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Georgia Statutes, Title 4

Georgia/Statutes

← All Georgia coverage

Title 4

15 chapters · 271 sections in this title.

All chapters in Title 4271 Ch 4, PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF DISEASE IN…97 Ch 11, ANIMAL PROTECTION34 Ch 6, LIVESTOCK DEALERS AND AUCTIONS30 Ch 8, DOGS23 Ch 10, DEALERS IN EXOTIC BIRDS AND PET BIRDS15 Ch 3, LIVESTOCK RUNNING AT LARGE OR STRAYING12 Ch 5, DISPOSAL OF DISEASED, DISABLED, OR D…11 Ch 13, HUMANE CARE FOR EQUINES10 Ch 9, BIOLOGICALS PERMITS9 Ch 7, HATCHERY OPERATORS AND DEALERS8 Ch 1, GENERAL PROVISIONS6 Ch 2, MARKS AND BRANDS5 Ch 12, INJURIES FROM EQUINE OR LLAMA ACTIVITIES5 Ch 14, STERILIZATION OF DOGS AND CATS IN SH…5

34 sections·Filtered byTitle 4✕Ch 11✕

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-1 Short title
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This article shall be known and may be cited as the ‘‘Georgia Animal Protection Act.’’ (Code 1981, § 4-11-1, enacted by Ga. L. 1986, p. 628, § 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 328, § 1; Ga. L. 1993, p. 91, § 4.)
O.C.G.A. § 4-11-10 Unlawful acts by licensed persons
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It shall be unlawful for any person licensed under this article or any person employed by a person licensed under this article or under such person’s supervision or control to: (1) Commit a violation of Code Section 16-12-4, relating to cruelty to animals; Page: 142 Job Path: @ps…
O.C.G.A. § 4-11-11 Shipment of animals into state without certificates of health
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It shall be unlawful for any person to ship any animal, other than equines, livestock, birds, cold-blooded animals, and rodents, into this state for the purpose of resale unless such animal is accompanied by a U.S. interstate or international certificate of health. (Code 1981, § …
O.C.G.A. § 4-11-12 Cooperation with federal government
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The Commissioner may cooperate with the secretary of agriculture in carrying out Public Law 89-544, commonly known as the Animal Welfare Act, as amended by Public Laws 91-579 and 94-279, and the rules and regulations issued by the secretary of agriculture under that act. The Comm…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-13 Animals raised, kept, or maintained for human consumption

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The provisions of this article shall not apply to any person who raises, keeps, or maintains animals solely for the purposes of human consump142 Page: 143 Job Path: @psc3912/cville_data1/stcodes/ga/lexis/ep_rv_04_txt 0000 41826-12 GA RV 13 RV 4(T4-6) - EP ANIMAL PROTECTION Date: …

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-14 Rules and regulations

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The Commissioner is authorized to promulgate and adopt rules and regulations necessary or appropriate to carry out this article. (Code 1981, § 4-11-14, enacted by Ga. L. 1986, p. 628, § 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 328, § 1.)

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-15 Injunctions and restraining orders

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In addition to the remedies provided in this article or elsewhere in the laws of this state and notwithstanding the existence of an adequate remedy at law, the Commissioner or, where authorized by the local governing authority, the city or county attorney is authorized to apply t…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-15.1 Abandonment of domesticated animal

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Notwithstanding the provisions of Code Section 4-11-13, it shall be unlawful for any person knowingly and intentionally to abandon any domesticated animal upon any public or private property or public right of way. This Code section shall not be construed as amending or otherwise…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-16 Penalties

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(a) Except as otherwise provided in Code Section 16-12-4 or 16-12-37, any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in Code Section 17-10-3; provided, however, that if such offense is committed by a c…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-17 Filing a report regarding animal cruelty; immunity

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(a) Notwithstanding Code Section 24-12-31 or any other provision of law to the contrary, any licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician having reasonable cause to believe that an animal has been subjected to animal cruelty in violation of Code Section 16-12-4 or an act prohib…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-18 Article cumulative; does not prohibit enactment and enforcement of local ordinances by municipal or county governing authority

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This article shall be cumulative and shall not prohibit the enactment and enforcement of local ordinances by a municipal or county governing authority on this subject which are not in conflict with this article; provided, however, that a municipal or county governing authority sh…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-2 Definitions

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As used in this article, the term: (1) ‘‘Adequate food and water’’ means food and water which is sufficient in an amount and appropriate for the particular type of animal to prevent starvation, dehydration, or a significant risk to the animal’s health from a lack of food or water…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-3 Licenses for pet dealers and kennel, stable, or animal shelter operators; requirement; issuance; application

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(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to act as a pet dealer or operate a kennel, stable, or animal shelter unless such person has a valid license issued by the Commissioner of Agriculture. Any person acting without a license in violation of this subsection shall be guilty of a…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-4 Display of licenses

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A license must be prominently displayed at each place of business of a pet dealer and at each kennel, stable, and animal shelter in this state. (Code 1981, § 4-11-4, enacted by Ga. L. 1986, p. 628, § 1.)

