Columbia County says animal services has kept a ‘no euthanasia for time and space’ policy for more than eight years

County Manager Scott Johnson said on the County Compass podcast that Columbia County Animal Services was named the Georgia Animal Control Association’s Agency of the Year in 2024 and that the program maintains a policy of zero euthanasia for time and space.

“We do not euthanize animals in Columbia County for time and space,” Johnson said. “We haven’t euthanized an animal for time and space in Columbia County in over 8 years. We’re going on our ninth year.”

Johnson credited former animal services manager Linda Glasscock—who retired after a long tenure—for leadership in changing shelter policy; he said Glasscock received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. He described services such as low-cost rabies clinics, school outreach, heartworm testing and Saturday adoption events as part of the agency’s work.

As an example of the shelter’s approach, Johnson recounted a dog that had been in the shelter for a full year: after the county highlighted the animal publicly for its one-year shelter anniversary, the dog was adopted the same day or shortly after the story ran.

Johnson also addressed misinformation circulating about the shelter, calling a recent claim that staff euthanized a German shepherd after 30 days “not true” and “ridiculous,” and encouraged listeners to visit the shelter or review county information.

The county did not announce any new policy changes or funding in the episode; Johnson framed the remarks as explanation and outreach about current shelter practices.