§ 4-89. Humane treatment required.

(a)

Adequate food, water, shelter and veterinary care. No person, corporation or other entity having an animal in its possession or control, shall fail to provide the animal adequate food, water, shelter and adequate protection from the elements. Veterinary care, when needed, to prevent suffering to the animal, shall be provided and, further, the animal, shall be treated with humane care at all times.

(b)

Physical abuse; animal fights. No person shall beat, ill treat, torment, overload, overwork, or otherwise abuse an animal, or cause, instigate, or permit combat between animals or fowl.

(c)

Abandonment. No person or corporate entity having an animal in its possession or control shall abandon the animal on public or private property. Any person in violation of this subsection shall receive a fine of not less than $500.00 and not to exceed $1,000.00 or confinement for 60 days, or both, for a first and all subsequent offenses.

(d)

Poisoning. No person shall expose any known poisonous substance, whether mixed with food or not, so that the same shall be liable to be eaten by any animal. It shall not be unlawful for a person to expose on his property common rat and insect poisons.

(e)

Trapping. No person shall use steel-jawed leghold traps for the trapping of animals without any required written permit obtained from the appropriate state or federal government agency.

(f)

Leaving animals unattended in vehicles. As a condition of entering the City, all who enter shall be deemed to have consented to such reasonable means or force necessary to cause removal of such animals left unattended in a closed vehicle. A vehicle is considered closed regardless of whether vehicle windows are open. No action at law or equity or claim for or damages shall lie against the City, Newton County, or its officers in connection with lawful enforcement of this section.

(g)

Tethering of animals riding in open vehicles. A leash must restrain any animal that is kept in the back of an open truck or a convertible car. Such a leash must be of the size and length to restrict the animal within the confines of the car or bed of the truck and to prohibit the animal from jumping out over the side or back of such vehicles.

(h)

Causing suffering or death by intentional cruelty or willful neglect. No person shall commit the offense of cruelty to animals by causing death or unjustifiable physical pain or suffering to any animal by an act, an omission, or willful neglect. The offense of cruelty to animals is also punishable under state law.

(i)

Penalties and enforcement. Except as otherwise provided above with regard to animal abandonment, any person, corporation or other legal entity violating any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to the general penalties provided in this chapter.

(j)

Impoundment of animals. Any animal treated in violation of the provisions set forth in this section may be impounded immediately and examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

(Ord. of 4-2-2012(13), § 1(30-101(3)))

State law reference

Animal protection, O.C.G.A. § 4-11-1 et seq.; performing cruel acts on, harming, maiming or killing dogs, O.C.G.A. § 4-8-1.