Source: http://animallawsource.org/police/animal-protection-act-title-4-ga/
Timestamp: 2017-09-21 21:11:50
Document Index: 571437778

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 4']

Animal Protection Act - Title 4 (GA) - Animal Law Source
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Click Here – Animal Protection Act – Title 4 (GA) Printable Version
Definitions; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-2.
Licenses for pet dealers and kennel, stable, or animal shelter operators; requirement; issuance; application
Licenses for pet dealers and kennel, stable, or animal shelter operators; requirement; issuance; application ; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-3.
Display Of Licenses; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-4.
Licensing Of Bird Dealers
Licensing Of Bird Dealers; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-5.
Euthanasia of dogs and cats by animal shelters or facilities operated for collection of stray, neglected, abandoned, or unwanted animals
Euthanasia of dogs and cats by animal shelters or facilities operated for collection of stray, neglected, abandoned, or unwanted animals; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-5.1.
Microchip reader defined; contacting owner of microchipped pet
Microchip reader defined; contacting owner of microchipped pet; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-5.2.
Applicability of article to nonresidents; consent to jurisdiction; service
Applicability of article to nonresidents; consent to jurisdiction; service; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-6.
Grounds for refusal to issue or renew or suspension or revocation of licenses
Grounds for refusal to issue or renew or suspension or revocation of licenses; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-7.
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 disregard or violation of this article or of any rules or regulations issued pursuant to this article; (3) Willfully aiding or abetting another in the violation of this article or of any regulation or rule issued pursuant to this article; (4) Allowing a license issued under this article to be used by an unlicensed person; (5) A violation of any law of this state or rule of the Commissioner related to the disposition of, dealing in, or handling of dogs, cats, equines, and other animals; (6) Making substantial misrepresentations or false promises in connection with the business of a licensee under this article; (7) Pursuing a continued course of making misrepresentations or false promises through advertising, salesmen, agents, or otherwise in connection with the business of a licensee under this article; (8) Failure to possess the necessary qualifications or meet the requirements of this article for the issuance or holding of a license; or (9) Failure to provide proper facilities.
Denial, suspension, or revocation of license for violation of article; applicability of Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.
Denial, suspension, or revocation of license for violation of article; applicability of “Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.”; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-8.
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 proceedings for denial, suspension, or revocation of a license shall be conducted in conformance with Chapter 13 of Title 50, the “Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.”
Inspections; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-9.
Quarantine of animal, premises, or any area by Commissioner
Quarantine of animal, premises, or any area by Commissioner; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-9.1.
(a) In the control, suppression, prevention, and eradication of animal diseases, the Commissioner or any duly authorized representative acting under his authority is authorized and required to quarantine an animal, premises, or any area when he shall determine that animals in such place or places are infected with a contagious or infectious disease, that the unsanitary condition of such place or places might cause the spread of such disease, that the animal has or has been exposed to any contagious or infectious disease, or that the owner or occupant of such place or places is not observing sanitary practices prescribed under the authority of this article or any other law of this state. (b) The Commissioner or his duly authorized representative is authorized to issue and enforce written or printed stop sale, stop use, or stop movement orders to the owners or custodians of any animals, ordering them to hold such animals at a designated place, when the Commissioner or his duly authorized representative finds such animals:
(1) To be infected with or to have been exposed to any contagious or infectious disease; (2) To be held by a person who is required to be licensed under this article and whose license has expired; (3) To be held by a person who is required to be licensed under this article and who has failed to obtain a license within ten days of the date on which written notice of need to obtain a license was given to such person by the Commissioner or his authorized representative; or (4) To have been held in violation of this article, until the law has been complied with and such animals have been released, in writing, by the Commissioner or the violations have been otherwise legally disposed of by written authority.
Inspections; impoundment of animals; exceptions
Inspections; impoundment of animals; exceptions; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-9.2.
(c) The Commissioner, his or her designated agent, an animal control officer who is an employee of state or local government, or any sheriff, deputy sheriff, or other peace officer is authorized to impound any animal: (1) That has not received humane care; (2) That has been subjected to cruelty in violation of Code Section 16-12-4; (3) That is used or intended for use in any violation of Code Section 16-12-37; or (4) If it is determined that a consent order or other order concerning the treatment of animals issued pursuant to this article is being violated.
d) Prior to an animal being impounded pursuant to paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (c) of this Code section, a licensed accredited veterinarian approved by the Commissioner or a veterinarian employed by a state or federal government and approved by the Commissioner, shall, at the request of the Commissioner, his or her designee, an animal control officer, a sheriff, a deputy sheriff, or other peace officer, examine and determine the condition or treatment of the animal.
