Jakequeline Walls (D)

info@jakefordekalb.com

Candidate District 3

“As a dog mom, my goal is to make sure every animal has a home. In order to do that we must reduce the cost burden that people face to buy or maintain comfortable housing for animal.”

- Candidate Walls on the cost burden facing pet owners in DeKalb County

Summary By Position:

No Response —> Weakest —> Strongest

2026 Election Survey Responses

Responses are detailed below by subject matter and position. Candidate response summaries are a function of their expressed level of support (Commitment to Specific Activities) combined with timing priority (Commitment to Timeline).

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

    2. 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

    3. 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

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

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

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

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

      Also, please add any thoughts you have for improving shelter staffing not mentioned above - we want to hear your ideas.

      If you have nothing to add, please put "N/a."
      A: “As a dog mom, my goal is to make sure every animal has a home. In order to do that we must reduce the cost burden that people face to buy or maintain comfortable housing for animal.”

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

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

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

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

    5. 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

    6. 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

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

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

      Also, please add any thoughts you have for improving shelter staffing not mentioned above - we want to hear your ideas.

      If you have nothing to add, please put "N/a."

      A: “I Agree with the ordinance. As a dog mom, cruelty to animals are equivalent to cruelty to human.”

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

    2. 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

    3. 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

    4. 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

    5. 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

    6. 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: Within 2 years

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

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

      Also, please add any thoughts you have for improving shelter staffing not mentioned above - we want to hear your ideas.

      If you have nothing to add, please put "N/a.’

      A: “Unfortunately, DeKalb has many departments that are understaffed. To have the opportunity to train and provide a job for a local citizen is always a plus. Job opportunities are needed and training is a most.”

    1. 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

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

    3. 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: Within 2 years

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

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

      Also, please add any thoughts you have for improving shelter staffing not mentioned above - we want to hear your ideas.

      If you have nothing to add, please put "N/a."
      Please use this area to explain any of your answers to shelter staffing questions.

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

      Also, please add any thoughts you have for improving shelter staffing not mentioned above - we want to hear your ideas.

      If you have nothing to add, please put "N/a."
      A: N/A

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

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

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

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

    5. 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

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

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

      Also, please add any thoughts you have for improving shelter staffing not mentioned above - we want to hear your ideas.

      If you have nothing to add, please put "N/a."
      A: “I do believe these services are needed for a healthy animal. Understanding the cost the is associated with having fur babies it can be expensive, along with other house hold bills can put a family over their limit. So as Commissioner if we can assist our community with some if their services that would idea for animals to have safe environment.”

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

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

    3. 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

    4. 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

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

    6. 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: High Commitment

    7. What is your timeline for establishing owner surrender policies?
      A: Within 2 years

    8. What is your timeline for establishing Motion to Dispose and Cost of Care policies?
      A: Within 2 years

    9. Please use this area to explain any of your answers to questions about reducing the stay for court-held animals.

      If you have previously worked on this issue, please describe how your efforts have addressed court-held animals in DeKalb County.

      Also, please add any thoughts you have for reducing the stay for court-held animals not mentioned above - we want to hear your ideas.

      If you have nothing to add, please put "N/a."
      A: “I think court should be short and to the point so our animals can have time to adjust.”