Advocates for DeKalb Animals

Vote so your animals won't have to.

The pets in your life don’t get a vote on Nov. 3, so they’re counting on you to get it right. That’s the message from the Georgia Pet Coalition, a nonpartisan group of Georgia humans who lobby state and local governments on behalf of the state’s companion animals. via Georgia Recorder

YOU HELPED MAKE THIS HAPPEN! 🐾

To everyone who called, emailed, shared posts, and demanded justice for this puppy: THANK YOU! Your advocacy helped ensure this case was not forgotten.

Brookhaven rapper and influencer Aspen Easterling, AKA Aspen Kartier, pled guilty in the animal cruelty case that shocked our community.

Her sentence includes:

• 10 days in jail, with credit for two served
• 12 months of probation
• No owning, caring for, or transporting dogs during probation
• 24 anger-management classes and 100 hours of community service
• An animal-abuse intervention program and compliance checks
• $3,348.67 in Cost of Care reimbursement
• Placement on the state animal-cruelty registry

Most importantly, the puppy has been surrendered to LifeLine Animal Project and will not be returned to Easterling. He now has a chance at the safe, loving home he deserves.

This is what happens when a community refuses to look away. Thank you for standing with Advocates for DeKalb Animals and speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Very helpful. VOTE!

ANIMAL WELFARE RECORDS of GA Candidates for U.S. Senate

Federal animal bills affect the welfare of commercially bred companion animals and horses in Georgia. Your vote this election serves as the voice for vulnerable animals trapped in puppy mills and research labs and used in other cruel activities such as animal fighting operations and horse soring.

Positive leadership actions by federal lawmakers include sponsoring or co-sponsoring legislation and signing letters of support for funding.

RECORD for SENATOR JON OSSOFF (Elected to U.S. Senate in 2021)

Has cosponsored the following three bills across multiple legislative cycles:
-The Puppy Protection Act of 2026 (S.4437) would establish improved standards of care for commercially bred animals.
-Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025 (S.1538) would strengthen enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act through collaboration between the USDA and DOJ.
-Prevent All Soring Tactics or PAST Act of 2024 (S.4004; proposed inclusion in the current Farm Bill) would prohibit the chemical and mechanical soring of horses to artificially produce a high stepping (but painful) gait for competitions.

Signed onto the following beneficial Funding Letters:
-Funding letter of 2024 – The letter sought provisions in the FY2025 funding bill for enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), Horse Protection Act (HPA), Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA), and federal animal fighting law, as well as for programs to promote alternatives to animal testing, to provide shelter options for domestic violence survivors with pets through the Protecting Animals With Shelter grant program, and to encourage veterinarians to locate in underserved areas. The letters also urged that no provisions be included based on the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act (S. 2019) or related legislation that would preempt state and local animal welfare laws.
-Funding letter of 2023 – The letter sought provisions in the FY2023 funding bill for enforcement of the AWA, HPA, HMSA and federal animal fighting law, and for programs to provide shelter options for domestic violence survivors with pets, to address the needs of animals in disasters, and to encourage veterinarians to locate in underserved areas.

Note. The full Senate has not voted on any single bill pertaining to companion animals since 2021 although multiple bills have been introduced as well as related amendments introduced in various versions of the Farm Bill.

RECORD for REPRESENTATIVE MIKE COLLINS (Elected to U.S. House of Representatives in 2023 and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2026):

-Has not cosponsored any animal welfare bills since being elected.
-Supported House passage of the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, H.R. 2821 which directs the FDA to update its regulations to allow scientifically valid non-animal methods to be used instead of animal testing in drug development.
-Voted “Nay” on the Van Drew–Titus Amendment to H.R. 8870 (Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Vote), which would permanently prohibit the export of American horses to Canada, Mexico, or other countries for slaughter for human consumption and ban the use of dangerous double-decker trailers to transport horses. A “Nay” vote is the anti-animal position.

Did not sign onto the following beneficial Funding Letters:
-Funding Letters in 2025 (USDA/FDA Animal Welfare Letter; Horse Slaughter Defund Letter).
-Funding Letter of 2024. The letter sought provisions in the FY2024 funding bill for enforcement of the AWA, Horse Protection Act (HPA), Humane Methods of -Slaughter Act and federal animal fighting law, and for programs to promote alternatives to animal testing, to provide shelter options for domestic violence survivors with pets, to address the needs of animals at zoos and other AWA-regulated facilities in disasters, and to encourage veterinarians to locate in underserved areas

Note. The full House of Representatives has not voted on any single bill pertaining to companion animals since 2023 although there have been related amendments introduced in various versions of the Farm Bill.

For more detail on all Congressional incumbents’ records: https://animalwellnessaction.org/2026-congressional-profiles
Scroll down to Georgia.

Georgia Pet Coalition does not endorse candidates. Our purpose is to help you become an informed, engaged, and humane voter.

