LaDena Bolton

1. How committed are you to expanding the current shelter to accommodate current and future needs during your term?
   A: 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 My 4-year Term

“Under my leadership as Chair of ERPS, the board approved new breeding‑control measures, including a free litter registry requiring owners to report births within 21 days, limits of one litter per year, and restrictions on breeding animals under one year old. These rules were designed to curb illegal breeding, reduce overpopulation, and lower euthanasia rates. Additional ordinance work clarified existing animal‑control laws and strengthened enforcement tools to prevent exploitation of legal gray areas contributing to overcrowding.

Community‑based population‑control efforts have also been central. My office hosted our signature Bark and Chill event in partnership with CEO Cochran-Johnson, Commissioner Long-Spears and Lifeline. We offered free spay and neuter services, directly reducing future intake by preventing unplanned litters and promoted our most vulnerable pets for adoption. These programs complemented the county’s broader strategy of encouraging adoption and fostering to shorten animals’ length of stay. OUR PROUDEST MOMENT IS WHEN ONE OF OUR FURY FRIENDS THAT WAS ON THE LIST FOR EUTHANASIA WAS ADOPTED RIGHT ON THE SPOT!!!”

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: Very 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: 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

“Under my leadership as Chair of ERPS, the board approved new breeding‑control measures, including a free litter registry requiring owners to report births within 21 days, limits of one litter per year, and restrictions on breeding animals under one year old. These rules were designed to curb illegal breeding, reduce overpopulation, and lower euthanasia rates. Additional ordinance work clarified existing animal‑control laws and strengthened enforcement tools to prevent exploitation of legal gray areas contributing to overcrowding.

Community‑based population‑control efforts have also been central. My office hosted our signature Bark and Chill event in partnership with CEO Cochran-Johnson, Commissioner Long-Spears and Lifeline. We offered free spay and neuter services, directly reducing future intake by preventing unplanned litters and promoted our most vulnerable pets for adoption. These programs complemented the county’s broader strategy of encouraging adoption and fostering to shorten animals’ length of stay. OUR PROUDEST MOMENT IS WHEN ONE OF OUR FURY FRIENDS THAT WAS ON THE LIST FOR EUTHANASIA WAS ADOPTED RIGHT ON THE SPOT!!!”

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: In the first year

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: In the first year

“Under my leadership as Chair of the ERPS Committee, the board reviewed the Mauldin & Jenkins evaluation of the shelter and is working with the administration and The Momentum Firm to help implement improvements identified in that review. Since then, we have been in active communication with the Police Department, Legal department and the Solicitor‑General’s Office about adding investigators and other support staff to address concerns around cruelty investigations, court‑held animals, and case backlogs. Together, these steps reflect DeKalb County’s ongoing commitment to a modern, humane, and accountable animal services system that protects both animals and the community.”

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

“During my tenure as Chair of the Employee Relations and Public Safety (ERPS) committee, we have supported the CEOs steps to support a full pay in class study (compensation analysis) across the county including shelter workers. This includes:

Authorizing a countywide compensation study that specifically includes animal‑services positions, ensuring that shelter workers’ pay is evaluated against regional and national benchmarks.

Committing to publish the findings, giving employees and residents transparency into recommended pay levels and the budget adjustments needed to implement them.

Recognizing the link between pay and retention, as turnover among animal‑care staff has historically been high in DeKalb and across the sheltering field. National data shows that animal‑care workers experience turnover rates above 50%, and competitive pay is one of the strongest predictors of retention.

The ERPS Committee has reviewed the Mauldin & Jenkins operational evaluation of the shelter, which highlighted staffing and compensation as key areas needing improvement. The County is now working with the The Momentum Firm that was selected through RFQ 24‑3003821 to implement improvements identified in that evaluation. This includes strengthening staffing models, reviewing job classifications, and ensuring that compensation recommendations align with operational needs.

Together, these steps demonstrate DeKalb County’s commitment to building a stable, professional, and well‑supported animal‑services workforce. By pairing a transparent compensation study with a plan to meet NACA staffing standards, the County is laying the foundation for a safer, more humane, and more effective shelter system.”

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

“Under my leadership as Chair of ERPS, we supported community pet‑care resources by approving funding for programs that deliver low‑cost veterinary services, spay/neuter access, microchipping, and vaccinations directly to residents.

Over the past year, community pop‑up clinics and partner events have provided thousands of free vaccinations and microchips, along with significant numbers of spay/neuter vouchers that directly reduce unwanted litters and lower shelter intake. Pet‑food and supply banks have distributed tens of thousands of pounds of food to families facing temporary hardship, helping pets remain safely in their homes.

The County has also supported programs that improve outdoor pet safety and compliance with local ordinances, including the distribution of fencing materials, dog houses, and outdoor shelters. These resources help families meet care standards and reduce the number of animals impounded for neglect‑related concerns. Major community events—such as the Healthy Pets DeKalb initiative and my office’s Signature Bark and Chill event—have played a central role in this work. Together, these events have served thousands of residents, offering free vaccines, microchips, spay/neuter resources, training support, and essential supplies that strengthen the bond between families and their pets.

Recognizing the growing need for these services, per the recommendation of the ERPS committee, we approved a $4 million increase to the shelter’s budget in 2026 to ensure adequate funding for preventive care, community outreach, and pet‑retention programs. This investment reflects DeKalb County’s commitment to a humane, prevention‑focused animal‑services system that supports both pets and the families who care for them.”

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: 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: Very High Commitment

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

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

“DeKalb County has strengthened its use of state‑authorized legal tools to reduce the number of animals held for long periods during court cases, shifting the burden of care back to owners and freeing animals for adoption more quickly. DeKalb began using Motions to Dispose in 2022 marking a major shift in how the County manages court‑held animals. Since implementing these tools, hundreds of pets have been released from prolonged court holds and placed into adoptive homes, significantly reducing strain on the shelter and improving outcomes for the animals involved. However, shortly thereafter, capacity limitations forced a temporary suspension of this tool’s use, highlighting the need to revisit and refine the legislation.

Per the recommendation of the ERPS committee, in which I have served as Chair since 2025, we approved a resolution reaffirming the County’s commitment to using Cost of Care Petitions and Motions to Dispose to reduce unnecessary court holds and improve animal‑welfare outcomes. This resolution formalized the County’s intention to apply these legal tools consistently and to continue strengthening coordination between Animal Services, the Police Department, the Solicitor‑General, and the courts. As a result of these combined efforts, a substantial number of animals—well into the hundreds—have avoided prolonged confinement and have instead been adopted into new homes, reflecting meaningful progress while also underscoring the need for additional ordinance updates and standardized procedures to fully close remaining gaps.”