Caring for an impounded animal
Caring for an impounded animal; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-9.3.
(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 limited to, providing shelter and care for the animal at any state, federal, county, municipal, or governmental facility or shelter; contracting with a private individual, partnership, corporation, association, or other entity to provide humane care and adequate and necessary veterinary services for a reasonable fee; or allowing a private individual, partnership, corporation, association, or other entity to provide humane care and adequate and necessary veterinary services as a volunteer and at no cost. (b) Any person impounding an animal under this article or providing care for an impounded animal shall have a lien on such animal for the reasonable costs of caring for such animal. Such lien may be foreclosed in any court that is competent to hear civil cases, including, but not limited to, magistrate courts. Liens shall be foreclosed in magistrate courts only when the amount of the lien does not exceed the jurisdictional limits established by law for such courts. (c) Any person impounding an animal under this article shall be authorized to return such animal to its owner, upon payment by the owner of all costs of impoundment and care and upon the entry of a consent order, unless such owner, in a prior administrative or legal action in this state or any other state, was found to have failed to provide humane care to an animal, committed cruelty to animals, or committed an act prohibited under Code Section 16-12-37 in violation of the laws of this state or of the United States or any of the several states. Such consent order shall provide conditions relating to the care and treatment of such animal, including, but not limited to, the following, that: (1) Such animal shall be given humane care and adequate and necessary veterinary services; (2) Such animal shall not be subjected to cruelty; and (3) The owner shall comply with this article. (d) The provisions of subsection (c) of this Code section shall not apply to an animal that was an object or instrumentality of a crime nor shall any such animal be returned to the owner without the approval of the prosecuting attorney. An agency having custody of an animal that was seized as an object or instrumentality of a crime may, with the consent of the prosecuting attorney, apply to the court having jurisdiction over the offense for an order authorizing such agency to dispose of the animal prior to trial of the criminal case as provided by law.
Notification of owner; custody of animal
Notification of owner; custody of animal; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-9.4.
(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 government agency having custody of the animal, a description of the animal, the reason why the animal was impounded, and a statement of the time limits for the owner to respond and request a hearing as provided in Code Section 4-11-9.5. The notice shall be provided by personal service or by registered mail, certified mail, or statutory overnight delivery sent to the last known address of the owner. Service of the notice which complies with subsection (b) of Code Section 9-11-5 shall in all cases be sufficient. If the owner of such animal is unknown or cannot be found, service of the notice on the owner shall be made by posting the notice in a conspicuous place at the location where the animal was impounded and by publishing a notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the animal was impounded. (b) An animal impounded pursuant to this article is deemed to be in the custody of the state or local government agency responsible for enforcement of this article within said county or municipality.
Failure to respond; right to hearing; care; crime exception
Failure to respond; right to hearing; care; crime exception; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-9.5.
(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, the impounded animal may be disposed of pursuant to Code Section 4-11-9.6. (b) (1) If the owner of an animal impounded pursuant to this article refuses to enter into a consent agreement with the government agency having custody of the animal that such animal will be given humane care and adequate and necessary veterinary care, the owner may request, in writing, a hearing within five business days of the date the notice of impoundment was served on such owner, or, if the owner is unknown or could not be found, within 30 days of the date of publication of the notice of impoundment. Such request for hearing shall be served upon the government agency having custody of the animal. If no hearing is requested within the time limits specified in this paragraph and the failure to request such hearing is due in whole or in part to the reasonably avoidable fault of the owner, the right to a hearing shall have been waived.
(2) Within 30 days after receiving a written request for a hearing, the government agency having custody of the animal shall hold a hearing as is provided in Chapter 13 of Title 50, the “Georgia Administrative Procedure Act.” If the animal is in the custody of an agency of local government which has, by local law or ordinance, established a procedure for hearing such matters, the body designated in such local law or ordinance shall conduct the hearing required by this Code section. If the local government does not have a hearing procedure, the government agency having custody of the animal may refer the matter to the Office of State Administrative Hearings. If the animal is in the custody of the Department of Agriculture, the Commissioner or his or her designee shall conduct the hearing. The hearing shall be public and all testimony shall be received under oath. A record of the proceedings at such hearing shall be made and maintained by the hearing officer as provided in Code Section 50-13-13. (3) The scope of the hearing shall be limited to whether the impounding of the animal was authorized by subsection (c) of Code Section 4-11-9.2.
