Summers are especially difficult times for the local shelters and this one is no exception.

The season has just begun and both the Fulton and Dekalb County Shelters are already seeing a record number of animals come in every day. The facilities are bursting at the seams.

More new animals are arriving every day, and there is no room to house them. Overcrowding correlates with an increase in euthanasia rates, as space must be made. The situation is desperate and the shelters are in a dire need of your help.

How can you help?

FOSTER
Can you temporarily open up your home to an animal in need? Fostering is a great, flexible, low commitment way to save a life. You can foster for as long as you're able to, whether it’s for a weekend, a week, or a longer period of time. The animals benefit greatly from a quiet place to rest their head. Fostering saves two lives, as one heads out to a home, a spot opens up for a new animal at the shelter.

You can earn more about fostering and fill out a foster application here.

ADOPT
If you have been thinking about picking up a new best friend - now is the time! The situation is very real, and the stakes are high. You can literally make a life or death difference for an animal by adopting them at this stressful time. Visit the shelter during the FREE Lifesaving adoptions event from Friday, June 7th to Sunday, June 16th and save a life ❤️

BRING AWARENESS
Please help us bring attention to the problem and the adoption event that begins today by posting the below on your Facebook page:

OUR ANIMALS NEED YOUR HELP. The Fulton and Dekalb County Animal Shelters are currently experiencing extreme overcrowding. New animals are arriving every day and the shelters have long run out of space. Overcrowding correlates with an increase in euthanasia rates, as space must be made. Please consider saving a life by opening your home up to an animal in need.

Both shelters are holding lifesaving adoptions events from Friday, June 7th to Sunday, June 16th (bit.ly/2K2QM5r). All adoptions will be FREE in an effort to save lives by making room. You can visit the animals at the following locations:

Fulton County Animal Shelter
860 Marietta Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Monday - Friday: 11:00am - 7:00pm; Saturday - Sunday: 11:00am - 6:00pm

DeKalb County Animal Shelter
3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd, Chamblee, GA 30341
Monday - Friday: 11:00am - 7:00pm; Saturday - Sunday: 11:00am - 6:00pm

If you cannot adopt, consider fostering in order to help provide the shelter with some much needed relief. You can learn more about fostering and fill out a foster application here: bit.ly/2I2lr0N