Savannah, GA Animal Neglect and Cruelty

Type: Municipal Code
Status: Adopted via ordinance in 2007
Source File: http://chathamcounty.org/chatham/uploads/CityAnimalControlOrdAdopted021507.PDF (p. 14)
Text:
Sec 9-5033. Animal Neglect.
A person that is the owner or custodian of any animal may be found to be
guilty of animal neglect by a finding that anyone or more of the following
conditions were allowed to exist;
(a) Lack of immediately available proper drinking water or inadequate
supply of drinkable water.
(b) Lack of wholesome, palatable, and free from contamination food or
sustenance to be provided in sufficient quantity.
(c) Failure to provide an animal sufficient space to stand to full height,
turn around, lay down and make normal postural adjustments for
comfort.
(d) The lack of providing a stationary shelter from weather such as sun,
rain, wind or inclement weather or to maintain said shelter in a clean,
sanitary condition free of excrement and unreasonable objectionable
odors.
(e) Failure to make arrangements for veterinary care, or to have an
animal in possession that is known to or suspected to have an injury,
accidental or deliberate, or to exhibit any signs of disease, shock,
temperature fluctuations, tremors, swelling, open wounds, inability to eat,
blistering or abnormal bleeding, partial paralysis, discharging blood or
mucus.
(Code 2007 §9-5033)
Sec 9-5034. Animal Cruelty.
A person commits an act of animal cruelty when such person causes the
death or unjustified physical pain and suffering of an animal or
maliciously causes the death, physical harm to the animal rendering parts
of the animal useless or seriously disfigured or with knowledge or intent
commits any of the acts set forth in Section 9-5033. This provision shall
not apply to any person euthanizing an animal due to a disease or action
taken to avoid pain and suffering.
(Code 2007 §9-5034)
Sec 9-5035. Tethering.
It shall be prohibited in unincorporated Chatham County or within the
limits of the City to retain or confine to property of dogs or cats in a
manner achieved by tethering to stationary or non-stationary objects
including but not limited to,dog houses, barrels or other stationary objects
as such means of confinement within the property.
(Code 2007, §9-5035)
Sec 9-5036. Animal Transported by Vehicles.
No animals shall be transported on a public rod in an open vehicle
including an open top vehicle or open truck bed unless housed in a
secured container designed for that purpose and having a provision for
adequate ventilation, food and water. Said container shall have an open
grille on one end, and a solid top and bottom and a minimum of 15% total
accumulated side areas incorporated into an open grille for air circulation
provisions.
(Code 2007, §9-5036)
Sec. 9-5037. Animal Confinement and Left Unattended in Parked Cars.
It shall be unlawful to leave an animal unattended in a parked vehicle
without proper ventilation to prevent the animal from suffering physical
distress from dangerous temperatures, lack of food or lack of water.
Savannah-Chatham Animal Control or any other law enforcement shall
take such action as is necessary including entry of the vehicle by any
means to remove an animal from such jeopardy and may impound said
animal and secure medical treatment for said animal as needed at the
owner’s expense. Savannah-Chatham Animal Control officers may take
possession of any deceased animal found in any parked vehicle for
purposes of determining the cause of death in question pursuant to animal
neglect or cruelty of this code.
(Code 2007, §9-5037)
Category:Animals
Category:City-County Governments
Category:Code
Category:Georgia