Public commenters urge Fulton County to file cost-of-care petitions and seek forensic audit of animal services

At the start of the public comment period, several residents pressed the Fulton County Board of Commissioners to take action on animal-shelter care and oversight. A speaker identifying herself as Hillary described a court-case dog named "Cancer" who entered county animal services as a puppy and — after more than two years in custody — was euthanized when staff deemed the animal unsafe to rehome.

Hillary said the county’s failure to file cost-of-care petitions meant taxpayers carried daily care costs she estimated at about $25 per day and concluded that taxpayers paid more than $18,000 for that dog’s care while the animal remained in custody. “Cancer’s life could have been saved if the county attorney’s office would have filed cost of care petitions for court case dogs immediately,” she said, urging the county to begin filing those petitions.

Volunteer and advocate speakers corroborated concerns about shelter overcrowding and challenged oversight of private contractors. Jake Gonzalez, a Fulton County resident and volunteer at Fulton County Animal Services, said intake has increased substantially (citing more than 9,000 animals in 2024 and projections that intake could exceed 12,000 annually) and urged investment in prevention — including expanded spay-neuter access and stronger rules against irresponsible breeding.

Other public speakers called for an independent forensic audit of animal services and more transparent contractor oversight, arguing that nonprofit status of past contractors does not relieve them from scrutiny when public dollars fund services. Commissioners acknowledged the concerns and said they would consider follow-up steps; no formal action was taken during public comment other than the board hearing the requests.