When the LifeLine Animal Project alerted people across greater Atlanta that overcrowding at a local animal shelter left some pets in need of forever homes, a national apartment company stepped in to help.
Cortland waived last month pet adoption fees averaging $400 for residents of its Cortland at the Village and Cortland at the Battery Atlanta, both in the northwest part of the city, who adopted dogs from LifeLine. The company manages and has investments in more than 250 apartment properties with a total of 80,000 units.
“One of my favorite things about our industry is that we have the privilege to help people create bonds within their community," Jonathan Tucker, Cortland's executive vice president of operations, said in an email. "When we heard about the dire situation for our local animal shelter, it was a no brainer to see how we could help find a new home for these animals."
Cortland extended the waiver offer to all 32 of its properties that allow pets in the Atlanta market through the end of January. Some 25 Cortland residents adopted pets during the fee-waiver period, the company said. Cortland at the Village resident Josh Cook adopted a dog called Nitro that had been at the shelter for three years.
"Great work," LifeLine foster parent and former Cortland recruiter Analia Serebrenik said Jan. 31 in response to a LinkedIn post from Cortland executive Sarah DeFrancis. "As of yesterday, our shelter had processed 300 foster or adoption applications to get the dogs out of the shelter."