Starving Dog Tossed, Needs New Home

DECATUR, GA — A nearly starved dog is looking for a new home after animal welfare workers say he was tossed out of a car Wednesday in the DeKalb County Animal Services parking lot.

The search for a home for the poor pup — whom volunteers have named Benjamin — comes as Fulton and DeKalb animal shelters have hit "crisis mode" and are completely full, volunteers say.

According to the nonprofit Lifeline Animal Project, a UPS driver say the emaciated dog get tossed out of a Nissan Xterra into the parking lot at the old DeKalb County Animal Services building on Memorial Driver. Two women who were driving by saw the dog and brought him to Lifeline, in Avondale Estates.

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At first, he couldn't even lift his head.

But, by Thursday, after receiving around-the-clock care, he was standing up, walking and even wagging his tail, volunteers say.

Lifeline's animal shelters in DeKalb and Fulton counties take in abused and neglected animals like Benjamin all the time. But during the summer, intake levels skyrocket and both are currently at capacity. The group is a no-kill organization that works to avoid healthy and treatable animals from being euthanized at county facilities.

DeKalb County Animal Services currently has more than 500 dogs and 200 cats, while Fulton County has more than 400 dogs and 114 cats. Between 40-60 new animals are expected to arrive there in the next day.

Volunteers and animal-welfare workers are seeking emergency foster homes and adoptions right now. Anyone interested in signing up for a short-to-long-term foster program may do so by visiting this site.

Lifeline says all shelter dogs chosen for the program are friendly, get along with other dogs, are spayed or neutered, are vaccinated and have microchips. For adoptions, all of those dogs have their fees waived this month.

Anyone who can't foster but who wants to help may do so by donating items like crates, leashes and collars. They may be dropped off at FCAS, 860 Marietta Blvd. NW, or DCAS, 3280 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd. or by donating to the DCAS or FCAS Amazon wish lists.

For more information, you may visit LifeLineAnimal.org or follow LifeLine on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo courtesy Lifeline Animal Services