Commissioner Spears to Host 2nd Annual “State of DeKalb Animals” Address

SODA 2025 to Highlight Progress in Animal Wellbeing and Cross-Sector Collaboration
 

Commissioner Michelle Long Spears of DeKalb County District 2 is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the second annual “State of DeKalb Animals” address and luncheon. The event will take place on May 16, 2025, at the newly remodeled Emory Conference Center Hotel, located at 1615 Clifton Road NE in Atlanta. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m., and lunch will be provided.
 

This important gathering will highlight updates on the progress of the Save Our DeKalb Animals (SODA) Initiative, with a focus on the five core goals of the DeKalb County Animal Services Advisory Board’s “Plan for a Better Tomorrow.” These goals include expanding shelter capacity, enhancing staffing and benefits for animal services personnel, offering direct support to residents and their pets, preventing increases in homeless animal populations, and reducing the length of stay for animals held due to court proceedings.
 

We are honored to welcome Cole Thaler, Pets in Crisis Support Program Manager at the Atlanta Humane Society, as our keynote speaker. A tireless advocate for keeping people and their pets together during times of crisis, Mr. Thaler will speak on the intersection of human and animal wellbeing and the importance of integrated support systems.
 

Joining Mr. Thaler are several distinguished voices who bring deep expertise and lived experience to the discussion. DeKalb County CEO, Lorraine Cochran Johnson will deliver the welcome. Sonali Saindane, Chair of the DeKalb County Animal Services Advisory Board, will present the Advisory Board’s “Plan for a Better Tomorrow” and outline the steps taken to decrease the length of stay for court-held animals. Rebecca Guinn, CEO of LifeLine Animal Project, will share insights into the current state of the DeKalb County Animal Shelter and discuss the organization's efforts to provide critical support to community members and their pets. Natasha Wallen, Director of DeKalb County Animal Services Enforcement, will speak on improvements made within Animal Services operations and the support extended to enforcement officers in the field. Legal updates will be provided by Nikisha McDonald, Supervising County Attorney for DeKalb County, and Matthew Welch, Deputy County Attorney, who will share important developments in county policy. Rounding out the panel, Peggy McCarthy, Board Member of the Georgia Pet Coalition, will share recent state-level legislative updates and the coalition’s continued advocacy for animal welfare across Georgia.

“This event is a testament to our community’s commitment to animal wellbeing,” said Commissioner Michelle Long Spears. “We are excited to bring together experts and residents to share progress, discuss challenges, and collaborate on solutions that benefit both our animals and our community.”
 

For more information and to register for the event, please visit click here.
 

To review the “Plan for a Better Tomorrow,” download here.
 

We look forward to your participation in this important event. Seating is limited and registration 
is available on a first-come, first-served basis.