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SECTION A: VOL 25 NO. 41
APRIL 7-13,2016
Cats are allowed to roam free in PAWS Atlanta’s cat house.
PAWS Atlanta celebrates 50
years of saving pets' lives
by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
I n the mid-1960s, a small group of
volunteers concerned about the stray
animal population in DeKalb County
decided to do something about it.
“They started taking in pets in their own
homes, doing the spay/neuter themselves
and that grew. The concern grew; the
caring grew,” said Jacki McDonald,
director of marketing and development for
PAWS Atlanta.
In 1966 the organization began as
DeKalb Humane Society and incorporated
the next year as a stand-alone organization
that operated through 1989 as a network of
volunteers who fostered animals until the
shelter opened to the public.
The organization made land purchases
on Covington Highway in 1983 and 1997
that totaled 4.5 acres. And in 2002, its
name was changed to PAWS Atlanta Inc.
“Because we kept getting confused with
DeKalb County Animal Control,” McDonald
said.
The original building on the property
now functions as a cat house. Additionally,
PAWS Atlanta has a dog house, dog
kennels, a separate intake building for
dogs and an isolation area.
The facility also has a vet clinic, a new
venture for PAWS Atlanta.
“We always had outsourced vetting
to take care of our own pets,” McDonald
said. “We initially started just vaccinating
for the public and having flea and tick
and heartworm preventatives. Now we
can actually do much more for the public.
We can do pet dentals. We can do spay/
neuter services. You can come in to just do
your annual exam to get your pet checked
up on.”
PAWS Atlanta is staffed by 23
employees, McDonald said.
“It’s a very small staff for a lot that gets
done because we have about 160 animals
in our care at any given time—dogs and
cats,” she said, adding that the staff is
See PAWS on Page 5A
Jenica spends time with Jacki McDonald of
PAWS Atlanta. Photos by Andrew Cauthen
500
Stonecrest proponents
win in state house
by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
T he proposed city of
Stonecrest could
become DeKalb
County’s 12th
municipality.
Before their 2016
session ended in March,
state legislators approved
a bill that could lead to the
formation of the proposed
third year, we passed with
everybody.
“Not only did we pass,
it’s with flying colors,” Lary
said. “And that made a
real difference. Finally we
can focus on the six keys
that we have determined...
will help turn around the
corridor of Stonecrest.”
The six areas
Stonecrest proponents
want to address include
'Finally we can focus on the six
keys that we have determined...
will help turn around the
corridor of Stonecrest.'
- Jason Lary, president of Stonecrest City Alliance
southeast DeKalb city,
which would have a
population of 50,000.
As of April 5, the bill had
not been signed by Gov.
Nathan Deal. If it is signed,
voters in the boundaries
of the proposed city would
decide in November
whether they want to form
the new city.
“I’m just beside myself
in happiness,” said Jason
Lary, president of the
Stonecrest City Alliance,
about the bill’s passage.
“It’s been a three-year
walk for me and the team,”
he said. “The first year, our
study failed. The second
year, we didn’t have enough
time to get through the
General Assembly. The
residential, commercial and
industrial concerns, as well
as school partnerships,
tourism and economic
development, Lary said.
Addressing these six
areas is key to turning the
Stonecrest corridor around
and making it a viable
community, he added.
“Our biggest challenge
is we lack jobs and
economic development,”
Lary said.
“Companies aren’t
moving to Stonecrest
or Lithonia Industrial
Boulevard where we have
500,000 square feet of
available warehouse space
for light industrial, for
See Stonecrest on Page 5A
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