety and prevention of harm to people and animals.

***Judge the deed, not the breed!***

08/20/2026

Congratulations on this move in Fulton County and to our partner Fulton County Animal Advocates.
This means that in Fulton County and by working with LifeLine (shelter management), a Cost of Care petition will be submitted within two weeks of an animal being seized.

On behalf of all the court case dogs, past and present, we want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to our Fulton County Commissioners who voted to make this possible!

In case you haven't heard, today the Fulton County Commissioners unanimously voted to pass the "Cost of Care Petition"! This important measure holds those charged with animal cruelty accountable for the cost of caring for their dogs while their cases move through the legal process.

And, if an owner cannot or refuses to pay those costs, the dog can be surrendered and placed in a loving, permanent home rather than being forced to remain in an already overcrowded shelter.

For the dogs who have been through this, the dogs currently waiting, and all those who may be helped in the future - thank you, Fulton County! This is a huge step toward giving these innocent dogs the second chances they deserve 💚 Dana Barrett Bob Ellis, Fulton County District 2 Commissioner Robb Pitts, Chairman, Board of Commissioners of Fulton County

08/19/2026

Please share and please help if you can. 35 dogs scheduled for euthanasia.

08/12/2026

All of these dogs are good pets and perfectly adoptable. Please share.

07/18/2026

They are going after DeKalb County!

Don't be fooled by the name. "Don’t Ban Pets" presents itself as a fact-based nonprofit organization, but critics claim it is a front group created on behalf of the pet store and commercial dog breeding industries to oppose ordinances and state laws that prohibit retail pet sales. This organization has been criticized for using polished marketing campaigns and messaging that opponents say mislead lawmakers and the public about the impact of pet store sales bans.

Currently, Don’t Ban Pets has issued an action alert encouraging people to contact DeKalb County officials and oppose the proposed ordinance prohibiting the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores. Don’t be fooled… their campaign advances the interests of USDA-regulated puppy mills and the pet stores that source animals sourced them. USDA regulations are weak and enforcement can be inconsistent.

Cyber advocacy that pushes corporate interests has become increasingly sophisticated. The gimmick is to hire a lobbying firm to create a so-called nonprofit organization with a friendly or generic name that appears neutral and independent, while obscuring the involvement of corporate interests and advancing their policy agenda. This technique of lobbying has been used against the national animal welfare organizations to influence state and federal policies.

It's important to look beyond an organization's name and ask: Who is behind the marketing campaign, and whose interests are being represented?

Link to DeKalb County action alert:
https://dontbanpets.com/take-action/dekalb-county-ga/