Sandy Springs residents in Fulton County’s District 1 can hear updates on animal services and veterans resources at a town hall Thursday, Oct. 22, in Alpharetta.

Commissioner Bridget Thorne will host the meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Health and Human Services North Facility, 4700 Northpoint Parkway, according to the county’s announcement.

County leaders will discuss the Fulton County Animal Shelter, while panelists will share information about resources for the more than 40,000 veterans living in Fulton County, the announcement said.

The shelter discussion follows an August commission vote aimed at reducing the time animals seized in cruelty cases spend awaiting court proceedings.

Commissioners voted 5-0 to direct the county attorney’s office to establish a process with LifeLine Animal Project, which manages the shelter, for filing cost-of-care petitions within two weeks of an animal’s seizure, WABE reported.

Those petitions allow courts to require accused owners to pay for their animals’ care. If court-ordered payments are not made, an animal may be forfeited and become available for adoption.

The process has been permitted under Georgia law since 2016, but advocates told WABE that animals can still spend lengthy periods in shelters while criminal cases proceed. A LifeLine staff member said Fulton had 42 court-case dogs at one point during the summer, with seven granted permission to enter foster homes.

LifeLine spokesperson Timkya Artist told WABE that caring for shelter animals generally costs about $40 a day.

Thorne, a Republican first elected in 2022, represents all of Johns Creek and portions of Alpharetta, Roswell and Sandy Springs. District 1 serves approximately 183,000 residents, according to county officials cited by Appen Media.

The town hall comes during early voting for the Nov. 3 general election, in which Thorne faces Democrat Maggie Goldman in a rematch of their 2022 race. Early voting continues through Oct. 30.

Residents seeking more information about the meeting can contact Thorne’s office at 404-612-8215 or [email protected].