Georgia Animal Shelter Resources
What are animal shelters in Georgia required to do? What are they prohibited from doing? How do you find out if these things are being done and who do you contact if they're not?
Here are resources to help you learn what's required through laws and regulations, gather information through open records requests, and see policies and protocols currently in place at other shelters to use as samples/models for proposals.
Requirements
State statutes outline requirements for all Georgia shelters and local ordinances can specify more. Here's a basic list of state requirements for shelters along with links to statutes and regulations - be sure to check your county and city's ordinances for further requirements:
Georgia Animal Protection Act
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License
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All animal shelters must be licensed by the Department of Agriculture - licenses are good for one year and are renewable annually, click here to look up licenses by city or county.
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The license must be 'prominently displayed' at the shelter
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Euthanasia
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Permitted substances are outlined in the Georgia Animal Protection Act and are to be used in the following order of preference:
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Intravenous injection (the 'IV' method)
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Intraperitoneal injection (the 'IP' method)
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Intracardial injection (the 'IC' method, sometimes called 'heart stick') - this method can ONLY be used if the dog or cat is unconscious
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A dog or cat MAY be tranquilized prior to euthanasia but its use is NOT required
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Lay people can perform euthanasia if properly trained and under the supervision of a licensed vet or physician (but the vet or physician is NOT required to be present when euthanasia is performed)
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