Douglas County shelter faces capacity crunch as backyard breeding and aggressive dogs rise

Commissioner Martin Rackson interviewed Vanessa Franciskowski, director of Douglas County Animal Services and Control, about shelter operations and public-safety concerns on the county's District Dialogue program.

Franciskowski said the county's shelter was built for about 300 animals but that the more important measure is 'capacity for care' — the number of animals staff can tend healthily. She said the department prefers to keep numbers under 200 for routine operations. "In January and February of 2024 we brought in about 320 something animals," Franciskowski said. "In January and February of 2025 we're almost at 650." Those intake trends, she said, will exceed sustainable care levels if they continue.

Why it matters: the intake surge stretches staff and medical capacity and could reduce the level of care animals receive. Franciskowski linked the rise to economic pressures and to irresponsible, small-scale 'backyard' breeders who exploit sales loopholes and flood the community with animals that later become strays or are surrendered.

"House Bill 331 actually prohibits the outdoor sales of dogs, cats, and rabbits," Franciskowski said, identifying recent state-level action she described as an important legal tool for local enforcement. She said the county is coordinating enforcement with planning and zoning, code enforcement, occupational tax officials and the Georgia Department of Agriculture to reduce illegal or irresponsible sales and breeding.

Public-safety concerns: Franciskowski reported a growing number of severe attacks involving large breeds — for example Cane Corso, mastiffs and German shepherds — which she attributed to poor backyard-breeding practices that do not select for stable temperament. "We are seeing a huge uptick in vicious animals," she said, noting incidents in public parks and attacks on deputies and animal-control officers.

To protect staff and the public, the department already uses Axon body cameras and ballistic vests and is seeking county approval for non-lethal defensive tools, including pepper spray, baton-style devices, tasers and pepper-ball systems. "We don't want guns," Franciskowski said. "We're not a gun department, but we do need to defend ourselves." She said currently the only field tool is a catch pole, which can be inadequate in severe attacks.

Facility upgrades and programs: Franciskowski credited recent county-funded renovations that addressed burst pipes and poor ventilation — including heat-trace tape and a dedicated fresh-air system — which improved animal health and reduced respiratory problems. She described programs meant to reduce shelter load and improve placements: in-building meet-and-greet rooms, an outdoor courtyard (with equipment donated by local Boy Scouts), a 'doggy day out' trial with a report card, and a weekend 'foster-to-adopt' option that supplies fosters with food and supplies and allows returns if the match fails.

Advisory board and community outreach: the animal advisory board, Franciskowski said, is made up of citizen appointees from across county districts plus two representatives from the City of Douglasville; the board collects complaints and makes recommendations to commissioners. She urged residents to follow ordinances (available on municode.com), vaccinate and spay/neuter pets, and contact animal services rather than attempting risky interventions themselves.

Numbers and limits noted on air: the director described the building 'built for about 300 animals' and reiterated that 'capacity for care' — staff-to-animal ratios and the time needed for cleaning, feeding and medical treatment — is the primary constraint. She emphasized rising intake driven by affordability issues (food and veterinary costs) and by impulse purchases at informal sales venues.

What happens next: Franciskowski said the department will continue working with the Board of Commissioners on internal ordinance enforcement, coordinate with state agencies to enforce House Bill 331, and request county approval for additional non-lethal safety equipment for field staff. The segment concluded with Commissioner Rackson thanking the director; there were no formal votes or motions recorded during the interview.

Quotes used in this story are verbatim from the District Dialogue broadcast and are attributed to the speakers identified in the transcript.