Kadence Smith and Millie Smith walk their dogs Holly and Charlie in the Whitfield Walk subdivision. Parts of Pike County will be dog restraint districts due to the passage of the animal control ordinance - including all school and government property. Each subdivision’s homeowner’s association may vote whether or not to be part of the dog restraint district.
Animal control laws in effect
Pike County’s new animal control ordinance addresses nuisance dogs, dangerous and vicious dogs, cruelty to animals and vaccinations, among other things.
It includes a $500 fine for dumping or abandoning animals, a $250 fee for dangerous and vicious dog incidents involving pets, $500 for dangerous and vicious dog incidents involving humans and $50 for dogs running at large in designated dog restraint districts.
“This won’t suddenly stop people from seeing strays on roads but we finally have a tool for starting to address some of these issues and chip away at the problem,” said Allen. “It’s going to take time but we needed to do this to move forward with animal control.”
Other fines include $100 for dog nuisance incidents other than excessive noise, $50 for dog noise; $500 for dumping of animals on roadways, abandoning animals on properties and other instances of animal cruelty; $100 for failure to provide proper rabies inoculations and $500 for keeping wild or exotic animals without county approval.
Residents who violate the new law will be issued citations and ordered to appear in magistrate court.
Effective now, the ordinance will create dog restraint districts in which all dogs must be on a leash, heeling by their owner, in a fenced area or vehicle or on a run. Those restraint areas are mandatory in all public areas owned or leased by federal, state or local governments or agencies, including but not limited to schools, parks, recreation fields and all sidewalks and streets in the districts. The restraint district is mandatory for Pike’s two mobile home parks but voluntary for subdivisions based on a vote taken by individual homeowner’s associations.
The 13-page ordinance is designed to preserve and promote public health, safety and welfare of citizens by complying with state regulations of dangerous and vicious dogs and rabies vaccinations and establishing local laws to reduce the number of nuisance issues in Pike.
“We want to make sure citizens know what this is all about. It was written to improve quality of life for citizens and encourage responsible pet ownership,” said Hanson. “We’re going to try to run animal control in a way that’s fiscally responsible.”
A dog will be deemed a public nuisance if it attacks or acts menacing toward citizens, pet or livestock off its owners property; or repeatedly runs at large, causing destruction of personal property, among other criteria.
“Before this passed, the magistrate judge couldn’t handle dangerous, vicious or nuisance dog cases,” said Allen. “Those cases would have to be taken to superior court which is extremely busy. Now, they can be handled in magistrate court which will be a lot more efficient. This will start to address nuisance dogs.”
Violent dogs may be classified as dangerous or vicious dogs following Georgia guidelines.
“The dangerous and vicious dog labels aren’t directed toward any specific breed,” said Hanson. “It’s not a vicious dog or a dangerous dog unless it has shown violent behaviors that violate the code.”
A dog can only be declared dangerous or vicious after a report is filed and the animal control officer’s investigation reveals enough evidence to classify the animal. Dangerous dogs must be certified and owners must pay a fee.
If an owners’ dog has been deemed dangerous or vicious, he or she will receive a letter via certified mail within 72 hours of the determination. The owner has a right to request a hearing within 15 days. It may be scheduled in the next 30 days.
A superior court judge may order the euthanasia of the dog if the court finds the dog has seriously injured a person or presents a danger to humans. Dogs with no documented owner will not get a hearing. If the animal control officer determines they are dangerous or vicious based on their actions, they will be euthanized.
“It’s the responsibility of every dog owner or custodian to properly document their dog as a pet,” reads page 7 of the document. “Every dog that runs at large and does not properly display ownership documentation is a stray.”
Owners of dogs that are determined nuisance dogs after an animal control officer investigation will be given a written warning. Further violations will result in citations. The animal control officer must document the date and approximate time of the dog nuisance incident; the size, color and breed of the dog involved; and confirmation of dog ownership.
