Jacqueline Adams (D)

How committed are you to expanding the current shelter to accommodate current and future needs during your term?
A: Very High Commitment

Hire a licensed architect/architectural firm, with a successful track record of building right-sized, life-saving, no-kill animal shelters based on capacity needs.
A: Very High Commitment

Collect input, and assure its use in expansion plans, from Animal Services staff and volunteers, the DeKalb Animal Advisory Board, as well as the wider community.
A: Very High Commitment

Use the designated $7.5 million SPLOST II funds, and secure whatever additional amount is needed to complete the expansion.
A: High Commitment

What is your timeline for completing the expanded shelter for DeKalb County?
A: Within 2 years

Please use this area to explain any of your answers to shelter expansion questions.

If you have previously worked on this issue, please describe how your efforts have addressed shelter overcrowding in DeKalb County.

Please also add any thoughts you have for addressing shelter overcrowding not mentioned above - we want to hear your ideas.

If you have nothing to add, please put "N/a."
A: “I am strongly committed to expanding DeKalb County’s animal shelter so it can meet both current needs and future demand. For too long, DeKalb has known that overcrowding, inadequate space, disease outbreaks, and the growing number of court held animals have placed enormous strain on the system. This issue requires more than partial fixes.

If elected, I will support using the designated SPLOST II funds and securing whatever additional resources are necessary to complete a right sized, humane, life saving expansion. I also believe this process must include meaningful input from shelter staff, volunteers, rescue partners, the Animal Services Advisory Board, and the wider community so that the final result is practical, effective, and sustainable.

I also support immediate temporary space solutions while long-term expansion is underway. My position has been consistent that DeKalb must act urgently to relieve overcrowding now, not simply wait for a future project to be completed. I will work closely with Animal Services, Lifeline, advocates, and community partners to identify practical overflow solutions and strengthen foster and placement capacity in the meantime.

Two years ago, the incumbent spoke about shelter expansion in cautious terms, but DeKalb still does not have the urgency or sustained leadership this issue requires. I will treat shelter expansion as a real deliverable. My approach is to build the capacity DeKalb actually needs while also reducing unnecessary intake, supporting no kill outcomes, expanding community support, and improving the handling of court held animals so the shelter can operate more humanely and more effectively.”

How committed are you to strengthening local ordinances to reduce and prevent homeless, neglected, and abused animals?
A: Very High Commitment

How committed are you to ensuring the passage and enforcement of a new breeding and sales regulation?
A: Very High Commitment

Spay and Neuter How committed are you to mandating and enforcing a new spay or neuter requirement with pet registration?
A: High Commitment

How committed are you to establishing an Animal Advocate for the County’s impounded animals?
A: Very High Commitment

How committed are you to establishing an Animal Disposition Hearing process to reduce the number animals impounded for court cases and reduce their shelter stay?
A: Very High Commitment

What is your timeline for passing a new breeding and sales regulation as well as a spay and neuter requirement with pet registrations, once elected?
A: Within 2 Years

Please use this area to explain any of your answers to shelter expansion questions.

If you have previously worked on this issue, please describe how your efforts have addressed shelter overcrowding in DeKalb County.

Please also add any thoughts you have for addressing shelter overcrowding not mentioned above - we want to hear your ideas.

If you have nothing to add, please put "N/a."
A: “I believe overpopulation is one of the core drivers of the animal welfare crisis in DeKalb County. If we are serious about reducing shelter overcrowding, neglect, and abuse, we must focus on prevention. That means stronger ordinances, meaningful enforcement, accessible spay and neuter services, microchipping, education, and practical policies that reduce the number of animals entering the shelter in the first place.

I support moving with urgency on a stronger breeding and sales ordinance. I also support a responsible spay and neuter framework tied to registration and community access to affordable services. My goal is not to punish responsible pet owners. My goal is to reduce suffering, reduce abandonment, reduce neglect, and make sure the county is not constantly reacting to a crisis that could have been prevented upstream.

I also support establishing an Animal Advocate for impounded animals and creating a formal disposition hearing process, so animals are not left in limbo for extended periods.