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-5 Licensing of bird dealers

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Any person licensed by the department as a bird dealer shall not be required to obtain a license under this article if such person does not deal in animals other than birds. If, however, a licensed bird dealer sells, offers to sell, exchanges, or offers for adoption dogs, cats, f…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-5.1 Euthanasia of dogs and cats by animal shelters or facilities operated for collection of stray, neglected, abandoned, or unwanted animals

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(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, the use of sodium pentobarbital or a derivative of it shall be the exclusive method for euthanasia of dogs and cats by animal shelters or other facilities which are operated for the collection and care of stray, negle…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-5.2 Microchip reader microchipped pet

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ing of ‘‘euthanasia’’ was corrected the first time it appears in subsection (c). defined; contacting owner of (a) As used in this Code section, the term ‘‘microchip reader’’ means a device designed to read microchips at 125 kHz, both encrypted and nonencrypted, 128 kHz, and 134.2…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-6 Applicability of article to nonresidents; consent to jurisdiction; service

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Any person who is not a resident of this state but who engages in this state in any activities for which a license is required by this article shall be subject to this article as to such activities. Each nonresident applicant for a license required by this article shall be requir…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-7 Grounds for refusal to issue or renew or suspension or revocation of licenses

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The Commissioner may refuse to issue or renew or may suspend or revoke a license on any one or more of the following grounds: (1) Material misstatement in the application for the original license or in the application for any renewal license under this article; (2) Willful disreg…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-8 Denial, suspension, or revocation of license for violation of article; applicability of ‘‘Georgia Administrative Procedure Act

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The Commissioner is authorized to deny, suspend, or revoke any license required by this article, subject to notice and a hearing, in any case in which he finds that there has been a violation of this article or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this article. All proceedi…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-9 Inspections

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The Commissioner or his designated agents are authorized to enter upon any public or private property at any time for the purpose of inspecting the business premises of any pet dealer or any animal shelter, kennel, or stable and the dogs, cats, equines, or other animals housed at…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-9.1 Quarantine of animal, premises, or any area by Commissioner

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(a) In the control, suppression, prevention, and eradication of animal diseases, the Commissioner or any duly authorized representative Page: 135 Job Path: @psc3912/cville_data1/stcodes/ga/lexis/ep_rv_04_txt 0000 41826-12 GA RV 13 RV 4(T4-6) - EP ANIMAL PROTECTION Date: 06/14/13 …

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-9.2 Inspections; impoundment of animals; exceptions

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(a) At any time there is probable cause to believe that a violation of this article or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this article has occurred, the Commissioner, his or her designated agent, or an animal control officer who is an employee of state or local government…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-9.3 Caring for an impounded animal

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(a) It shall be the duty of any person impounding an animal under Code Section 4-11-9.2 to make reasonable and proper arrangements to provide the impounded animal with humane care and adequate and necessary veterinary services. Such arrangements may include, but shall not be limi…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-9.4 Notification of owner; custody of animal

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(a) It shall be the duty of any person impounding an animal under this article to notify the owner of such animal immediately upon impoundment. Such notice shall state the name and business address of the person impounding the animal, the name and address of the state or local go…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-9.5 Failure to respond; right to hearing; care; crime exception

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(a) If the owner of an animal impounded pursuant to this article fails to respond in writing within five business days of the date the notice of impoundment was served, or, if the owner is unknown or could not be found within 30 days of publication of the notice of impoundment, t…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-9.6 Disposal of impounded animal

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(a) The government agency having custody of an animal impounded pursuant to this article which is not returned to the owner as provided in Code Sections 4-11-9.3 and 4-11-9.5 may dispose of the animal through sale by any commercially feasible means, at a public auction or by seal…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-9.7 Notice and reporting required for certain animal diseases

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(a) The Commissioner is authorized to declare certain animal diseases and syndromes to be diseases requiring notice and to require the reporting thereof to the department in a manner and at such times as may be prescribed by the Commissioner. The department shall require that suc…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-30 Short title

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This article shall be known and may be cited as the ‘‘Georgia Farm Animal, Crop, and Research Facilities Protection Act.’’ (Code 1981, § 4-11-30, enacted by Ga. L. 1990, p. 328, § 1; Ga. L. 2001, p. 888, § 1.)

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-31 Definitions

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As used in this article, the term: (1) ‘‘Actor’’ means a person accused of any of the offenses defined in Code Section 4-11-32. (2) ‘‘Animal’’ means any warm or cold-blooded animal or insect which is being used in food or fiber production, agriculture, research, Page: 146 Job Pat…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-32 Prohibited acts; applicability

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(a)(1) A person commits an offense if, without the consent of the owner, the person acquires or otherwise exercises control over an animal facility, an animal from an animal facility, or other property from an animal facility with the intent to deprive the owner of such facility,…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-33 Penalty for violation

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(a) A person convicted of any of the offenses defined in subsections (a) and (b) of Code Section 4-11-32 shall be guilty of a felony and, upon Page: 149 Job Path: @psc3912/cville_data1/stcodes/ga/lexis/ep_rv_04_txt 0000 41826-12 GA RV 13 RV 4(T4-6) - EP ANIMAL PROTECTION Date: 06…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-34 Powers and duties of Commissioner

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For purposes of enforcing the provisions of this article, the Commissioner: (1) May investigate any offense under this article; (2) May seek the assistance of any law enforcement agency of the United States, the state, or any local government in the conduct of such investigations…

O.C.G.A. § 4-11-35 Attorneys’ fees; injunctions; other rights arising out of or relating to violation of article

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(a) Any person who has been damaged by reason of a violation of this article may recover all actual and consequential damages, punitive damages, and court costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, from the person causing such damage. (b) In addition to the remedies provided in…