“This gives the average citizen a method of addressing issues with dogs that aren’t life or death issues. I think that is a good thing,” said Allen.
The law also requires owners to get rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats and be able to provide proof if their animal is involved with ordinance violations.
Livestock is exempted from ordinance requirements but reports of livestock cruelty will be forwarded to the Department of Agriculture. Citizens who keep wild or exotic animals must be approved for a special exception use of their property.
“This won’t suddenly stop people from seeing strays on roads but we finally have a tool for starting to address some of these issues and chip away at the problem,” said Allen. “It’s going to take time but we needed to do this to move forward with animal control.”
Other fines include $100 for dog nuisance incidents other than excessive noise, $50 for dog noise; $500 for dumping of animals on roadways, abandoning animals on properties and other instances of animal cruelty; $100 for failure to provide proper rabies inoculations and $500 for keeping wild or exotic animals without county approval.
Residents who violate the new law will be issued citations and ordered to appear in magistrate court.
Effective now, the ordinance will create dog restraint districts in which all dogs must be on a leash, heeling by their owner, in a fenced area or vehicle or on a run. Those restraint areas are mandatory in all public areas owned or leased by federal, state or local governments or agencies, including but not limited to schools, parks, recreation fields and all sidewalks and streets in the districts. The restraint district is mandatory for Pike’s two mobile home parks but voluntary for subdivisions based on a vote taken by individual homeowner’s associations.
The 13-page ordinance is designed to preserve and promote public health, safety and welfare of citizens by complying with state regulations of dangerous and vicious dogs and rabies vaccinations and establishing local laws to reduce the number of nuisance issues in Pike.
“We want to make sure citizens know what this is all about. It was written to improve quality of life for citizens and encourage responsible pet ownership,” said Hanson. “We’re going to try to run animal control in a way that’s fiscally responsible.”
A dog will be deemed a public nuisance if it attacks or acts menacing toward citizens, pet or livestock off its owners property; or repeatedly runs at large, causing destruction of personal property, among other criteria.
“Before this passed, the magistrate judge couldn’t handle dangerous, vicious or nuisance dog cases,” said Allen. “Those cases would have to be taken to superior court which is extremely busy. Now, they can be handled in magistrate court which will be a lot more efficient. This will start to address nuisance dogs.”
Violent dogs may be classified as dangerous or vicious dogs following Georgia guidelines.
“The dangerous and vicious dog labels aren’t directed toward any specific breed,” said Hanson. “It’s not a vicious dog or a dangerous dog unless it has shown violent behaviors that violate the code.”
A dog can only be declared dangerous or vicious after a report is filed and the animal control officer’s investigation reveals enough evidence to classify the animal. Dangerous dogs must be certified and owners must pay a fee.
If an owners’ dog has been deemed dangerous or vicious, he or she will receive a letter via certified mail within 72 hours of the determination. The owner has a right to request a hearing within 15 days. It may be scheduled in the next 30 days.
A superior court judge may order the euthanasia of the dog if the court finds the dog has seriously injured a person or presents a danger to humans. Dogs with no documented owner will not get a hearing. If the animal control officer determines they are dangerous or vicious based on their actions, they will be euthanized.
“It’s the responsibility of every dog owner or custodian to properly document their dog as a pet,” reads page 7 of the document. “Every dog that runs at large and does not properly display ownership documentation is a stray.”
Owners of dogs that are determined nuisance dogs after an animal control officer investigation will be given a written warning. Further violations will result in citations. The animal control officer must document the date and approximate time of the dog nuisance incident; the size, color and breed of the dog involved; and confirmation of dog ownership.
“This gives the average citizen a method of addressing issues with dogs that aren’t life or death issues. I think that is a good thing,” said Allen.
The law also requires owners to get rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats and be able to provide proof if their animal is involved with ordinance violations.
Livestock is exempted from ordinance requirements but reports of livestock cruelty will be forwarded to the Department of Agriculture. Citizens who keep wild or exotic animals must be approved for a special exception use of their property.
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