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Statute Name
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Citation
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Summary
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GA - Bite - Vicious animals, liability for injuries caused by
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GA ST § 51-2-7
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This Georgia statute represents the state's relevant dog bite strict liability law. While the law imposes strict liability for injury to a person, the dog (or other animal) must first be considered "vicious" or "dangerous," which can be as simple as showing the animal was required to be leashed per city ordinance. Second, the animal must be at large by the careless management of the owner. Finally, the person injured must not have provoked the animal into attacking him or her.
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GA - Cruelty - Animal Protection Act
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GA ST § 4-11-1 - 4-11-18
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The Georgia Animal Protection Act was passed in 2000 and provides for jail up to one year for general cruelty convictions and up to five years for an aggravated cruelty conviction. The judge is also allowed to order psychological counseling. The law also encompasses licensing provisions for kennels and impoundment provisions.
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GA - Cruelty - Cruelty to Animals
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GA ST § 16-12-4; GA ST § 16-6-6
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This statute comprises the Georgia anti-cruelty statute. Under the statute, "animal" does not include any fish or any pest that might be exterminated or removed. A person commits the offense of cruelty to animals when he or she causes death or unjustifiable physical pain or suffering to any animal by an act, an omission, or willful neglect. Any person convicted of a violation of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, but subsequent convictions incur enhanced penalties. A person commits the offense of aggravated cruelty to animals when he or she knowingly and maliciously causes death or physical harm to an animal by rendering a part of such animal's body useless or by seriously disfiguring such animal. Exclusions include accepted animal husbandry practices, zoological practices, hunting, trapping, scientific research, and animal exhibitions, among others.
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GA - Dog - Georgia Consolidated Dog Laws
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GA ST § 4-8-1 - 4-8-45
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These Georgia statutes comprise the state's dog laws and the "Dangerous Dog Control Law.". Among the provisions of the Dangerous Dog Control Law include a requirement for registration of dangerous dogs as well as the necessity of such owner to carry at least $15,000 in liability insurance. Owners of these dogs who do not comply with these and other provisions may have their dogs confiscated and destroyed.
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GA - Dog - Georgia's Assistance Animal/Guide Dog Laws
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GA ST § 30-4-2 - 4; GA ST § 40-6-94; GA ST § 16-12-120; GA ST § 16-11-107.1
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The following statutes comprise the state's relevant assistance animal and guide dog laws.
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GA - Dogfighting - § 16-12-37. Dogfighting
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GA ST § 16-12-37
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Georgia's dogfighting statute states that any person who owns, possesses, trains, transports, or sells any dog with the intent that such dog shall be engaged in fighting with another dog, wagers money or anything of value on the result of such dogfighting, knowingly permits dogfighting on his or her premises, knowingly promotes or advertises an exhibition of fighting commits the offense of dogfighting. Violation of the law is a felony, with a mandatory fine of $5,000.00 or a mandatory fine of $5,000.00 in addition to imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than five years. On a second or subsequent conviction, such person shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than one nor more than ten years, a fine of not less than $15,000.00, or both such fine and imprisonment. Any person who is knowingly present only as a spectator at any place for the fighting of dogs shall, upon a first conviction thereof, be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.
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GA - Endangered Wildlife Act of 1973
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GA ST §§ 27-3-130 - 133
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These statutes provide for the definition of "protected" species and outline the duties of the board responsible for enforcing Georgia's endangered species law. Included in the Board's duties are inventorying and designating listed species and promulgating regulations. Violation of these regulations results in a misdemeanor.
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GA - Horse - Equine Liability Act
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GA ST §§ 4-12-1 - 5
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This act stipulates that an equine sponsor or professional, or a llama sponsor or professional, or any other person, including corporations, are immune from liability for the death or injury of a participant, which resulted from the inherent risks of equine or llama activities. However, there are exceptions to this rule: A person will be held liable for injuries if they display a willful and wanton or intentional disregard for the safety of the participant and if they fail to make reasonable and prudent efforts in ensuring the safety of the participant.
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GA - Hunting - Hunting, possessing, or transporting birds generally
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Ga. Code Ann. § 27-3-22
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Georgia is unique insofar as it prohibits the killing, possession, sale, and transporting of eagles and other migratory birds except for the transportation of feathers into the state of non-migratory birds for millinery purposes (the making of hats or headdresses). For discussion of federal Eagle Act, see Detailed Discussion.
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GA - Hunting - Shooting of any wild animal held under wild animal permit or farmed deer
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GA ST 27-5-12
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Under this Georgia statute, it is unlawful to shoot, kill, or wound any wild animal held under a wild animal license or permit or any farmed deer for enjoyment, gain, amusement, or sport.
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GA - Initiatives and Referendums - 2006 Amendment 2: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide that the tradition of fishing and hunting
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2006 Georgia Amendment 2 (ballot initiative)
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This Georgia constitutional amendment was presented to voters on the 2006 ballot. The measure preserves the state's tradition of hunting and fishing for the public good. Amendment 2 passed by a margin of 81 to 19%.
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GA - Ordinances - Construction (dangerous dog ordinances)
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GA ST § 4-8-29
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This Georgia statute states that local governing units may enact more stringent dangerous dogs laws than are provided by state statute. In other words, the state laws provide the minimum standards and requirements for the control of dangerous dogs and potentially dangerous dogs as well as proscribe violations of such minimum standards and requirements. However, this article shall not supersede or invalidate existing ordinances or resolutions of local governments or prohibit local governments from adopting and enforcing ordinances or resolutions which provide for more restrictive control of dogs.
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GA - Ordinances - Jurisdiction and duties of local governments
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GA ST § 4-8-22
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This Georgia statute provides authority for local governing units to establish a dog pound, contract with other local governing units for dog control services, employ a dog control officer, and to hold hearings regarding dog ordinances.
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GA - Ordinances - Lincoln County and Savannah Animal Control Ordinances
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Lincoln County and Savannah
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These ordinances comprise the municipalities of Lincoln County and Savannah, Georgia's animal control provisions.
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GA - Veterinary - Veterinary Practice Code
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GA ST § 43-50-1 - 71
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These are the state's veterinary practice laws. Among the provisions include licensing requirements, laws concerning the state veterinary board, veterinary records laws, and the laws governing disciplinary actions for impaired or incompetent practitioners. The chapter was recently amended in 2006.
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