FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A local animal shelter is overrun with three times as many animals than it’s designed to hold.
The Fulton County shelter's director says the kennels are fuller than they've ever been at the shelter.
Following the holiday weekend, they have 465 dogs and cats in a shelter that comfortably holds 150.
“We're in a little bit of a crisis mode. We're asking for help from the community,” said shelter director Lara Hudson.
Hudson says it all started after July Fourth fireworks. With the new law taking effect, allowing larger and louder fireworks, she believes that spooked a lot more animals.
“They get scared, and they run, and they end up in shelters,” Hudson said.
Every day since Saturday, she says animal control officers have been unloading more and more animals at the shelter.
DeKalb’s animal shelter is also overcrowded with 430 animals.
Lifeline just started a new campaign to get the Fulton and DeKalb shelters no kill by the end of 2016. But leaders say when the shelters get overrun with animals, it makes that goal more challenging.
“There's nowhere else for these animals to go. This is kind of the last stop, and we don't want to have to euthanize, but unfortunately, that's still a reality right now in Atlanta metro area,” Hudson said.
Hudson says they are asking the community for help before it comes to that.
“We really need the community to help us. We really need help out here so if you have time to foster, volunteer or adopt, please give us a call,” Hudson said.
Shelter leaders are also urging pet owners to secure their dogs, especially around holidays like July Fourth and New Year’s, and make sure they're microchipped.