The coronavirus pandemic that has stopped the world in its tracks has changed our lives in a dramatically short time. We are all still trying to get our heads around what has, is, and will happen. But if we allow it, this experience can remind us of an important truth: this feeling of helplessness is what homeless animals feel every single day. They need our help now, more than ever.

Animals in Georgia are being impacted by this pandemic in quiet ways, so we simply aren’t hearing much about it as their stories are being drowned out by pandemic news. Right now, most shelters in Georgia have shut down or been forced to allow potential adopters access to adoptable animals by appointment only. This results in fewer adoptions, which in turn forces many shelters to limit intakes of homeless animals as they approach unmanageable overcrowding. This overcrowding inevitably leads to the euthanization of animals in shelters that have not yet reached no-kill status. So many more lives are at risk as an indirect result of this pandemic!

And, as we approach the end of ‘shelter in place’orders, millions of jobs have been lost and bills have come due. The financial toll is astounding. In so many homes right here in Georgia, some families will soon find that they cannot afford their beloved pets, and they’re forced to rehome or surrender them to a shelter. Some animals might even be abandoned.

While Furkids is taking in every animal we possibly can, we are facing challenges unlike anything we’ve ever faced before, and managing the unknowns of this pandemic is the hardest thing we have had to do. To protect staff and volunteers, we cannot allow the public the full access to our shelters that we are so well known for, but we are setting appointments for prospective adopters. The number of adoptions is down, and this means we struggle to bring in as many homeless animals as we would like.  

This pandemic came at a tough time, since so many charities depend on spring events for a significant portion of funding, and Furkids is no exception. Furkids was forced to cancel our spring event, which usually brings in about $150,000, but creatively were able to raise $40,000 through a first ever virtual anniversary/live auction event.

Furkids will continue to look for creative ways to save lives. To continue this work, we need your support. Furkids is fighting the uphill battle of our lives, and your help is urgently needed.

How You Can help Minimize the Impact of this Crisis on Animals

Adopt

Social distancing isn't lonely with a Furkid. Now is the perfect time to open your heart and home to a homessless animal in need. You'll have plenty of one-on-one time with your new best friend to help them acclimate to their new surroundings, work on basic training, and form that unbreakbable bond. Click to view our adoptable cats and dogs. Adoptions are by appointment only at currently open locations.

Donate

Did you know that revenue from the Furkids Thrift Stores makes up one-third of our annual operating budget? Temporarily closing our stores during the COVID-19 crisis has had a devastating effect on our annual income, and by extension, on our ability to save lives. But there are ways that you can help. Take advantage of being home and start purging your closets and home of items you don’t need!  Although our brick-and-mortar stores are closed for now, our online thrift store is open and needs your donations now more than ever. We are accepting donations at our Marietta and Peachtree Corners thrift store locations from 10am-2pm, Monday-Friday. To ensure the safety of our staff and donors, your donations will be loaded directly into a van for several days and individually disinfected as they are later processed in-store. Please call or email ahead to schedule a drop off time with your preferred location. And please don't forget to shop today!

Foster

Foster a Furkid while you are stuck at home! Fostering opens up space in our shelter to rescue more at-risk animals and at no cost to you. Click here for more information.

Shop our Thrift Stores Online, and at four locations (re-opened as of May 4, 2020)

Furkids needs you to keep shopping - now more than ever! Thrift store sales historically bring in over $1 million in vital revenue, or 35% of our annual income. This revenue declined sharply due to temporary state-ordered store closings - but you can help by safely shopping the stores now, and by shopping our online Thrift Store here.

Also, you can take advantage of being home and start purging your closets and home of items you don’t need! Our thrift stores generate vital revenue for our lifesaving programs and they are open to receive your donations seven days a week. View our hours and locations here.