Group offers $1 million grant to support Augusta Animal Shelter, but officials seem cautious

Augusta Commissioners are considering an offer from a nonprofit group to provide additional staff and training to improve conditions at the Augusta Animal Shelter.

Best Friends Animal Society is offering a grant valued at almost $1 million to provide training and support to the shelter staff, Gina Burrows, Southeast regional strategist for the organization, recently told the commission.

“The reason that we are here in Augusta … is that in 2023, Augusta Animal Services had a save rate of 53.8% for the year. That meant that 46.2% of the animals entering the shelter didn’t make it out alive,” she said. “It ranks No. 1 in Georgia and No. 32 nationwide for shelters with the highest lifesaving gaps.”

The information for those rankings comes from the Georgia Department of Agriculture, which requires county-run animal facilities to report their efforts monthly, Burris said. The ranking was determined by comparing the same information from counties throughout the state.

In 2023, Best Friends partnered with Animal Services to help implement Augusta’s Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TRVR) program, she said. Wild cats are trapped, neutered, vaccinated, and returned to their outdoor home.

“Through the TRVR program, Augusta Animal Services has improved the save rate for cats from 37.2% to 60.9%, and saved an additional 675 cats,” she said. “We made progress, but we didn’t get far enough.”

That program only addressed cats, not dogs. The new program would address both, she said.

In March, Best Friends completed a three-day assessment of the shelter. They compiled the information and produced a 32-page report with the problems they found and offered solutions.

Now they are offering a program valued at $910,898 to tackle the issues. There is no cost to the city, Burrows said. The program consists of:

• Seven new staff positions (a veterinarian medical team), a community cat program coordinator and a Best Friends embedded with the shelter staff.
• Virtual and in-person training.
• Mentorship to help build the program faster.

Animal Services Director James Hill told commissioners he has concerns about the proposal.

“I do feel like the process was rushed. There wasn’t proper communication. We didn’t have time to discuss the information presented. There are several things in the recommendations that we are practicing,” he said. “And if I must be honest, as the Animal Services director and based on my 20 years of experience in the animal control field, there are certain … red flags as far as public safety. And those things cause me great concern.”

Hill added that since has worked at the shelter, it has always received a passing grade from Georgia Department of Agriculture.

“Clearly, I know we need to do something about the animal shelter, especially the building,” he said.

Reached at his office last week, Hill declined to comment on the report or his statements.

The issue will go back to the Public Service Committee at its May 28 meeting.