(4) The hearing officer shall, within five business days after such hearing, forward a decision to the person who impounded the animal and the government agency having custody of the animal. (5) If the hearing officer finds that the animal was improperly impounded, the animal shall be returned to the owner and the cost incurred in providing reasonable care and treatment for the animal from the date of impoundment to the date of the order shall be paid by the impounding agency. (6) If the hearing officer finds that the animal was lawfully impounded, the hearing office may: (A) Recommend that the government agency having custody of the animal dispose of the animal as provided in Code Section 4-11-9.6; or
(B) Unless, in a prior administrative or legal action in this state or any other state, the owner has been found to have failed to provide humane care to an animal, committed cruelty to animals, or committed an act prohibited under Code Section 16-12-37 in violation of the laws of this state or of the United States or any of the several states, recommend conditions under which the animal may, upon payment by the owner of all costs of impoundment and care, be returned to the owner. Such conditions shall be reduced to writing and served upon the owner and the government agency having custody of the animal. Such conditions may include, but are not limited to, the following, that: (i) Such animal shall be given humane care and adequate and necessary veterinary services; (ii) Such animal shall not be subjected to mistreatment; and (iii) The owner shall comply with this article.
Disposal of impounded animal
Disposal of impounded animal; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-9.6.
(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 sealed bids, or, if in the opinion of a licensed accredited veterinarian or a veterinarian employed by a state or federal government and approved by the Commissioner such animal has a temperament or condition such that euthanasia is the only reasonable course of action, by humanely disposing of the animal. (b) Any proceeds from the sale of such animal shall be used first to pay the costs associated with the impoundment, including, but not limited to, removal of the animal from the premises, shelter and care of the animal, notice, hearing, and disposition of the animal. Any funds remaining shall: (1) If the owner is unknown or cannot be found, be paid into the state treasury if the animal was impounded by the Commissioner or his or her designated agent or into the treasury of the local government if the animal was impounded by the sheriff, a deputy sheriff, another law enforcement officer, or an animal control officer; or (2) If the owner is known, be paid to the owner. (c) The government agency responsible for conducting the sale shall keep a record of all sales, disbursements, and distributions made under this article.
Notice and reporting required for certain animal diseases
Notice and reporting required for certain animal diseases; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-9.7.
(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 such data be supplied as is deemed necessary and appropriate for the prevention and control of certain diseases and syndromes as are determined by the Commissioner. All such reports and data shall be deemed confidential and shall not be open to inspection by the public; provided, however, that the Commissioner may release such reports and data in statistical form, for valid research purposes, and for other purposes as deemed appropriate by the Commissioner. b) Any person, including, but not limited to, any veterinarian or veterinary diagnostic laboratory and practice personnel and any person associated with any pet dealer, kennel, animal shelter, or stable, submitting reports or data in good faith to the department in compliance with this Code section shall not be liable for any civil damages therefore.
Unlawful acts by licensed persons
Unlawful acts by licensed persons; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-10.
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; (2) Fail to keep the pet dealership premises, animal shelter, kennel, or stable in a good state of repair, in a clean and sanitary condition, adequately ventilated, or disinfected when needed; (3) Fail to provide humane care for any animal; or (4) Fail to take reasonable care to release for sale, trade, or adoption only those animals that appear to be free of disease, injuries, or abnormalities.
Shipment of animals into state without certificates of health
Shipment of animals into state without certificates of health; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-11.
Cooperation with federal government; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-12.
The Commissioner may cooperate with the United States 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 Commissioner may promulgate regulations to facilitate cooperation and avoid any unnecessary duplication or conflict of activities by the department and the Secretary of Agriculture in regulating the activities or areas covered by this article and Public Law 89-544. The regulations may be in addition to other regulations authorized by this article.
Animals raised, kept, or maintained for human consumption
Animals raised, kept, or maintained for human consumption; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-13.
Rules and regulations; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-14.
Injunctions and restraining orders; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-15.
Abandonment of domesticated animal
Abandonment of domesticated animal; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-15.1.
Penalties; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-16.
Filing a report regarding animal cruelty; immunity
Filing a report regarding animal cruelty; immunity; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-17.
(a) Notwithstanding Code Section 24-9-29 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 prohibited under Code Section 16-12-37 may make or cause to be made a report of such violation to the Commissioner, his or her designee, an animal control officer, a law enforcement agency, or a prosecuting attorney and may appear and testify in any judicial or administrative proceeding concerning the care of an animal. (b) Any person participating in the making of a report pursuant to this Code section or participating in any administrative or judicial proceeding pursuant to this article or Title 16 shall, in so doing, be immune from any civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed, provided such participation pursuant to this Code section or any other law is made in good faith.
Article cumulative; does not prohibit enactment and enforcement of local ordinances by municipal or county governing authority
Article cumulative; does not prohibit enactment and enforcement of local ordinances by municipal or county governing authority; O.C.G.A. § 4-11-18.