For our Gwinnett followers. Thank you Gwinnett Animal Advocacy Alliance

🐾 𝟭𝟮 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗔𝗔𝗔 𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗟 𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗙𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗗𝗚𝗘!

🗳️ EARLY VOTING BEGINS TOMORROW, OCTOBER 13!

As Georgia prepares for the November 3 General Election, we want to recognize the 12 state legislative candidates and elected officials who have signed our 2026 Georgia General Assembly Animal Welfare Pledge!

Our pledge outlines commitments to addressing critical animal welfare issues across Georgia, including pet overpopulation, shelter overcrowding, access to affordable spay/neuter services, responsible enforcement, and stronger animal protection policies.

🐾 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝟭𝟮 𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗗𝗚𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦

Georgia State Senate
• Sen. Sally Harrell — District 40

Georgia House
• Scott Hilton — District 48
• Adam Cleveland — District 48
• Jyot Singh — District 97
• Marvin Lim — District 98
• Michelle Kang — District 99
• Jennifer Ambler — District 100
• Akbar Ali — District 106
• Sam Park — District 107
• Juan Estrada — District 109
• Lisa Maria — District 112
• Maureen Gault — District 24 (Forsyth County)

We're particularly encouraged to see our outreach expanding beyond Gwinnett into neighboring Forsyth County, where Maureen Gault is a candidate.

𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲?

Follow GAAA's outreach, pledge signers and candidate engagement on our Georgia General Assembly Election Hub.

https://gwinnettanimaladvocacyalliance.com/election-2026/state/

🗳️ 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗩𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦

📅 Early Voting: October 13–30, 2026
📅 Election Day: November 3, 2026

Find your early voting location, check your sample ballot, and review your voter information at:

https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/

We encourage voters to learn about the candidates, ask questions about animal welfare policies, and make informed decisions.

🐾 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗬𝗢𝗨!

GAAA is a nonpartisan animal advocacy organization. Signing our pledge represents a commitment to the priorities outlined in the pledge and does not constitute an endorsement by GAAA.

Six months later, DeKalb County’s proposed tethering ordinance remains stalled, and this week’s Board of Commissioners meeting brought more disagreement.

On Tuesday, Commissioners LaDena Bolton and Mereda Davis Johnson questioned whether Commissioner Michelle Long Spears’ efforts to protect animals were coming at the expense of helping people.

Commissioner Long Spears pushed back, pointing to her work on housing and homelessness and emphasizing that helping residents keep their pets safe is also about helping people. Protecting animals and supporting their owners should NOT be competing priorities.

Meanwhile, the proposed tethering ordinance, Agenda Item 2026-0596, still has not advanced. The legislation would prohibit leaving animals tethered and unattended while allowing temporary tethering when an owner is present.

We expect the ordinance to return to the Employee Relations and Public Safety (ERPS) Committee on Tuesday, October 20.
Please CALL AND EMAIL both your district commissioner and your super district commissioner before October 20.

Ask them to support Agenda Item 2026-0596 and move it to the full Board of Commissioners for a vote, even if the committee does not recommend approval.

Your message can be simple:
“My name is [NAME], and I live and vote in District [NUMBER] and Super District [NUMBER]. I support Agenda Item 2026-0596. Please move the proposed tethering ordinance to the full Board of Commissioners for a vote. Our animals and community deserve these protections.”

A bit of good news!
At Tuesday’s meeting, Commissioners Michelle Long Spears and Ted Terry also joined forces to provide funding for a pilot program that would help pet owners without fenced yards create safe outdoor spaces for their animals.
The longer-term goal is to secure $250,000 for the program in the county’s 2027 budget.
This could help address one of the concerns repeatedly raised about the tethering ordinance: how residents will afford safe enclosures for their pets.

Commissioner /District /Phone /Email
* Robert Patrick / 1/ 404-371-3052 / [email protected]
* Michelle Long Spears / 2/ 404-371-2863/
[email protected]
* Nicole Massiah /3 /404-371-2425
[email protected]
* Chakira Johnson / 4/ 404-371-4907
[email protected]
* Mereda Davis Johnson /5 / 404-371-2159
[email protected]
* Ted Terry /Super District 6 /404-371-4909
[email protected]
* LaDena Bolton /Super District 7 / 404-371-2899
[email protected]

A dog should not spend its life at the end of a chain.
Tethering is more than an animal-welfare concern. It's a public-safety issue.
In 2023, a woman in Columbus, Georgia, lost part of her lower leg after being attacked by a chained dog. Just last month, in Gwinnett County, a dog tethered outdoors died after struggling to lie down without choking.
These are two very different examples of the dangers tethering can pose to people and animals.
Since March, DeKalb County has been considering Agenda Item 2026-0596, legislation that would strengthen protections for tethered animals.
Current county rules allow dogs to be left on trolley systems for up to 12 hours a day. The proposed ordinance would prohibit unattended tethering while still allowing temporary tethering when a capable owner is present.

