FurKids (Atlanta, Georgia 31119) is a limited-access shelter with the capacity for 200 cats at one time. Dogs are cared for in foster homes.
FurKids was founded in 2002 by Samantha Shelton. Ms. Shelton was compelled to start a no-kill shelter after finding a stray mother cat and kittens and was unable to locate a shelter to take them in. She was spurred to action because of the challenging pet overpopulation problem that exists in Georgia.
The main goals of FurKids are to:
- To provide a cage-free, no-kill shelter for rescued animals where they can experience the best care in a loving environment until they are adopted.
- To find permanent, loving, homes for rescued animals.
- To inform the public about pet overpopulation, promote sterilization, and provide information for low-cost high-quality spay/neuter organizations.
FurKids began as a network of foster homes conducting adoptions primarily through the Petsmart Perimeter location. In 2003, FurKids was invited to partner with a second Petsmart adoption center in Smyrna. FurKids moved into a third Petsmart location in Midtown Atlanta in 2006 and in 2007, Petsmart Northlake invited FurKids to take over their adoption center.
From rescuing 216 animals in its first year to 831 as of 2007 year end, FurKids has always provided the best food, medical treatment, and social environment for the animals in its care. At the end of 2004, Furkids secured the lease of a 5,000 sq. ft. facility. In April of 2006, renovations were complete and FurKids officially opened the largest cage-free cat shelter in Georgia. The new shelter allows FurKids to increase the number of cats and kittens rescued and provide a colorful, cage-free, one-of-a-kind environment for the cats. Rescued dogs remain in foster homes until adopted.
FurKids is also one of the only shelters in the Southeast that has a room dedicated to cats with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), with a capacity for 15 cats.
