Every improvement begins with someone willing to speak up.
Since 2024, Gwinnett Animal Advocacy Alliance has worked to improve animal welfare through research, education, collaboration, and community advocacy.
Every milestone on this page represents countless hours spent attending public meetings, reviewing public records, communicating with county leadership, educating the community, and advocating for meaningful improvements on behalf of the animals.
Meaningful change takes time. While not every recommendation results in immediate action, every conversation, every public record reviewed, every recommendation shared, and every resident who joins our efforts helps move Gwinnett County toward a more transparent, accountable, and compassionate animal welfare system.
July 2024
Pluto’s euthanasia inspired a group of concerned residents to come together with one goal: improving animal welfare in Gwinnett County.
September 2024
October 2024
Met with Commissioner Carden (District 1) to discuss concerns involving shelter operations, transparency, and animal welfare.
January 2025
Completed a comprehensive comparison of the 2012 Animal Task Force recommendations against 2025 current shelter operations to identify progress, remaining gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
January 2025
Met with Commissioner Ku (District 2) to discuss animal welfare concerns and opportunities for meaningful improvement.
February 2025
Met with shelter leadership to discuss community concerns, including:
May 2025
Continued discussing animal welfare issues with Commissioner Carden (District 1) and advocated for stronger local solutions.
June 2025
Contacted all Gwinnett County commissioners to request a resolution addressing retail pet sales in recognition of the one-year anniversary of Pluto’s death.
July 2025
Met with a field representative from the Office of Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones to discuss statewide animal welfare concerns.
2025
Expanded the use of Open Records Requests and began reviewing shelter policies, records, and operational data to better understand:
January 2026
Analyzed and published findings from the shelter’s 2025 animal death data, including euthanasia and unassisted deaths.
The analysis also examined reported reasons for dog euthanasia and raised questions about how overcrowding and shelter capacity affect animal outcomes.
January 2026
Published a detailed review of public medical records identifying recurring concerns involving treatment, monitoring, documentation, and accountability.
View Medical Care Findings →February 2026
Analyzed 2025 volunteer participation and retention data and compared Gwinnett’s program with neighboring counties.
March 2026
Advocacy Win
After approximately 18 months of sustained advocacy, volunteers regained the ability to photograph and video shelter animals for adoption and rescue promotion.
March 2026
Launched a public petition supporting expanded camera coverage and an independent review of shelter operations.
Learn About Camera Coverage →June 2026
Contacted shelter leadership regarding accountability when known owners fail to reclaim animals left in shelter care.
July 2026
Launched a completely redesigned website with documented issue pages, public resources, leadership information, and opportunities for residents to take action.
July 2026
Completed an independent forensic audit of documented staff enrichment for every dog housed during May 2026.
View the Enrichment Findings →July 2026
Our approach combines public education, documented research, constructive advocacy, and community involvement.
Raising awareness and helping residents understand how local animal welfare systems operate.
Reviewing public records, analyzing shelter data, and documenting areas that need improvement.
Working with residents, decision-makers, and community partners to advance practical solutions.
Promoting a more transparent, accountable, accessible, and compassionate animal welfare system.
Meaningful change does not happen overnight. Every meeting attended, every public record reviewed, every recommendation shared, and every resident who chooses to get involved makes a difference.
Together, these efforts help move Gwinnett County toward a more transparent, accountable, and compassionate animal welfare system.
Join Our TeamBe part of the change.