Whitney is extremely rude and made me very uncomfortable during the process of filling out the paperwork to adopt... I would avoid her at all means necessary! Other than that the staff was very helpful! I had a great experience and I loved all of the cats. I wish I could take them all home with me ! read more

Went to see if my dog was there since she got away from my mothers fenced yard while we were out of town on vacation. We went to the back to view the dogs and the smell of dog feces was so overwhelming I could hardly breathe. No windows or fans running to circulate any air. I noticed they had a wall of vents that was not running. Absolutely disgusting. The county should be ashamed of running such a poorly maintained facility. Doesn't seem like anyone there cares about the animals. Very sad. read more

I adopted a kitten from them. Not only had I have her spayed but also had take the kitten to de-warmed. Now my other cat had warm because of that. Don't mind to take care of all those issues but wish they could be honest. :( read more

I'm unsure why they have an application on lifeline. I did my application online and called immediately afterwards to see how to pre-adopt because I've seen some animals listed as pre-adopted.I was told I was the only application so far. I immediately picked up my child early from school and drove an hour there only to be told someone was currently adopting the dog. I even got a response email as I was on the way stating it was in review. I even met the person I spoke with on the phone and for her only to say she feels so bad because when she seen the dog about to get adopted she told her supervisor she felt bad because I was on the way. This is the third time and the last. I would rather take my chances with a breeder. A better system needs to be in place after an application is done. At least allow a small time frame to actually get there. It's an hour drive for me to get there and longer on the way home with traffic...and for nothing! All the staff can say is sorry. I even asked what's the purpose of an application. No answer. Never again. read more

This shelter is great! The staff/volunteers are very friendly and really care about animals and will help you find the best pet for you to adopt. What they do here at this place is amazing and to think that they are volunteering their time to care for and provide these animals a little bit of love in their lives. The facility was clean and modern. Anyone that rates this place less than 5 stars especially for the "smell" is ignorant! You try taking care of hundreds of animals and try keeping the place smelling like roses. They do the best they can for the limited resources available. Try volunteering to help clean up after the animals if you have a problem with the smell! Please adopt, every animal deserves a loving home!! read more

Horrible!!! I have tried to call repeatedly about a loose dog in my neighborhood and they made excuse after excuse( we don't go after dogs when it's dark) or they never answer the phone just rings and rings. God forbid if I WAS calling on for a dog bite or injured animal! read more

Having been involved in animal rescue for several years, I have seen many shelters. PAWS is one of the best. Julia W needs to go to some other shelters before she judges PAWS. Any no-kill shelter needs to be strongly supported. The small cost of adoption goes toward keeping the animals alive. And you do realize the workers are unpaid *volunteers*, right?? read more

Other than the smell in the kennel area of the dogs, this was a decent place. The workers were very helpful in showing me the puppy I came into look for. I waited a little bit to go in the bonding room, but each person there was very helpful and allowed for a smooth adoption. read more

Around June 21, 2013, we saw a little Chihuahua on the shelter's page we fell in love with. I knew no one in GA but called the shelter on a Saturday as soon as we had seen the picture and spoke with the lady in adoptions. I asked her to please put the little Chihuahua up so that nothing happened to him over the weekend and to please give me until Monday to find help. I live near Dallas, Texas. I asked for help on Facebook and less than 2 hours after I posted my request, I had an offer from a lady that works in rescue to pull our little man on Monday. He's a senior, his shelter name was Grandpa and we named him Pepe. The Vet in GA that did his Health Certificate said his health was a hot mess, had a flea allergy, was HW positive and he had some other minor issues, etc. He had been dumped off in front of the shelter in the parking lot a day or two before the weekend and he was pulled on Monday so thankfully he didn't have to stay a long time. The lady that offered to foster him until transport got him and the transport was already planned so one week after I had spoken to the lady at the shelter, I had my precious little man in my arms. We met the transport in Shreveport, LA to get him. On that Monday it was time to see the Vet here and the first thing was to get started on the HW treatment so his little heart would be rid of them asap. Then one issue at a time, we did what needed to be done by doing the most important issues first and this June we will have had him 3 years. He is such an amazing little man and we love him SO much. He walked right into our hearts when we saw him that first time on the computer and a week later, he walked into our home. He's such a happy little guy and we can't imagine life without him!! He has a little sister Chi and a brother which is another male rescue Chi. They get along great and this is the final stop for the boys!! We had the little girl before the boys arrived. Thank you to the very nice lady at DeKalb I spoke with in adoptions - she did indeed put Pepe in the back so he would be safe until help arrived. And also thanks to whomever saw him being dumped and went out to get him to keep him safe. We have had three amazing and wonderful years with this little man that came from GA. read more

The photo is old - this is NOT the old Shelter! This is the brand new one in Chamblee and it's beautiful! The staff is great and the dogs and cats are well cared for. Stop by and adopt a fur-ever friend today! read more

