Furkids Hosts Grand Opening Celebration for Sutherlin Dog Shelter

Furkids Animal Rescue & Shelters is inviting the community to celebrate the Grand Opening of the Sutherlin Dog Shelter on Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its 9-acre campus and headquarters located just outside of Alpharetta, Georgia. The free, family-friendly event will feature guided tours of the new shelter, adoptable dogs and cats, family-friendly activities, local bites and refreshments, and a live remote with 97.1 The River featuring concert ticket giveaways and more.

Nearly doubling Furkids’ capacity to care for dogs, the 15,000-square-foot Sutherlin Dog Shelter is helping the organization rescue more animals while setting a new standard for shelter design. With room for as many as 135 dogs, the state-of-the-art facility offers individual dog rooms, enrichment spaces and dedicated adoption areas that create a better experience for both the animals and the families hoping to welcome them home.

“The Sutherlin Dog Shelter is already changing what we’re able to do for dogs and puppies across Georgia,” says Samantha Shelton, founder and CEO of Furkids Animal Rescue & Shelters. “We’re excited to welcome the community to celebrate with us and see how this state-of-the-art facility is helping us care for more dogs, expand our lifesaving efforts and create a better experience for both the animals and the families who visit us.”

Throughout the grand opening festivities, visitors can tour the new shelter and established cat shelter, meet dogs and cats available for adoption, explore Furkids’ scenic nine-acre campus, stroll through Shiloh Gardens, connect with the Furkids team and volunteers, and learn more about the organization’s lifesaving work across Georgia.

Since its founding in 2002, Furkids has rescued and cared for more than 80,000 animals. Today, the organization operates Georgia’s largest no-kill animal shelter and the Southeast’s largest cage-free cat sanctuary, supported by more than 1,000 volunteers dedicated to giving animals a second chance. The Sutherlin Dog Shelter joins the award-winning Fort and Michele Felker Cat Shelter and the new state-of-the-art Giaquinto Medical Center as part of Furkids’ growing campus, strengthening the organization’s ability to rescue, rehabilitate, provide medical care for and ultimately place more animals into loving homes.

The community is invited to celebrate the Grand Opening of the Sutherlin Dog Shelter on Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Furkids Headquarters, Shelters and Sanctuary, located at 5235 Union Hill Road in Cumming. Admission is free, and all are welcome. Due to the anticipated turnout, overflow parking will be available at St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Church (4633 Shiloh Rd., Cumming, GA 30040). A complimentary shuttle will run continuously between the church and Furkids Headquarters throughout the event, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., providing convenient transportation to and from Furkids Headquarters. 

For more information about Furkids Animal Rescue & Shelters, the Grand Opening Celebration, ways to get involved or to donate, visit www.furkids.org and follow along on Instagram at @furkidsatlanta.