Walker County animal services reports rising intakes; commissioners approve home kennel variance with owner condition

Bailey Clements, Walker County animal services director, told the Board of Commissioners the shelter has taken in 168 cats and 421 dogs since January and currently cares for about 143 animals.

Clements said the shelter issued 85 vouchers for spay/neuter and had about 400 names on a waiting list; 234 owner surrenders and 234 adoptions were recorded in the period she described. She also highlighted a new volunteer program, transport partnerships with northern rescue networks, a pet-food pantry and planned summer vaccine and microchip clinics.

The details matter to the community because the shelter’s intake, transport and voucher activity shape local animal-control workload and how much county support departments need. Clements told commissioners the shelter has rejoined Georgia Transport Allies to move animals to partners in northern states where demand is higher and said volunteers have been trained under a “fear-free” certification she described as standard for their program.

The board then considered a conditional-use variance for a home-based dog-boarding business at 609 Holly Drive. Jackson Abbasi, the applicant, said she operates a small boarding business from her 0.63-acre property, keeps a maximum of about six boarding dogs plus personal animals, uses interior and visual separation and follows containment and no-bark practices. “I take a very limited amount of dogs,” Abbasi said. She told the board she holds a Department of Agriculture license and has operated for two years without complaints.

Volunteer Lisa Duffy and Bailey Clements both spoke in support. Duffy, who identified herself as a volunteer at the county shelter, said the applicant “is doing what she’s doing to help animals that need help, especially elderly animals.” Clements said she inspected the property and did not find problems; she recommended approval.

Commissioners voted to approve the conditional-use variance with a condition discussed by the county’s building official: the permit is tied to the current owner/operator and does not automatically transfer with sale of the property. The board recorded the outcome as approved and directed planning and code staff to record the owner-specific condition in the permit file.

The animal-services presentation also noted upcoming changes in shelter hours (open 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Saturdays with planned expansion), a foster program for special-needs animals and ongoing outreach and training classes. Clements asked the public to report plumbing or other maintenance needs observed during volunteer work so the county can address them.

The board did not adopt new ordinances during the report; commissioners and staff discussed enforcement responsibilities if neighborhood complaints arise, noting animal services and code enforcement work together on violations.

The shelter’s voucher program, transport partnerships and volunteer expansion are ongoing; the conditional-use variance will be enforced by animal services and the county building/code office under the owner-linked condition.