DEKALB COUNTY SPAYATHON A SUCCESS!

195 dogs and cats were sterilized during the two-day free Spayathon from May 2-3 at LifeLine Community Animal Center and Paws Atlanta. Funding was provided by DeKalb County Commissioner Michelle Long Spears. Much more is needed to stem the flow of unintended litters, but this effort represents a great start and there will be more DeKalb Spayathons to follow!

The DeKalb Spayathon was a collaborative planning effort involving the following people and organizations:

DeKalb County Commissioner Michelle Long Spears and staff

Lisa Milot - author of the Spayathon proposal

LifeLine Animal Project - Andrea Peterson and staff

LifeLine Community Animal Center - Dr. Susan Brosman and staff

Paws Atlanta - Crystal Bowman and staff

Dr. Keri Riddick - Georgia Veterinary Medical Association

Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Ellard

Dr. Emi Kooyman and vet team

Dr. Janet Martin and vet team

Save Our DeKalb Animals (SODA) - Karrin Duncan and volunteers

Peggy McCarthey - Georgia Pet Coalition

K9 Chaffeur - free transportation for animals

Jason’s Deli - discounted hospitality for veterinary teams

Note. Multiple large dogs and brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs were sterilized which take more surgical time and affect the total number of surgeries that can be performed by the HQHVSN veterinary teams per day.

Now is the time for the other big counties to step up and fund HQHVSN surgical trainings and spayathons - Fulton, Gwinnett, and Cobb.