Coweta County Animal Control
91 Selt Road
Newnan, Georgia 30263
770-254-3735 - phone
In case of dog bite or other emergency after 5:00 pm, call 770-254-3728
M-F, 8 am- 5 pm (adoptions begin at 10 am)
Saturday, 10 am - 1 pm
Coweta County Animal Control works with local animal rescue organizations and individuals to try and find loving families for as many homeless and abandoned animals as possible.
Animals currently housed and available for adoption at Coweta County Animal Control
Areas of Control By the Animal Control Department
with Code Section Highlights
PROHIBITED TREATMENT
Article I. In General. Sec. 10-2.
It shall be unlawful for any person, either by commission or omission, to do any of the
following:
(1) Overdrive, overload, overwork, torture, beat, mutilate, kill needlessly, carry or confine in a vehicle in an inhumane manner, or otherwise mistreat, any animal.
(2) Fail to provide any animal with proper food consistent with the normal requirements
and feeding habits of the animal's size, species and breed.
(3) Fail to provide any animal with access to shelter adequate to protect it from all types of weather, 24 hours daily.
(4) Fail to provide any animal access to good and wholesome fresh water at all times.
(5) Abandon any animal.
(6) Intentionally poison any animal.
(7) Allow or promote any fight between animals, or allow or permit any such fight in or
upon any premises in such person's possession or under such person's control.
(8) Allow an animal to be kept in unsanitary conditions.
(9) Keep, confine or transport an animal in other than a humane manner.
(Code 1985, § 5-50)
State law reference-Cruelty to animals, O.C.G.A. § 16-12-4.
VACCINATION
Article II. Sec. 10-31 & 32. Generally, no person shall own, keep or harbor any dog or cat within the county unless such dog or cat is vaccinated as herein provided. (Code 1985, § 5-30)
RESTRAINT
Article III. Sec. 10-61. Maintenance of premises.
An owner of an animal shall maintain such owner's premises in such a manner as not to constitute either a private nuisance (damaging property, excessive barking, etc.) to adjoining property owners or a nuisance to the public generally. Pens in which animals are confined or maintained shall be cleaned regularly so that they are kept free from offensive odors that could disturb any person residing nearby said premises.
Sec. 10-63. Confinement of animals generally.
(a) An owner of a dog or cat, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, residing within any city limit boundaries if cities choose to adopt the ordinance and contract with county to enforce the provisions of this chapter, or in any platted subdivision in which the average lot size is two acres or less shall confine such dog or cat within an adequate fence or enclosure or electronic device or within a house, garage or other building, or shall confine such dog or cat by a chain or leash affixed to the dog's or cat's collar and attached to some substantial stationary object adequate to prevent the dog or cat from running at large. It shall further be the duty of any owner or keeper of any dog or cat regardless of the size of the owner's lot or property, to keep such dog or cat under such control so as to:
(1) Prevent such dog or cat from becoming a danger to persons or property at any location, or trespassing upon another person's property without that person's permission; and
(2) Prevent such dog or cat from running at large upon the streets, roads, sidewalks, alleys, parks or other public places.
(b) Every female dog or cat in heat shall be kept confined in a building or secure enclosure
or in a veterinary clinic or hospital or in a kennel or under control in such a manner that such female dog or cat cannot come into contact with a male dog or cat, except for intentional breeding purposes.
IMPOUNDMENT / ADOPTION
Article V. Sec. 10-121. Impoundment.
(a) Any animal at large or otherwise in violation of the provisions of this chapter may be impounded in the animal shelter in a humane manner, for a period of not less than seven days. If within such time an animal so impounded has not been reclaimed by its owner in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, such animal shall become the absolute property of the animal control authority, which may convey ownership of such animal to any responsible person on such conditions as the animal control authority may prescribe; or the animal control authority may humanely destroy such animal.
Sec. 10-122. Reclaiming impounded animals.
(a) The owner of an animal impounded in the animal shelter may reclaim the animal,
upon presenting evidence satisfactory to the animal control authority of compliance with all provisions of this chapter, and upon payment of fees and charges as hereinafter provided, credited to the account of the animal control authority, and which fees and charges shall not be in lieu of any fine or penalty otherwise provided by law.
(b) Owners of animals impounded for rabies quarantine or for use as evidence in a
criminal prosecution shall pay the actual cost of the animal shelter.
Sec. 10-123. Adoption.
(a) The animal control authority may convey ownership (permit Adoption of) any animal which has become the property of the animal control authority to a responsible person subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by the animal control authority...
ADOPTION FEES*
Kitten - $10
Cat - $15
Puppy - $15
Dog - $20
Other Animals - Fee set by director
*The adoption fees listed above do not include the costs of spaying or neutering, vaccinations or licensing.
