Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter Overwhelmed, Needs Donations, Volunteers

The Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter in Lavonia is overwhelmed by an influx this week of unwanted dogs, cats, kittens and puppies and they are asking for emergency donations of supplies.

Shelter Director Tammi Jourdenais says in two days’ time, the shelter took in over 80 animals.

“When we opened on Tuesday at 11a between then and Wednesday, we had taken in 83 animals,” Jourdenais said. “On Wednesday, we took in 23 cats and kittens in the first our we were opened and a total of 39 cats and kittens for the day. This is a huge amount within two days and we were already pretty full to begin with.”

Normally, she said the shelter takes in about 80 animals a month.

Jourdenais said most of the animals were turned in as strays, but she said one of the dogs taken in this week, a tiny chihuahua puppy with a pink collar and pink carrier, was an obvious owner give up.

Still, the owner said the dog was a stray.

Jourdenais reminds pet owners who have to give up their animals, the shelter does not charge to take your pet.

“I think a lot of people think if they say it’s their animal we will charge them to take it, but that’s not the case,” she said. “We don’t charge whether it’s your animal or whether it’s a stray. We actually want you to tell us if it’s your animal because it’s a whole lot easier for us to find that animal a new home. It helps a lot if you can tell us about the animal; its age, its name, its personality and other things about that animal so we can better place it.”

With so many animals now at the shelter, Jourdenais put out the call this week on their Facebook page for extra pet supplies as well as foster homes.

But Jourdenais said Thursday are still are in desperate need of more supplies as well as more volunteers.

“We need help with kitten food, canned food, puppy and dog food, food bowls, litter pans, cleaning supplies, etc. We also need wire dog crates we need for mama cats and kittens. We also need people to volunteer to foster mama cats and kittens until they’re old enough to come back here and be put for adoption.”

If you would like to donate supplies or help in any way at the Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter, you can contact them at 706-356-5363.

The shelter is located on Bear Creek Road in Lavonia and is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11a to 4p.