Whitfield County, Georgia

Sec. 4-10. – Spay/neuter requirement.

(a) Within Whitfield County, no person may own, keep, or be in possession of a dog or cat that is six months of age or older which has not been spayed or neutered, unless otherwise exempt from this requirement hereunder.

(b) Whether a dog or cat shall have attained at least six months of age shall be determined by the Whitfield County Animal Control Director, by any duly-authorized animal control officer, by any licensed veterinarian, or by reliable veterinary medical records concerning any such dog or cat.

(c) Any dog or cat kept for purposes of commercial breeding by a person holding a current breeder’s license issued by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Animal Protection System, shall be exempt from this requirement.

(d) Any dog or cat for which a licensed veterinarian has signed a document expressing a medical opinion that the animal should not be spayed or neutered for health reasons shall be exempt from this requirement for the duration of the relevant health condition.

(e) Any citation issued for a first offense violation of this requirement shall be dismissed by the Whitfield County Magistrate Court if, prior to arraignment thereon, the defendant shall provide reliable veterinary medical records demonstrating that such dog or cat has been spayed or neutered.

Sec. 4-31. – Adoption of impounded animals.

The county animal control facility shall encourage and permit the adoption of any animal which has been impounded and which has been detained the appropriate number of days upon the condition that any animal adopted must be spayed or neutered within seven days of adoption. It shall be unlawful for any owner of an adopted animal to fail to have such animal spayed or neutered within seven days of adoption and citation for violation thereof may issue anytime thereafter the county animal control facility shall cooperate with adoption efforts of the Humane Society of Northwest Georgia, Inc., and similar nonprofit organizations, and shall have the discretion to waive any fee associated with reclaiming an impounded animal.