LifeLine Animal Project Unleashes Campaign to Achieve No-Kill Atlanta by End of 2016
ATLANTA (June 24, 2015) — LifeLine Animal Project, the non-profit organization that manages both DeKalb and Fulton County Animal Services shelters, is asking all Atlantans to join its historic effort to make Atlanta a no-kill community for DeKalb and Fulton shelter pets by the end of 2016. Under LifeLine’s leadership, both shelters are within a few percentage points of the no-kill threshold, defined as saving 90% or more of the animals entering the shelters. The “I’m In” campaign, which features local spokespeople declaring their support for a no-kill Atlanta, kicks off on July 1, 2015, and campaign ads are featured on the sides of MARTA buses throughout Atlanta.
Support through Social Media
LifeLine will be asking people to change their social media profile pictures to the “I’m In” logo in a show of support on July 1, 2015. People can also join the campaign by visiting LifeLineAnimal.org to take the “I’m In” pledge and by uploading a picture or video of their pet to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #In4LifeLine.
City-Wide Support Needed
According to LifeLine Animal Project CEO Rebecca Guinn, the organization is seeking city-wide support for the no-kill vision. “To create a no-kill community in Atlanta, we need the community,” she says. “Spaying or neutering your pet, adopting rather than purchasing pets, licensing your pet, volunteering at one of our shelters or donating funds — every action can help ensure the success of a no-kill Atlanta by the end of 2016.”
LifeLine’s board chair, Anisa Telwar Kaiker, President and CEO of Anisa International, says the goal of making Atlanta a no-kill community is attainable. “LifeLine’s mission has always been to end the killing of healthy and treatable animals in county shelters, and we’re close to reaching that goal at our DeKalb and Fulton County Animal Services shelters,” she says. “The goal of making Atlanta a no-kill community is one that we can achieve and be proud of if we all work together,” she says.
Walking Dead Celebrity Thrilled!
One of the campaign spokespersons, “Walking Dead” actress Kylie Szymanski, is an avid pet lover who is thrilled to be involved in this effort. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to say that you live in a city that doesn’t euthanize healthy shelter animals?” asks Kylie. “I’m really proud to be part of such a progressive project.”
In 2014, LifeLine cared for 15,559 homeless animals and has dramatically increased adoption rates by 98 percent since commencing management of the county shelters.
To learn more about the “I’m In” campaign and how you can get involved, please visit LifeLineAnimal.org.
About LifeLine Animal Project
Founded in 2002, LifeLine Animal Project is the leading nonprofit organization providing lifesaving solutions to end the killing of healthy and treatable animals in county shelters, promote animal welfare and prevent pet overpopulation in metro Atlanta. As the managing organization for DeKalb County Animal Services and Fulton County Animal Services, LifeLine has dramatically increased adoption rates and decreased euthanasia rates by more than half at both shelters. The organization also operates two low-cost spay/neuter clinics, which have performed over 85,000 surgeries to date, and its own rehabilitative, no-kill shelter. Other outreach efforts include its Catlanta trap-neuter-return program, the first and largest in metro Atlanta, for stray and feral cats. For more information, please visit LifeLineAnimal.org.