Augusta pet shelter presents its plan to cut kill rate

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – After pledging to cut the kill rate at the pet shelter – which consistently has the highest kill numbers in Georgia – Augusta Animal Services presented a plan Wednesday to change that trajectory.

The presentation to Augusta Commission members showed that 60% of all animals euthanized in 2022 and 2023 were due to bites, court orders or aggressiveness.

The staff developed a five-part plan:

• Require more effort from owner surrenders – proof that it’s an emergency or that the owner has tried another option before surrendering.
• Incentive microchipping – having all owners pay $15 microchip fee instead of reclaiming fee if their animal is at the shelter.
• Heavy promotion of spaying and neutering to prevent pet overpopulation.
• Mobilizing the adoption van, which the department received in 2023, although it’s been in and out of the shop.
• Holding save-a-pet Mondays, when no strays or surrenders will be taken in as the staff focuses on getting animals out and staying open late.

With the adoption van, the staff aims to partner with businesses and go to outlying counties as part of an outreach.

News broke of Augusta’s high kill rate after Best Friends Animal Society offered to team up with the city to improve the shelter, but the city snubbed the group.

The city bristled at Best Friends’ plan because of one of the strings attached – that the group would have its own staff embedded in the shelter.

City leaders then gave the shelter staff 30 days to work out a plan with Best Friends, which hasn’t been done yet.

Augusta Commission member Wayne Guilfoyle said Wednesday of a partnership with Best Friends: “What will it hurt to try?”

Someone who opposes a deal with Best Friends has been sending out direct mails calling for leaders to reject it.

City officials told Best Friends and the shelter staff to work on their plans further.

Also Wednesday, city leaders were expected to discuss a controversial plan to remove some very old-growth trees along Telfair Street.

City officials said the trees would be discussed Monday.

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