A local animal welfare organization warns Fulton County pet owners that if they lose their pet for more than 3 days, it will most likely be killed by the Atlanta Humane Society.

According to Janet Weiss, president of Stopping Pet Over Population Together, the Fulton County animal control, under the management of the Atlanta Humane Society, is killing 11,000 animals yearly. She says these dogs and cats are killed without ever having a chance of finding a new adoptive home.

"Not only is the county remiss in contracting with the Atlanta Humane Society to operate this facility, but it is hardly ethical for a humane society to take on a contract to kill pets without allowing them an opportunity to be adopted," says Ms. Weiss.

Bill Garrett, executive director of the Atlanta Humane Society, said the society has extended its time for stray animals picked up by Fulton County animal control shelter trucks from 60 to 72 hours. In addition, owners of animals picked up with identification tags have 7 days to reclaim their pets once contacted.

"The Atlanta Humane Society and the Fulton County animal control shelter want nothing better than to see an animal we pick up is adopted by a family who will not only treat the dog well, but see it as part of its family," he said.

Unfortunately a majority of the stray animals picked up remain unadopted, despite efforts to find them good homes, Garrett said.

"For instance, most of the dogs we take in aren't the 'Lassie' type that people really want, but are animals that no one wants for various reasons, " he said.

Not so, said Ms. Weiss, who claims only 5% of the animals at Fulton County animal shelter are ever given the chance of being seen for adoption. The rest of the animals not quickly reclaimed by their owners are usually dead in 72 hours, without even being scanned for a microchip.

She said other Atlanta area animal shelters of similar size scan all pets for microchips and adopt ten times as many animals as Fulton does under AHS management.

Garrett says adoption statistics "speak for themselves because we saw 7000 animals adopted last year, with many of those adopting pets coming from outside the county to do so. If we feel an animal is adoptable it is transferred to the Atlanta humane society."

There are many reasons why an animal picked up by the shelter would be deemed unadoptable.

"These can range from the animal being too old or sick and in need of special care to being vicious or unsocialized and not be able to fit in well with a family," he said.

If an animal is sick or injured when picked up, the humane society does not allow them to suffer, but a veterinarian makes the final decision after thoroughly examining it, Garrett said.

Ms. Weiss said, Fulton County has never scrutinized its animal control contract with the Atlanta Humane Society in its nearly 20 years of existence. She said county officials "have refused to hire an experienced animal shelter evaluation organization to assess and make recommendations for change".