“I would work to ensure that our animal shelter is equipped to provide humane care of our animal family members based on leading industry standards and is able to handle current and projected growth of our pet population.”

Lance Hammonds answers our Commission District 4 Candidate questions for our DeKalb County Runoff election on June 18, 2024. Read answers here!

“Our campaign is all about “Putting DeKalb Families First”. Many DeKalb families include pets. These animal family members contribute to the overall wellbeing of the family unit, thus are essential members of a family. For many children, the family pet is the first living thing they learn to take care of other than themselves. The family pet reinforces the lessons parents teach about responsibility. Pets also provide our families with companionship, help reduce stress, and provide emotional support. I would work to ensure that our animal shelter is equipped to provide humane care of our animal family members based on leading industry standards and is able to handle current and projected growth of our pet population.”

“I would investigate the strengthening of local ordinances and state laws for the licensing of animal breeders. I would advocate for increased penalties for breeders that bypass the required licensing. The purpose is to control practices by unlicensed breeders that lead to abandoned animals that end up needing care at the county animal shelter. I would also budget for free spay and neutering clinics.”

“My priority would be to hire an Enforcement Director that has a proven track record of managing comparable size or larger animal control programs based on NACA standards. I would seek the advice of DeKalb Animal Advocates on how we should measure the effectiveness of animal control in our county and hold ourselves accountable.”

“I would hire a qualified Enforcement Director and support their development of budgets and personnel recommendations based on NACA standards. I would investigate a more robust volunteer program. I would offer opportunities to our high school students that need community service hours to meet their graduation requirement in hopes they might consider a career in animal services. We can also communicate to our courts that our animal shelters can satisfy court-ordered community service. Another idea would be to develop programs at our two-year and technical schools in animal services.”

“Our campaign is all about "Putting DeKalb Families First" and I recognize that animals are part of the diverse makeup of DeKalb Families. When we provide wraparound services that address food insecurities and gaps in medical care for families, we should make provisions for the entire family including the animals that enhance the wellbeing of the family unit. I would investigate ways to provide food and veterinary services for the animals of our families.”

“I would establish a citizen and judicial task force to investigate the options of reducing the number of court-held animals. I would ask this group to make recommendations on expediting the adoption or foster care of these animals until they can safely be returned to their owners or adopted. I would institute an information campaign on the need to provide animal foster care the same way we do for children that have been abused or neglected. Animals are family members too!”