My broader approach is community supported sheltering. That means reducing intake by engaging the public as active partners through rehoming support, fostering, reclaim assistance, and neighborhood-based strategies that help keep animals out of the shelter when it is safe and appropriate to do so. I support no kill outcomes, but I believe they must be backed by prevention, community resources, and strong policy.

Two years ago, the incumbent expressed support for breeding regulation but was less committed on spay and neuter requirements. That approach has not produced the level of reform this crisis demands. I would move with urgency and pair stronger rules with real community support, so compliance is achievable and humane.”

What is your level of commitment to budgeting and filling enforcement positions commensurate with NACA standards?
A: Very High Commitment

What is your level of commitment to employing two POST certified officers to investigate and make charges related to neglect and cruelty, as well as provide training for all officers on record keeping and building strong cases?
A: Very High Commitment

What is your level of commitment to increasing training of field officers to improve skills related to bringing owners into compliance with local animal ordinances and state law?
A: Very High Commitment

What is your level of commitment to developing, implementing, and training all staff on a life-saving, public health and safety-based SOP Manual and System?
A: Very High Commitment

What is your timeline for funding enforcement positions. (i.e., increasing the staff numbers) commensurate with NACA standards once elected, and hiring two POST-certified staff?
A: Within 2 years

What is your timeline for ensuring all enforcement staff have received adequate training on bringing owners into compliance with local animal ordinances and state law?
A: In the first year

Please use this area to explain any of your answers to shelter expansion questions.

If you have previously worked on this issue, please describe how your efforts have addressed shelter overcrowding in DeKalb County.

Please also add any thoughts you have for addressing shelter overcrowding not mentioned above - we want to hear your ideas.

If you have nothing to add, please put "N/a."
A: “I do not believe DeKalb County can adequately address this crisis with enforcement teams that are understaffed, overburdened, and inconsistently trained. I support budgeting toward NACA aligned staffing levels, filling those positions, hiring and retaining qualified officers, and restoring investigative strength through POST certified personnel who can build strong neglect and cruelty cases.

I believe instability in enforcement weakens the entire system. It affects response times, case quality, public trust, and outcomes for animals.

If elected, I will support stronger training for all field officers in humane handling, ordinance compliance, documentation, record keeping, case preparation, and community engagement. Enforcement should not only respond to crisis. It should also help bring owners into compliance and connect residents to services that prevent repeat problems.

I also support a clear, modern SOP manual and system that aligns life saving practices with public health and safety. The incumbent acknowledged some of these needs two years ago, but the county still does not have the urgency or full implementation required. I believe DeKalb already has enough evidence to know what needs to be fixed. We need to move from awareness to action.”

What is your level of commitment to conducting a compensation study on shelter workers in DeKalb County and publishing findings on appropriate pay?
A: Very High Commitment

What is your level of commitment to budgeting and filling shelter positions commensurate with NACA standards?
A: Very High Commitment

What is your timeline for funding shelter staff positions commensurate with NACA standards and with pay informed by the compensation study's results, once elected?
A: In the 1st year

Please use this area to explain any of your answers to shelter expansion questions.

If you have previously worked on this issue, please describe how your efforts have addressed shelter overcrowding in DeKalb County.

Please also add any thoughts you have for addressing shelter overcrowding not mentioned above - we want to hear your ideas.

If you have nothing to add, please put "N/a."
A: “I believe shelter workers are carrying one of the most difficult and emotionally demanding responsibilities in county government, and they deserve to be treated accordingly. If DeKalb wants better outcomes for animals and better service for residents, then shelter staffing, pay, retention, and training must be treated as essential priorities.

I support conducting a compensation study, making those findings public, and using them to inform a serious staffing and retention plan. I also support moving toward staffing levels that are aligned with NACA standards, along with professional development, humane handling training, and support systems for employees working in high stress conditions.

I also believe staff must be supported as part of a broader life saving strategy. Stronger staffing makes it possible to improve adoptions, foster coordination, lost pet reunification, volunteer engagement, and day to day care. The county has known for years that shelter operations have been strained by chronic understaffing and high turnover. I do not see staffing as a side issue. I see it as central to whether DeKalb can run a humane, effective, and accountable shelter system. The difference in my approach is that I am committing to measurable action.”