An agreement must be signed by the adopter that the animal will receive its spay/neuter within 14 days and its vaccination/shots within seven (7) days after the adoption date. Failure to show proof of the requirements of the agreement can result in a citation being issued and impoundment of the animal.
ENFORCEMENT /PENALTIES
Animal control officers cannot investigate anonymous complaints and require that all complaints be signed. Complainants will be summoned to appear in Magistrate Court to testify when citations are issued. Officers are required to give the name(s) of the complainant when requested by the defendant / violator.
Article VI. Sec. 10-153. Right of Entry
(a) The animal control officers, sheriff's deputies and other enforcement officers of the county are hereby authorized to enter upon any premises or parcel of land for the purpose of seizing and impounding any animal found therein or thereon to be in violation of this chapter, including, but not limited to, an animal that has bitten a person within 10 days.
Coweta County Animal Control Department handles all enforcement and impoundment issues in the unincorporated areas of the county and also for the following municipalities through agreements:
- Haralson
- Moreland
- Sharpsburg
- Turin
The following cities provide their own enforcement of animal control:
- Newnan
- Grantville
- Senoia
- Palmetto
All municipalities except for Palmetto, Grantville, and Senoia use the Coweta County Animal Control facility located at 91 Selt Road for impoundment purposes.
Nuisance Animals and Aggressive Dogs
On February 19, 2008, the County Commissioners responded to complaints of aggressive dogs attacking other animals with an amendment to the animal control ordinance to help deal with these type incidents.
Under Section 10-61.1 Nuisance Animals and Aggressive Dogs. (a) All persons owning or controlling or in possession of an animal within the county shall keep the animal in such a manner so as to not create a nuisance as defined in the this chapter. The owner or, if no owner can be found, the responsible person or the custodian exercising care and control over any dog which causes severe injury or death to another domesticated animal shall be in violation of this code section. (b) The Animal Control Manager has the authority to order the confiscation and holding of any animal that in the opinion of the Manager constitutes a nuisance animal or aggressive dog. The Manager’s decision to confiscate an animal may be appealed to the County Warden who shall set a hearing within 3 business days of written notice of appeal. The County Warden shall investigate the circumstances surrounding the confiscation prior to the hearing and at the hearing shall hear evidence from the owner, responsible person, or custodian . At the conclusion of the hearing, the Warden shall confirm or reverse the Animal Control Manager’s decision to confiscate and hold the animal. (c) Upon finding that an animal is an aggressive dog by the Magistrate Court, the dog’s owner, responsible person or custodian shall be required to (1) confine the dog in a sufficient enclosure and post the said premises where the dog is located with a clearly visible sign warning that there is an aggressive dog located on the premises and (2) shall register the dog with the Animal Control Office. The annual fee for the registration shall be $500.00. The dog shall be registered annually. At the time of registration, a dog control officer shall require evidence from the owner or make investigation as may be necessary to verify that the aggressive dog is continuing to be confined in a proper enclosure that eh owner, responsible person or custodian is continuing to comply with the provisions of this Section.
An aggressive dog is defined as a dog that attacks or fights with another animal, outside the property of the owner or responsible person, and causes severe injury or death to the other animal. A dog which is defending itself or its owner/responsible party from attack shall not constitute an aggressive dog.
DANGEROUS DOGS
State law reference - Dangerous Dog Control Law, O.C.G.A. 4-8-20 et seq.
Article VII (Summarized)
Dangerous dog means any dog that, according to the records of an appropriate authority:
(1) Inflicts a severe injury on a human being without provocation on public or private property at any time after March 31, 1989; or
(2) Aggressively bites, attacks, or endangers the safety of humans without provocation after the dog has been classified as a potentially dangerous dog and after the owner has been notified of such classification. Potentially dangerous dog means any dug that without provocation, bites a human being on public or private property at any time after March 31, 1989. An animal control officer shall nobly the dog's owner of such classification in writing giving the circumstances that formed the officers basis for classification. Within 15 days of the date on the notice the owner shall have the right to request a hearing on the animal control officer's determination that the dog is classified as dangerous or potentially dangerous before the Animal Control Board.
The determination of the animal shall become effective on the day that the owner would have had to request a hearing should one not be requested. When a request for a hearing is requested before the Animal Control Board, a date for hearing shall be set within thirty days. The board shall notify the dog owner in writing of its determination on the matter within 10 days after the hearing.
If your dog is classified as a dangerous dog the following must be done:
A certificate of registration issued to the owner of the dog when
sufficient evidence is shown:
- A proper enclosure sufficient to Confine the dog.
- The posting on the premise clearly visible signs warning that there
is a potentially dangerous dog located on the premises.
- An insurance policy in the amount of $15,000,00 issued by a surety company authorized to do business in the State of Georgia, payable to any person or persons injured by a dangerous dog.
Annual Fee for Potentially Dangerous or Dangerous Dogs.
The annual fee for the certificate of registration shall be $500.00 and
renewed on an annual basis.