LifeLine Animal Project credits community support for lifesaving milestone
ATLANTA, GA (February 11, 2026) — 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.”
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.
