Clayton County Animal Control — Local services in Forest Park

This is a review I wish I didn't have to write. The loser here is the poor dog, that will have to spend weeks more in a closed kennel when she could have been with us, running in a big yard and chasing squirrels and cuddling on a couch. We adopted a dog named Teka. I paid the adoption fees and for a heartworm test. I was told at that time that she still needed to be spayed and it would probably be on Wednesday. I was okay with that. But Wednesday came and went, and by Thursday I had not heard anything from the vet or shelter. I called them and was told that the spay didn't happen because of an emergency, so it would be another week. I asked if I could schedule the spay with my own vet and come get her. Against the rules. When I told them my husband and I have adopted many dogs from shelters over the years and never had this kind of delay, I was told that not all shelters obey the laws. (REALLY?!) I agreed to wait another week. When Wednesday came and went again with no word from them, I again called and was told the spay would happen on Thursday. So I waited... and had to call again on Friday to find out what happened. Spay didn't happen. Teka had developed a "cough." (She did not have a cough when we adopted her! Why aren't the dogs inoculated against bordetella when they're brought into the adoption center?) So first they had to put her on antibiotics, which would take about a week, and then schedule her again for the spay, which could take another week. This is absurd! You have a person who has already PAID for the dog, wants to take her home--which will free up a space in your shelter for another needy dog--and you treat them like they have no rights whatsoever. In most of my conversations with these people, I found them to be rude and judgmental. The woman I spoke with today lectured me about interrupting her, when all I said was "I agree." The lack of communication and rudeness at every turn was staggering. As a side note, after my vet told me she would NEVER recommend adopting from Clayton County because of the number of dogs she has seen from there that came in sick, I went to my local shelter. I was able to adopt another dog and take her home THAT DAY, along with a certificate I could take to my vet to have her spayed. (Way to do things right, Gordon County!) Still, I was very worried about Teka and felt guilty about abandoning her. So I called them today and told them to please take the fees I had paid and let them apply to her adoption by someone else. After being told that was a generous offer and they could do that... I received a call later saying they were going to be refunding my card. So... what about Teka??? I can only pray that another person will come along soon and take her out...

I have had two incidences already regarding stray dogs that were in our neighborhood. Both of these incidences were due to strays coming onto our property and attacking/becoming vicious with my child who is under 6. They did NOTHING. They would drive through our neighborhood so fast you knew they weren't even looking for the dogs- I had it on footage that they drove right by our house with the dogs on the side of our house but they "didn't see it" when it's a clear view to the back yard from the road. Both incidences I had called multiple times (between 10 and 20 times), always getting the same response. "Someone will be out" or even better, no one would pick up the phone. I've had to have police come out to take a report for the dogs attacking my child, ambulance to come out to check out their injuries and I have even put myself in danger to tie one up to hold so they would come get it. They never showed, I waited an hour after they closed before releasing the dog because I would be held responsible had I have left it there and it get hurt or die. I now have two more strays running around my yard and neighborhood. I called. No answer. No surprise. This is beyond ridiculous and outrageous. If something happens to my child due to a stray animal that I have called about, Clayton County Animal Control will be held accountable for their lack of action as I would be held accountable if I contained the dog for them to pick up and it gets injured or dies in my "care." Seeing as they don't care about the safety of the people, I now no longer care for the safety of these stray dogs that they refuse to do something...

If I could give this place zero stars I would. Today me and my dad rescued two precious dogs off of the highway. This was the closest animal control center to us. When we got there my dad had to fill out about 10 minutes worth of paperwork. Finally he came back out with an officer and the male officer gave us a thorough talking to about how everything we did was wrong (which was absolutely nothing). He was extremely rude and insensitive to us and three others which I saw. Then my dad proceeded to go back in and fill out even more paperwork. The officer came back out to the car and had me ( a minor) try to scan the dog for a chip. When I was not doing it correctly he told me to give it to him and proceeded to do the scan himself and act like a sweetheart to the dogs after tell me and my father I should not have been petting them. He found no chip and went back inside then sent out a random family to out car with only me inside asking to see the dogs and trying to get one for free which was a immediate no and the family left. My dad finally came back out and told me after all of that work he was told there was no place for the pups and we had to find a different place to go. We ended up taking the pups to another shelter about 16 minutes away and they themselves called this facility and scolded them for their actions and the way they handle these situations. DO NOT take your fur baby or any animal you may find here please, unless you want to deal with unpleasant staff and people not caring/wanting to help you and your babies in a way that helps YOU and your...