Funding increases free spay/neuter surgeries sixfold in one of the largest single-county public investments of its kind in the country
DEKALB COUNTY, GA — The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved more than $1.18 million in annual funding to dramatically expand free spay/neuter services, mobile veterinary clinics, and community outreach in high-need neighborhoods. The investment is part of an extension of the County’s animal services contract with LifeLine Animal Project.
The funding increases LifeLine’s free spay/neuter capacity from 1,000 surgeries in 2025 to 4,800 in 2026 and 6,000 annually at full scale — a sixfold expansion. LifeLine already performs nearly 15,000 spay/neuter surgeries annually across its programs, making it the highest-volume provider in Georgia. The County’s investment builds on that existing infrastructure, expanding services in a way that is both immediate and sustainable.
To meet the increased demand, LifeLine will add Friday, Saturday, and Sunday surgery days at its spay/neuter clinic three weeks per month, creating seven-day-a-week surgical access during those weeks.
The contract also doubles mobile veterinary clinic visits in high-need areas, expands access to veterinary care for sick and injured pets, and adds new community engagement staff, a pet resource hub, and expanded support for community cat caretakers. New community engagement staff will work directly in targeted neighborhoods to connect residents with pet resources, coordinate transportation to appointments, and help families access care.
The scale of the investment is unusual for a single county. While several states have recently launched statewide spay/neuter grant programs, few local governments have committed this level of dedicated annual funding on their own. DeKalb County’s initiative is among the largest public investments in free spay/neuter and community veterinary services in the country.
“The Board of Commissioners and County leadership made this happen,” said Rebecca Guinn, Founder and CEO of LifeLine Animal Project. “At a time when communities across the country are struggling with shelter overcrowding, DeKalb County is putting real resources behind prevention. Expanding access to spay/neuter and veterinary care is an investment in the quality of life of pets and families—the kind of public investment that can actually change outcomes.”
“I’m proud to see DeKalb County continue to take meaningful steps to support animal well-being and the people who care for these animals,” said DeKalb County Commissioner Michelle Long Spears. “This investment reflects DeKalb County’s commitment to improving access to essential services, supporting families, and improving quality of life for people and animals across our community.”
In addition to prevention, the County is increasing funding for LifeLine’s shelter operations to fully staff and operate the Pet Neighborhood at the DeKalb County Animal Services facility and to offset rising veterinary costs for shelter animals and pets in LifeLine’s foster home network.
