60 years ago, long before “lifesaving” became a common term in animal welfare, a small group of ordinary, compassionate citizens in DeKalb County saw a heartbreaking reality: animal control facilities across Georgia were overwhelmed, and euthanasia rates were devastatingly high. Rather than accepting this as inevitable, they chose to act. 

In 1966, teachers, homemakers, business owners, and neighbors came together with a shared belief that animals deserved time, care, and the chance to find loving homes. United by compassion and resolve, they rolled up their sleeves and began building something new. 

They raised money the only way they could; through bake sales, yard sales, car washes, and countless grassroots efforts fueled by hope and hard work. Little by little, the community raised enough to purchase property and home where they established the DeKalb Humane Society, incorporated in 1966.  

From its earliest days, the organization operated as a completely volunteer-run, independent shelter, guided by an unwavering belief: it would be a no-kill shelter, where every animal would stay until they could find a safe, loving home. At a time when this approach was far from common, these volunteers set a standard rooted in patience, dignity, and respect for every life. 

As the decades passed, the Metro Atlanta community continued to rally behind this mission. Additional buildings were added. Medical care, housing, and adoption services expanded to meet growing needs. What began as a grassroots response became a trusted lifesaving organization, strengthened by the generosity of volunteers, donors, fosters, and adopters who believed deeply in the work. 

In 2002, the organization became PAWS Atlanta, a name that reflected both its growth and its expanding reach, while remaining true to the values established by its founders. 

PAWS Atlanta’s history is not just a timeline; it is a living legacy written daily by the Metro Atlanta community. Every volunteer shift, foster placement, adoption, and donation carries forward the spirit of those first volunteers who refused to turn away from suffering. 

For 60 years, PAWS Atlanta has stood as proof that when a compassionate community comes together, lives are saved, again and again.