News and ViewsJune 12, 2024
Pets at Georgia Shelter Aided by Spectrum Broadband Expansion
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Animal Services in Oconee County, Georgia, located about 90 minutes outside of Atlanta, sits on a country road, surrounded mostly by farms of pine timber, produce and cattle. Nearly 1,200 animals, primarily dogs and cats, go through the shelter each year — many have been lost, injured, surrendered or abandoned.
Despite building renovations in 2020, one challenge remained at the facility: slow DSL. Online adoption applications constantly timed out, photos of lost pets proved tedious to upload, and the slow speeds hindered communications with law enforcement in cases of neglect or abuse.
All of that changed when rural expansion due to Spectrum’s partnership with Oconee County, the federal Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF), and Spectrum investment turned the odds for animals in their favor.
Crystal Berisko, Oconee County Animal Services Manager“The difference is night and day – ultimately, it’s benefiting area residents who want to adopt a pet, and helping lost pets find their way home more quickly. Animals spend less time in the shelter because we can post pictures and process adoptable and lost pets faster, finding them a forever home or reuniting them with their owners.”
Crystal says the faster speeds have improved productivity at Oconee County Animal Services. Her team can expedite digital applications, budget expenditures and enforcement actions through various databases.
Additionally, the shelter’s nonprofit arm, Friends of the Oconee County Animal Shelter, can post notices about microchipping and free vaccine clinics.
Spectrum’s 320 miles of newly constructed fiber-optic network in Oconee County has brought broadband access to more than 3,100 homes and small businesses, and connected scores of pets to their forever homes.
More information about Spectrum’s commitment to expanding broadband access can be found here.