Frequently Asked Questions
About the Organization
We're a non-profit, so we don't have owners. But we do have a Board.
Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter, Inc, is organized as a non-profit corporation in the State of Georgia. We are also an IRS 501(c)3 organization, meaning that donations to us are tax-exempt, and you may take a deduction on them on your taxes, up to the amount allowed by law.
The Shelter is led by an all-volunteer Board of Directors, several of whom are themselves veterinary professionals. Day-to-day operations are managed by a hired Director.
Sort of.
About the Shelter
We're at 870 Bear Creek Rd in Lavonia, GA
The Georgia Department of Agriculture regulates shelters in Georgia.
Depends on what we can do to help you!
Not to the public, no.
We have a very limited veterinary staff; our veterinarians are often volunteering their time to help us out by spaying and neutering animals in our care, plus feral cats brought in through our Community Cat Diversion program (see the question about feral cats, below). So we don't offer spay and neuter operations to the public.
We do, however, offer certificates for a reduced-cost spay or neuter at one of several area veterinarians to Franklin and Hart County residents. Contact the Shelter for pricing, and come by and pick one up!
We're very close to being "no-kill".
A "no-kill" shelter isn't quite what the name might suggest; they will still humanely euthanize an animal that is very ill or violent. There aren't many shelters out there that are an absolute-no-kill-ever shelter. (We wish there were more, and we wish we were one, trust us!) The industry standard is that if 90% of the animals that enter the shelter alive leave it alive by any means, then they can be called "no-kill." We typically run in the 75-85% range; it varies from season to season. We work hard to try to raise that percentage higher all the time.
We do try to avoid euthanizing a healthy, adoptable animal whenever possible. We have partnered with rescues locally and throughout the eastern United States to help find our dogs and cats loving new homes. When an animal must be euthanized, it is done humanely by our veterinary staff, in accordance with Georgia law.
Intake
Dogs and Cats--but not all dogs and cats!
The Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter will intake dogs and cats picked up as strays in Franklin and Hart Counties in Georgia, and brought to us by any law enforcement officer or residents of our two-county area. We will also intake owner-surrendered animals from residents of our two-county service area. Owner-surrendered animals can only be intaken with an appointment! To get an appointment, call the Shelter at 706-356-5363.
If you're not from Franklin or Hart Counties in Georgia, then we're really sorry--we simply don't have the capacity to take in your animal! Contact the animal control office or animal shelters in your home county.
It depends.
Five Days.
You have a couple of choices.
First, let's talk about a "feral" animal. Feral cats and dogs cannot be handled or touched; either they'll run away from you, or they will attack when contacted. If you can pick them up or pet them, they're not a feral animal.
We do have live traps we can loan you for your feral cats; we take a small deposit that you'll get back once you return the trap. If you have a live trap, you can use it to capture the feline.
On many Mondays and Tuesdays, we can take in a feral cat for a "trap-and-release" spay or neuter operation. You'll drop the cat off in the morning, and pick them up that afternoon late, and release them back onto your property. There's a small fee to pay for this service. This is a great idea, especially for residents with farms and wooded areas, as "community cats" like these are fantastic at keeping rodents, snakes, and other more-troublesome animals away. It's a low-cost option that guarantees the cat won't reproduce, while giving you a low-maintenance pest-controller! Contact the Shelter to make an appointment for your cat right away!
You may also trap feral cats or dogs, and take them to your veterinarian to have them humanely euthanized. We will not accept feral or overly aggressive animals for intake at the Shelter; if you bring us one, we will have to turn you away. So, please don't!
Adoptions
Adopting an animal is a big decision!
If you're thinking about adding a new member to your family, that's great! Take a look at our Adoptions page to see who's currently ready to find their home. That page updates every ten minutes, so if no one catches your eye, check again later--our population changes constantly.
Once you've found someone you might be interested in, come on down and see us, and bring your family. If you have small kids or other dogs or cats, feel free to give us a call and ask if the pet you're interested in will be friendly to those other family members.
When you come down, we'd be happy to have you spend some time with our animals, getting to know each other in a safe space in our play yard. Assuming everything goes well, there's some paperwork to fill out (or you can fill that out ahead of time), then pay your adoption fee, and your new friend goes home with you!
Most of our animals are already spayed and neutered by that time--but a few aren't. We'll either ask you to bring them back by (smaller dogs and cats) or give you a certificate to get them spayed or neutered at one of several area veterinarians (for the big ones). If we're doing it here, it's a one-day deal--bring them in that morning, pick them up after work in the afternoon.
We think our adoption fees are reasonable.
- Cats and Kittens: $75.00
- Adult Dogs: $100.00
- Puppies: $150.00
Included in that fee is:
Rabies Vaccine
First Exam
Spay/Neuter or Certificate
Deworming
First Vaccines
Working at the Shelter
We love our volunteers!
There’s a place for everyone here. Volunteer opportunities can be tailored to your interests, abilities, and skills, and we’re grateful for any time you can give—whether it’s an hour a week or several days. Some of our biggest needs include helping with cleaning, and spending time socializing animals.
Getting started is easy—just stop by the shelter and fill out a quick form, or fill it out online. We welcome volunteers Tuesday through Saturday, from 8 AM to 4 PM.
Volunteers must be 18 or older, unless accompanied by a parent. We recommend wearing sturdy shoes (no sandals) and clothes you don’t mind getting a little messy—because the best moments here often are.