I recently received a "Barking Notice" at my door. I called to clarify what this exactly was about because I have indoor animals and wanted to resolve this ASAP. I am a great pet owner but unfortunately Dekalb County does NOT require proof of this. There are tons of dogs that actually live outside in my area. Off my street and the street behind me. When I called I was hoping to find out if they had the wrong home or who made the complaint so I can defend myself. My dogs go outside for restroom purposes or if it's a pretty day to get exercise (When I am home). We have 2 dogs (aggressive) that live behind us and every time I let my dogs outside the dogs behind us bark and jump at the fence. Of course, my dogs bark back and I stop them as soon as they do. I requested an officer to come out to my home to show them. And also might I add these 2 dogs behind us are outside ALL hours that I have seen. Snow days, cold nights etc. They refuse to come out to my home for me to prove to them it is not my animals causing disturbance and it is the neighbors behind me. Anyone apparently can call and make a complaint and they will throw a notice on your door which makes you feel like an awful pet owner. I am not sure if anyone's ever been in this situation. I actually just want it resolved and not have to worry about something like this. There are dogs to the left and right of me, also across the street that live OUTSIDE. If anyone has been in this situation please email me laurencarroll12@yahoo.com Thanks read more

Rude. Unhelpful. Disinterested. I called on Thursday 5/5/16, and left a message explaining that a dog that stays right behind my house has been screaming and crying periodically for the past 2 weeks. Because of all the tree cover and nasty unkempt yard these people have, I couldn't see the dog well enough to tell if it had been abused. I explained the situation in the voicemail but didn't get a call back. Then on Sunday I sent a fax over for a service request to make sure they couldn't ignore me. Still nothing. Just moments ago I called again because I am sick of hearing this dog screaming like it's being hurt and no one coming out. It rained last night and I knew this dog was left out their because I heard the same whining and yowling from it. When I got a hold of someone, I couldn't believe how rude she was! I tried to tell her I wanted my claim to be anonymous because I live in a shady area; when me and my friends went to see which house the dog might have lived in, we were stared down and FOLLOWED by an African American man coming from the suspected house. Still, this woman said it doesn't matter they have a right to know where I live. That right there is why people won't report things, animal or human. I will not feel safe if they know where I live. Point blank. This woman refused to listen to me, instead she kept speaking over me and started calling me sir! At that point I said goodbye, why would someone who's job it is to talk to the public be so rude? I have someone FINALLY coming out today to see the dog, if they tell me still that these dog abusers have a right to know where I live then they can leave and I'll call another organization. Because I can't sleep another night hearing this poor dog. read more

First, I do want to say the staff working at the intake front office was extremely nice and pleasant. I surrendered a found puppy near my work under the following terms: she would be looked over, bathed, chipped, put on the lost dog claim list for 3 days before being put up for adoption, and I would be the first person contacted once the dog was put up for adoption. Well, less than 24 hours of me surrendering her and less than 2 hours of being processed someone else was allowed to file for adoption. I was not contacted or given the right to file first. I visited and called about her everyday. But, I was not allowed to play with her after the adoption papers were filed. The dog and I had a special connection; she would run and jump on me, which is how I was able to get her in my car. If I had known, I would have filed my paperwork. I want what is best for the dog, but now I will never know and the upsets me deeply because I cared very much for the dog. read more

I've called 4 times about a neighbor's dog that has been abandonded and has been living outside without sufficient shelter through every day of extreme cold weather that Georgia has had so far. The first time I called was the first extremely cold day/night that Georgia had 01/06/14. I was told that they couldn't get to him that day and that they would get him the next day. They didn't get him the next day. I called again and no one called me back. The second time I called was before it got cold again and they told me they would try to get to him before the next day but that it would probably be the next day. A very nice lady also told me that sometimes it doesn't always help to call them and that I may need to write my commissioner. ???? SRSLY? They didn't get him the next day.The third time I called they told me that there was no record of me calling the first or second time and they told me again, that it probably wouldn't be that day but the next. Then I asked them how many of those other dogs that they have to get to on that day are new calls. Why wasn't this a priority? They came out and set a trap. The dog never fell for it but another dog did! My roomate called 911 because the dog was making the most racket she'd ever heard a dog make. She said the dog was flipping around and panicking in the trap. They called animal control. Pssshh. . .animal control said that they would TRY to get to him but it would probably be the next day. They came and got the dog out but not the original dog. I'm gonna go ahead and write my commissioner now because we are supposed to get a winter storm tomorrow and the next day. Good luck to whoever calls this place. read more

Reading through all of these reviews really breaks my heart. For those of you complaining about the smell and the conditions that the pets are kept in, do something about it!!!! In case you don't know the building is own by the COUNTY but the shelter is run by Life Line which is a non-profit... they work with the best that they have and they move mountains every single day!! The folks in there work 12 hour days with no air conditioning just to save an innocent animal's life!! They have been fighting for years for a new building and are finally getting what they deserve. Anyone that gives Dekalb Animal less than five stars is just ignorant and doesn't know the hoops that these people jump through to save animals. Matt you know they get in 50 new animals every day?!?!!? Where are they supposed to put them? If they don't put more animals in a kennel then they will die... It's not their fault all they have are pits. That's what's brought to them. Be part of the solution NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM!!! read more

Saturday evening, March 15, 2014, I called 911 and requested animal control because there was a precious puppy trying to adopt itself to my house in Tucker. I already have three dogs and cannot take in another. The puppy knew that my house was a big welcome mat so he would not leave my doorstep. It would have broke my heart to call animal control to come and pick up this dog if I had not known that the humane society and gaspca were working with DeKalb. I know for the most part it is now a no-kill operation. The officer, Ruth, responding about an hour later assured me and a neighbor that the county facility would have no problem finding the new find a good home. I was very impressed with Mr. Ruth and I am proud to be in DeKalb County and have this facility. I think I have now found a match for the puppy and they are on their way to the site. If boy right is already adopted I am confident that another dog or cat with fill the open spot in their heart. read more