Forsyth County, Georgia Animal Shelter

We are proud to announce the completion of the Forsyth County, Georgia, Animal Shelter!

For many years, Forsyth County, Georgia, operated its animal shelter through a contract with a local veterinarian who, at one time, had sufficient space to accommodate the County's needs. However, due to rapid population growth over the last decade, the arrangement became increasingly strained. Local animal welfare advocates, including the SPCA and various rescue organizations, urged the County to build a modern animal shelter capable of meeting current and future demands.

Shelterplanners partnered with local design firm RKS Green Consultants (www.rksgreen.com) to design the new facility. Shelterplanners led the County's Shelter Committee through a comprehensive shelter sizing and programming study that successfully achieved consensus among stakeholders and resulted in a plan that accommodated the diverse interests and priorities of all involved groups.

Completion of the sizing and programming phase was quickly followed by the development and presentation of a schematic design that met the County's operational requirements while addressing the concerns and goals of all stakeholders.

After only three months of design, the project was bid within the established budget, and construction began on March 20, 2013. The ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening were held on August 22, 2014.

Animal Control operations are separated from the Adoption Center, allowing Animal Control Officers (ACOs) to perform their duties efficiently while adoption services continue uninterrupted. Since opening, the shelter has experienced a significant increase in public visitation and animal adoptions.

The facility includes a veterinary clinic and spay/neuter suite, as well as education and training spaces shared by both Animal Control and the Adoption Center. The shelter accommodates 98 dogs in a variety of indoor-outdoor kennel configurations and provides housing for 96 cats using modern accommodations, including portaled cat condos and apartment-style habitats that support communal living.

To address anticipated future growth, Shelterplanners incorporated a comprehensive master plan that allows Forsyth County to expand the facility in a logical and cost-effective manner. Planned additions can be implemented as needed with minimal disruption to the ongoing operations of Animal Control and the Adoption Center.