For pop-up veterinary services?
A:‍ Very High Commitment

For spay/neuter, microchipping, vaccinations, etc.?
A:‍ Very High Commitment

For pet food and supply bank(s)?
A:‍ Very High Commitment

For fencing and outdoor pet shelters?
A:‍ Very High Commitment

What is your timeline for providing financial, logistical, and communications support for ongoing programs to increase access to all resources listed above (e.g., food banks, vet care etc)?
A: In the first year

Please use this area to explain any of your answers to shelter expansion questions.

If you have previously worked on this issue, please describe how your efforts have addressed shelter overcrowding in DeKalb County.

Please also add any thoughts you have for addressing shelter overcrowding not mentioned above - we want to hear your ideas.

If you have nothing to add, please put "N/a."
A: “I believe one of the most humane and effective ways to reduce shelter overcrowding is to help people keep and care for the pets they already love. Too many families are forced into crisis because they cannot afford basic veterinary care, pet food, fencing, microchipping, behavior support, or other resources. When we help families stabilize those needs, we reduce intake and improve outcomes for both animals and people.

I strongly support pop up veterinary services, low cost spay and neuter access, vaccinations, microchipping, pet food and supply banks, and support for fencing and outdoor pet shelter improvements where those investments can safely keep animals at home.

I also support community supported sheltering strategies that involve residents directly in life saving work. That includes stronger foster recruitment, volunteer engagement, public education, and programs that help reunite lost pets with their families before they ever enter or remain in the shelter. I support approaches like Friendly Finder and Take 48 because they reflect the kind of neighborhood based partnership that can reduce unnecessary shelter intake and improve outcomes.

The incumbent highlighted periodic outreach efforts, but I believe DeKalb needs more than occasional events. If elected, I will support a stronger year round county strategy with communication, logistics, partnerships, and measurable goals. My view is that animal welfare does not begin at the shelter door. It begins in the community.”

What is your level of commitment to reduce the stay of all court-held animals, particularly dogs, during your term?
A: Very High Commitment

What is your level of commitment to establishing policies encouraging surrender by owner in the field and shelter?
A: Very High Commitment

What is your level of commitment to establishing a hearing process to determine disposition and release of animal(s) during court processes?
A: Very High Commitment

What is your level of commitment to utilizing a stray animal protocol for length of impoundment prior to release of court case animals? This would be when the owners do not contact the shelter after notice of impoundment.
A: Very High Commitment

What is your level of commitment to developing a partnership with prosecutors to utilize all options to release animals?
A: Very High Commitment

What is your level of commitment to developing a policy to use Motion to Dispose and Costs of Care in every case and in a timely manner where owners fail to appear or delay trial?
A: Very High Commitment

What is your timeline for establishing owner surrender policies?
A: In the first year

What is your timeline for establishing Motion to Dispose and Cost of Care policies?
A: In the first year

Please use this area to explain any of your answers to shelter expansion questions.

If you have previously worked on this issue, please describe how your efforts have addressed shelter overcrowding in DeKalb County.

Please also add any thoughts you have for addressing shelter overcrowding not mentioned above - we want to hear your ideas.

If you have nothing to add, please put "N/a."
A: “I believe court held animals are one of the clearest examples of where DeKalb can reduce suffering and save taxpayer money at the same time. Animals should not be left in the shelter for months while cases drag through the court system. That is harmful to the animals, costly to the public, and damaging to an already overcrowded shelter.
I support owner surrender policies, a formal hearing and disposition process, timely and consistent use of Motion to Dispose and Cost of Care tools, and stronger coordination with prosecutors so animals can be lawfully released as quickly as possible when appropriate.

I also support clearer tracking of case status, stronger accountability when defendants fail to appear, and a more consistent system for making sure the interests of the animals are actually represented. When lawful release is possible, it should happen promptly. When cost recovery is available, the county should use it. When delay tactics are harming animals and burdening taxpayers, the county should act.

Some progress has been made in this area, but it has not been consistent enough, and the county still lacks the urgency and institutional commitment this problem requires. The incumbent had an opportunity to lead more aggressively on this issue over the past two years, and the results have fallen short of what advocates and animals needed.

My position is that DeKalb should use every lawful tool available consistently, not sporadically, and should establish clear policies that make fast, humane, lawful resolution the standard rather than the exception.”