For more than SIX MONTHS, animal-welfare experts, county staff, advocates, and residents have worked to address commissioners' questions.
Yet the proposal remains before the Employee Relations and Public Safety (ERPS) Committee, chaired by Commissioner LaDena Bolton and including Commissioners Nicole Massiah and Mereda Davis Johnson.

Questions about specific exceptions and circumstances have repeatedly delayed the legislation. Most recently, the committee deferred the proposal again on October 6.
The ordinance is expected to return to the committee on Tuesday, October 20.
After six months of discussion, it is time for the full Board of Commissioners to have an opportunity to vote, even if the committee does not recommend approval.

We need your help BEFORE October 20.
If you live in DeKalb County, please CALL AND EMAIL BOTH your district commissioner AND your super district commissioner.

Your message can be simple:
"I live and vote in District [NUMBER] and Super District [NUMBER]. I support Agenda Item 2026-0596. Please move the tethering ordinance to the full Board of Commissioners for a vote, even without a committee recommendation for approval."

Not sure which commissioners represent you? Find your districts here: LINK IN THE COMMENTS

Commissioner contact information: LINK IN THE COMMENTS.

Call. Email. Ask for a vote. Do it before October 20.
Please share this with your DeKalb County neighbors.

Don't forget to vote. This is a helpful list.

QUICK REFERENCE LIST of Georgia state lawmakers who sponsored beneficial animal-related bills in the 2025-2026 legislative cycle is below. Lead sponsors manage bills through the legislative process. This list also includes those who sponsored a bill that originated from the other chamber. SPECIAL THANKS to all lawmakers listed!
Rep. Beth Camp (3 bills)
Rep. Sharon Cooper (3 bills)
Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (3 bills)
Rep. Scott Hilton (2 bills)
Sen. Randy Robertson (2 bills)
Sen. Carden Summers (2 bills)
Sen. Jason Anavitarte
Sen. Lee Anderson
Sen. Matt Brass
Rep. Joseph Gullett
Rep. David Huddleston
Rep. Rick Jasperse
Rep. Jan Jones
Rep. Rob Leverett
Rep. Martin Momtahan
Rep. Esther Panitch
Sen. Shawn Still
Sen. Brian Strickland
Rep. Brad Thomas
Sen. Rick Williams

To view bills, cosponsors*, and voting records, click on the bill number at this link: https://www.gapetcoalition.org/legislation
*Cosponsorship signals public support for a bill.

VOTE!
The general election is exactly six weeks away. Every race on the ballot, from local offices to statewide seats, will be decided by voters who show up. Your vote matters, and the first step is making sure you are registered.

Take a few minutes today to check your registration status on the Georgia My Voter Page at mvp.sos.ga.gov. The deadline is Monday, October 5.

Here are the key election dates to mark on your calendar:
• Tuesday, October 13: First day of early voting
• Friday, October 23: Last day to request an absentee ballot
• Friday, October 30: Last day of early voting
• Tuesday, November 3: Election Day

We were proud to stand with the City of Tucker and the DeKalb County SODA team in support of this legislation being passed. Thank you Georgia Pet Coalition, Inc. and Commissioner Michelle Long Spears DeKalb District 2 SODA team for working on this important next step in getting all of DeKalb's Cities to embrace better animal welfare.

THE CITY OF TUCKER became the 20th jurisdiction in Georgia to adopt an ordinance prohibiting the sale, barter, or display of dogs, cats, and rabbits in public places such as parking lots, sidewalks, roadsides, and ALL flea markets. This local law enables animal control and law enforcement to write citations in accordance with the 2025 state law, O.C.G.A. § 4-11-10.1.

VERY SPECIAL THANKS are extended to Mayor Anne Lerner, Councilmember Roger Orlando and City Attorney Ted Baggett for sponsoring the ordinance and to the entire City Council for their unanimous support. APPRECIATION is also extended to DeKalb advocates Dana and Sarah who spoke eloquently in support of the ordinance, and to the many dedicated DeKalb advocates who support our efforts through their attendance at meetings.

Once a local government adopts an ordinance prohibiting the same illegal conduct as in the 2025 state law, both law enforcement officers and animal control/code enforcement officers are authorized to cite violations under local code. Without a local ordinance, only P.O.S.T. certified law enforcement (e.g., police, sheriff) can enforce violations of O.C.G.A. § 4-11-10.1. (*Peace Officers Standards & Training)

WHO WILL BE NEXT?

FAQs for O.C.G.A. § 4-11-10.1 and a sample local ordinance to expand enforcement options are available on the GA Pet Coalition website:

https://www.gapetcoalition.org/ga-law-ban-on-pet-sales-in-public-areas

Please contact the GA Pet Coalition if you would like assistance with passing an ordinance: [email protected]