The Growth of FurKids, Georgia’s Largest No-Kill Animal Rescue

Nestled in metro Atlanta sits the largest no-kill animal shelter in the Southeast. FurKids, a humane animal rehabilitation center, has dedicated 24 years to serving as a sanctuary for cats and dogs waiting for their forever homes. 

The nonprofit’s origin story was not traditional. Samantha Shelton, the founder of FurKids, stumbled upon the idea of her own animal rehabilitation center right in her backyard. 

“The life-changing moment happened in October of 2001, when I found a mother cat and her kittens in my backyard,” Shelton said. “I could not find a shelter in [the area] that could guarantee that these cats would not be euthanized.” 

Four months later, in February 2002, is when the FurKids initiative began. Shelton started the organization by collaborating with an adoption center at PetSmart in Dunwoody, Georgia, operating the adoption process from her home. 

“We were a foster-based rescue group. I did not know anything. I really started from scratch, and the first thing I did was to learn everything about [animal adoption] that I did not know,” Shelton recalled. “It wasn’t until 2005 that we had our first animal shelter space.” 

Shelton expanded her animal rehabilitation center to accomplish all the goals that she set for the organization. The shelter created was to ensure the utmost attentive care for the dogs that were currently unhomed in Shelton’s care. A year later, she expanded the shelter to also take cats. 

While expanding FurKids by operating adoption programs in different PetSmart and Petco stores, Shelton opened thrift stores to expand the care that the animals receive at her facilities. 

“FurKids’ animal rescue is 100% supported by our donors and our rescue efforts, but we also have five different thrift stores that make up 35% of our operation costs,” Zac Hadlock, Marketing and Communications Director, said. 

The proceeds from these thrift stores not only cover the medical expenses of these animals but also support the healthy lifestyle of cats and dogs within the FurKids’ facilities. 

The organization operates as the largest cage-free no-kill animal shelter in the Southeast. With a few hundred fosters and volunteers, the nonprofit supports the livelihood of each animal in preparation for adoption. 

“We do not necessarily have a capacity for how many animals we can take in at FurKids. We have a huge foster program that helps…we also have the transfer program, in which we send cats in a transportation van to the northern states,” Hadlock said. 

The headquarters for FurKids sits on nine acres of land that is home to both dog and cat shelters, private medical facilities and the Shiloh Gardens that are used for private events to fund the sanctuary. 

“The Shiloh Gardens are another unusual revenue stream. We have over 100 weddings a year at the event center. That space is used for all types of events, from weddings to celebrations of life…it has been amazing,” Shelton said. 

FurKids also hosts different community engagement opportunities to spread the word about their shelter. The events range from puppy yoga to stand-up comedy nights, raising awareness and funding for FurKids. 

In 2025, the nonprofit saved over 4,000 homeless animals off the street and has saved and altered over 80,000 animals since its founding in 2002. 

The organization remains hopeful that FurKids’ future will grow exponentially. While the nonprofit has created multiple different hubs to house and care for all cats and dogs, they are not stopping anytime soon. 

“[FurKids] is going to be around for many years in the future, long after I am gone,” Shelton said. “I hope that FurKids will grow year after year because even a little growth means a life saved.”