Spalding County, Georgia

Sec. 12-1007. – Unaltered animal permit.

(a) Animal owners who wish to maintain an intact animal must apply for an unaltered animal permit with Spalding County, Georgia. Spalding County Animal Control will issue a permit if the owner complies with the requirements set forth in this article and pays the permit fee established by the board of commissioners. A certificate will be issued identifying the animal as a permitted unaltered animal and must be made available for inspection at all times.

(b) Owners who apply for an unaltered animal permit must provide proof of rabies vaccination of the animal prior to issuance of the permit. An unaltered animal permit is valid for the same term as the rabies vaccination.

(c) An unaltered animal tag will be provided to the owner of every unaltered animal. The owner of the unaltered animal is required to ensure that the unaltered animal tag is securely fastened to the animal’s collar or harness at all times.

(d) The cost of an animal permit shall be fixed by the board of commissioners.

Sec. 12-1015. – Impoundment.

(d) Notice to owners of impounded animals:

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(2) If the dog or other animal is not claimed by the owner, possessor or custodian thereof within three (3) working days from the date of impoundment, then it shall be the duty of the shelter supervisor or his authorized representative to allow for the adoption of the animal. After a total period of five (5) working days from the date of impoundment, Spalding County Animal Control may provide for humane destruction of the dog or other animal in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

a. Any dog or animal that is adopted shall be sterilized by a licensed veterinarian within thirty (30) days after acquisition of such animal in the case of an adult animal or within thirty (30) days of the sexual maturing of an animal in the case of an immature animal. For the purposes of this section, the term “sexual maturity” shall mean an animal that has attained the age of one hundred eighty (180) days or more.

b. All costs of sterilization pursuant to this section shall be the responsibility of the person acquiring such animal.

c. Any person acquiring an animal from the Spalding County Animal Shelter shall submit to the animal shelter a signed statement from a licensed veterinarian performing the sterilization required by subparagraph a. above within seven (7) days of such sterilization attesting that such sterilization has been performed.

d. Any person who shall violate any provision of subparagraph (d)(2) and its subparts shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine. (Judge sets the fines.)

Sec. 12-1016. – Fee schedule and miscellaneous regulations.

(b) Fees:

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(2) For adoptions by persons other than the owner, possessor or custodian.

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f. All dogs or cats that are a minimum of ten (10) weeks of age and/or weigh at least two (2) pounds shall be spayed or neutered prior to adoption. For animals under the age of ten (10) weeks and/or under two (2) pounds, proof that the animal has been spayed or neutered shall be provided to the animal shelter before the animal is six (6) months old by the adopting individual.

g. Prior to adoption, the fees approved by the board of commissioners shall be charged and paid by the adopting party to the veterinary clinic designated by the board of county commissioners.

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(c) Sterilization requirement. Any person owning, keeping, harboring, or having custody of any dog or cats six (6) months of age or older is required to have said animal surgically sterilized, except that this ordinance shall not apply to:

(1) Individuals who are nonresidents of Spalding County and reside temporarily in Spalding County for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days within a twelve-month period;

(2) Lawful humane societies/animal shelters licensed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture whose principal purpose is to secure the adoption of animals or offering sanctuary for dogs and cats. Nevertheless, such organizations must comply with the mandatory sterilization requirements applicable to animal shelters and rescue organizations pursuant to the regulations of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, O.C.G.A. § 40-13-13 et seq., the Georgia Animal Protection Act, O.C.G.A. § 4-11-1 et seq., and other applicable laws;

(3) Veterinary hospitals;

(4) Persons who own, keep, harbor, or have custody of registered service dogs or working police dogs;

(5) Persons who own, keep or have custody of actively competitive or retired show dogs or cats. To qualify for this exemption, the dog or cat must be of a breed recognized by and registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC), United Kennel Club (UKC), American Dog Breeders Association (ADBA) or Cat Fanciers Association (CFA), and meets one (1) of the following requirements:

a. The dog or cat has competed in at least one (1) show or sporting competition sanctioned by a bonafide nationally registry within the past three hundred sixty-five (365) days. Written confirmation by the sponsor that the dog or cat has competed is necessary to satisfy this requirement.

b. The dog has earned conformation, obedience, agility, carting, herding, hunting, protection, rally, sporting, working or other titles from a pure bred dog registry, as referenced above and confirmed in writing by the organization.

c. The dog or cat is registered with a bonafide pure bred dog breed club or cat fanciers association, which maintains and enforces a code of ethics restricting breeding dogs or cats with genetic defects and life threatening health problems that commonly threaten the breed and confirmed in writing by the organization.

d. The owner of the animal signs a statement under oath attesting that the dog or cat is being trained to comply with and qualify for the exemption set out subsections a. or b. above.

(6) Persons who own, keep, or have custody of a dog or cat and who are in possession of a written certification provided by a licensed veterinarian stating that the animal has a serious health condition which renders the animal unfit to undergo the required surgical procedure.

(7) Persons who are Georgia State Department of Agriculture licensed breeders.