ATLANTA - GeorgiaChron -- LifeLine Animal Project, the nonprofit organization that operates the public animal shelters for Fulton and DeKalb counties, announced a 90.4% save rate in 2025, meaning more than 90 percent of the dogs and cats who entered the county shelters left alive.

Last year, 21,406 animals came through LifeLine-operated shelters. A save rate of 90.4 percent means more than 19,000 animals left the shelters alive—a significant achievement for two of the largest open-intake shelters in the region.

The milestone comes amid a sharp rise in intake. Between 2024 and 2025, overall intake increased 13.1%, including a 75% increase in dog owner surrenders, placing additional strain on shelter capacity and resources.

LifeLine leaders say the results reflect a coordinated, community-wide effort to sustain lifesaving even as pressure on the system increased. In 2025, adoptions rose 27.2%, foster placements increased 35.2%, and transfers to rescue partners grew, marking the first increase in rescue transfers in two years.

"Rising intake is a reality, but it doesn't have to define outcomes," said LifeLine CEO Rebecca Guinn. "This progress belongs to the people who show up for animals every day—our staff, volunteers, foster families, adopters, rescue groups, and our county partners—who refuse to compromise on lifesaving."

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Founded in 2002, LifeLine Animal Project was created to build the lifesaving infrastructure Atlanta lacked. Today, through shelter operations, prevention programs, spay/neuter services, and access to veterinary care, LifeLine continues to protect and strengthen the system that keeps pets with families and ensures more animals leave shelters alive.

ABOUT LIFELINE ANIMAL PROJECT

Founded in 2002, LifeLine Animal Project is Georgia's largest animal welfare nonprofit and the organization that operates the public animal shelters for Fulton and DeKalb counties, the only open-intake shelters in Metro Atlanta. LifeLine helps more than 46,000 pets each year, taking responsibility for every animal who enters the public shelter system. Beyond shelter operations, LifeLine leads the region in prevention-focused animal welfare, operating the largest spay/neuter program in Georgia, and providing free and low-cost veterinary care through two clinics and a mobile unit. LifeLine's community programs support pets and families with food, supplies and access to care so that animals can remain safely in their homes whenever possible. LifeLine was created to build the lifesaving infrastructure that Atlanta needed and continues to strengthen the system that allows animals to leave shelters alive. Learn more at LifeLineAnimal.org.