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New pound contractor vows to promote adoptions

By TY TAGAMI
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/0603/19doggies.html

Three months after parting ways with the Atlanta Humane Society, Fulton County has a new long-term contractor to run its animal pound.

The county selected Southern Hope Humane Society on Wednesday to replace Atlanta Humane, which departed in March after disagreements with the county about money and performance.

Under Atlanta Humane, the shelter killed a higher proportion of animals than pounds in several neighboring counties. Animal lovers complained to Fulton County commissioners, leading to friction with Atlanta Humane, which had run the pound since 1974.

Southern Hope was among two bidders on a new contract intended to increase the animal adoption rate. The nonprofit group from Cobb County stepped up adoptions and reduced the kill rate after it was selected to run the pound on an interim basis during the three-month bidding process.

Despite earlier disagreements on the commission about that interim selection, the commissioners came to a consensus Wednesday. The vote to give Southern Hope the contract was 6-0, with Commissioner Nancy Boxill absent.

That thrilled Rhonda Milner, who became a vocal pound critic after two of her hunting dogs got loose and were killed at the pound in December. The Atlanta resident became a fan of Southern Hope after a recent visit to the pound.

"It was like a completely different facility," said Milner, who attended the commission meeting Wednesday. "It's really encouraging to see this change."

The losing bidder was a for-profit company called Synergy Management, which would have retained Atlanta Humane's pound director. Synergy's bid was nearly $200,000 higher than Southern Hope's bid of $2.4 million.

Marc Paulhus, Southern Hope's pound director, said he can beef up his staff now that he has a firm contract. He said he plans to hire people to promote pet adoption and spaying and neutering.

This might not be the end of the Atlanta Humane controversy. Commissioner Robb Pitts asked county staff to investigate how the organization spent the money it was given each year when it was the contractor.

"I don't know why it would take $2 million a year to kill as many animals as have been killed," Pitts said. "We have a right to know how that money was spent."

An Atlanta Humane spokesperson said the organization's bookkeeping is no secret. "According to my records, they [the county] have had full access to all documents," Katherine Christenson said.