Discover the latest with Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement!

OCTOBER 2026

Greetings!

Learn about center happenings, community events, pet ownership tips, animal adoptions, and more!

CENTER NEWS

Get free vaccines for your pet

Thanks to a generous donation from the Estate of Stephen J. Helman, the County is hosting free pet vaccine clinics twice a month through December 19 at the Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center in Lawrenceville!

The Steve and Julie Helman Pet Vaccine Clinics will provide one-year rabies, Bordetella, and DHPP for dogs and one-year rabies and FVRCP for cats, as well as onsite microchipping.

The clinics are open to Gwinnett County residents only and limited to three animals per household, per clinic. Spots fill up fast, don’t wait until the last minute! Learn more and register at GwinnettCounty.com/PetVaccine.

Date	Time
Wednesday, November 4	4:00pm – 7:00pm
Saturday, November 21	Noon – 3:00pm
Wednesday, December 2	4:00pm – 7:00pm
Saturday, December 19	Noon – 3:00pm

UPCOMING EVENTS

Volunteer Orientation | Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center | Free

6:00pm – 7:00pm | November 2 and December 7

10:00am – 11:00am | October 15, November 24, and December 22

Whether your heart belongs to dogs, cats, or helping behind the scenes, we’ve got a place for you here! If you've been thinking about volunteering, visit VolunteerGwinnett.net to view the orientation schedule and reserve your seat.

Beyond the Kennel Training – Read Canine Mind and Playgroups | Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center | Free

Designed for experienced AWE volunteers ready to take the next step, expand opportunities to provide enrichment, socialization, and valuable behavioral observations for dogs that can benefit from additional time outside the shelter environment. The Read Canine Mind class is a prerequisite for the Playgroups class.

PET TIPS

Make your home cat-friendly

Cats may spend a lot of time napping, but they still need opportunities to climb, scratch, explore, hide, and hunt to mimic their natural behaviors. To keep your kitty mentally and physically engaged:

Add vertical spaces such as cat trees, shelves, or window perches to give cats a safe place to survey their kingdom or enjoy their favorite nature channel.
Provide sturdy scratching posts or pads in different areas of the home to satisfy cats’ need to scratch — and protect your furniture.
Rotate cat toys and use interactive games that encourage stalking, chasing, and pouncing.
Use puzzle feeders or hide small amounts of food to encourage natural foraging.
Provide quiet hiding spots where cats can retreat for a break.

A few thoughtful changes can turn your home from a simple living space to a pet paradise.

SUCCESS STORIES

From foster to forever: Pippi's happily ever after

Pippi arrived at our shelter in January 2025 as a sick and underweight senior cat who needed a loving place to recover. Under the care of a foster family, Pippi soon revealed her headstrong tortoiseshell personality as she recuperated. Though she met a potential adopter, it turns out Pippi had already found the people she wanted!

Shortly after the meet-and-greet, she snuggled into her foster family’s bed, rubbing her face against them and standing on their chests — a sure sign she was settling in and making herself at home. She also got along beautifully with the other cats, and her foster family soon realized that this sweet senior had become part of their family. In April 2025, they officially adopted Pippi, and she is now enjoying her golden years surrounded by love, comfort, and the family she chose for herself.

HELPING HANDS

A Target run with a tail-wagging twist

A group of Target employees recently traded their shopping carts for leashes to treat three of our shelter pups to a Dog Day Out at Rhodes Jordan Park! Old Man Harold, Annie, and Biscotti were more than ready to clock out of shelter life for a few hours to enjoy a walk around the park, playtime, and plenty of attention from their new friends. A huge thank you to the Target team for spending part of their day with our staff and dogs and helping them get some much-needed fun and enrichment. Who knew a Target run could be this doggone good?