Fulton County opening new $40M animal shelter as communities struggle to care for homeless pets

Officials in Fulton County celebrate the opening of a new $40 million animal shelter. (Sam Gringlas/WABE)

Fulton County is preparing to open a new $40 million animal shelter, as communities in metro Atlanta and across the country struggle to care for huge influxes of homeless animals.

County officials (and some adoptable dogs dressed up in bow ties for the occasion) gathered for a ribbon-cutting on Thursday ahead of an official public opening on Dec. 2.

“We expect that the thousands of individuals, couples and families that visit this facility over its 40 to 50-year life are going to walk out saying wow, this place is incredible,” said Alton Adams, Fulton County’s chief operating officer for Justice, Public Safety and Technology.