Lost and Found Pets
If you do find a pet, please bring him or her to the Shelter
-- their owner may be looking for them - please bring with you, our Found Pet Report!
Likewise, if your pet has wandered off, please make a Lost Pet Report with the Shelter, in addition to putting up posters in your area, and searching
for him or her.
Stop by the Shelter, any afternoon, from Noon to 5pm (closed Wednesdays), to place a Lost Pet Report -- you're more than welcomed to fill this Lost Pet Report out before coming in.
As a Special Note, please do not fax,
as additional information and/or questions may be needed!
Thanks!
Paulding County Animal Control
Mission Statement - To enforce those County ordinances applicable to domesticated animals within Paulding
County that fall within the scope of Animal Control. Such enforcement may be through education, warning, citation or arrest.
- To maintain a clean and safe environment for our staff and the animals in our care.
- To release domesticated animals and pets to owners whenever
possible and appropriate, adopt unclaimed domesticated animals and pets to new owners and humanely euthanize those animals
and pets who are not reclaimed or adopted or suitable for reclamation or adoption.
- To help educate the public about responsible pet ownership.
- To support emergency management and disaster operations within Paulding County where those operations involve assistance
in providing for the temporary care and sheltering of animals.
What We Do The Animal
Control Division responds to citizen requests within Paulding County involving domestic animals. Domestic animals include
all animals that are legal under Georgia law to be kept by citizens as pets.
We do not respond to calls involving
wild animals, such as deer, raccoon, bear and other non-domesticated wildlife. The State of Georgia Department of Natural
Resources responds to calls involving wildlife.
The
Animal Control Division has numerous pets available for adoption. We encourage you to visit our facility to look at the wonderful
animals available for adoption prior to selecting your new pet elsewhere. We also encourage you to select a new pet from the
Humane Society or a reputable pet rescue organization.
Our Main Operational Objectives - Answer complaints concerning stray domestic animals and/or leash law violations
- Advise pet owners of county animal control laws
- Serve
citations to ordinance violators
- Investigate animal cruelty
calls and take appropriate measures to correct situations
- Handle
lost and found animal complaints
- Adopt unwanted or unclaimed
animals to new homes
- Respond to animal bites to humans
- Ensure animals that bite a human are quarantined for rabies observation for 10
days
- Ensure shipment of specimens to the CDC laboratory for
rabies testing
- Investigate possible rabid animals
- Euthanize unwanted or unclaimed animals
Other Services Provided
Adoption: Adoption fees are $35.00 and include a distemper shot and
“homeagain” microchip.
Microchips offered at shelter:
All animals adopted by Animal Shelter have a microchip inserted in the skin on the shoulder blades. This chip is a permanent
means of identification that cannot be lost like a tag. If an animal with a chip comes into a shelter or is taken into a veterinarian’s
office, a scanner can be passed over the animal and the scanner will pick up a number.
The number is registered through the microchip company to the pet owner. This way an owner can be located and
that pet can be reunited with the owner. Any citizen of Paulding County can come into the shelter and receive a microchip
for their pet for a charge of only $10.00. This will go a long way in reducing our euthanasia rates by being able to get these
animals back home where they belong. We have had two miracle stories that sold us on the importance of the microchip:
- There was a dog brought into the shelter as a stray.
The animal was not wearing a collar and its chances of being adopted seemed slim. Fortunately, the dog had a microchip and
when the owner was contacted, it turned out they lived on the east of Six Flags and the dog had been missing for three weeks.
Had it not been for that chip we would have never known who owned that dog.
- A cat was brought in as a stray and the microchip was traced. It turned out that the owner had been searching for
their pet for two years.
Project Catsnip: Project Catsnip is a mobile spay/neuter unit that
visits shelters across Metro Atlanta. They provide low cost spay/neuter for cats. Female cats are $50.00 and Male cats are
$30.00 each surgery fee includes a distemper shot and a rabies vaccine. Participants are instructed to follow up with the
veterinarian of their choice for continued health care of their pet. On their first visit to our shelter in 2002, 35 cats
were spayed or neutered. On the second visit, 45 were done. This inevitably made an impact on the number of kittens brought
into the shelter the following summer. The need for spay and neuter: Though Project Catsnip is making a small dent in the
over population problem, pet owners need to make an effort to spay and neuter their pets. Anyone with an unaltered pet runs
the risk of adding to the already out of control number of unwanted pets in Paulding County.
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Rabies clinics: In a partnership
effort with the Humane Society and the Georgia Department of Human Resources-Division of Public Health, we offer rabies vaccinations
for pets at reduced cost. Watch local papers for upcoming date and times for clinics. Cost for vaccination is
only $5.00.
A
note on services we offer: Services like Project Catsnip (spay/neuter) and Rabies Clinics are offered so that
citizens who might not otherwise be able to afford such services can still get their pet spayed/neutered and vaccinated against
rabies.
These services are designed to help
manage over population and rabies to the extent that they do not become public health and nuisance issues.
They are not intended as substitutions for veterinary care. Responsible pet ownership includes taking your pet to
a veterinarian at least once a year for a check-up; as well as talking with your veterinarian about needed vaccinations, tests,
medications and treatments. There are a number of very good veterinarians in the county that can help you and your pet
enjoy a long time together.
What You Can Do - Make sure your pets are spayed/neutered and vaccinated.
- Make sure
your pet gets proper medical care and routine examinations.
- Make sure your pet has an adequate supply of food and
water. Non-agricultural animals (examples: cats and dogs) must be provided with a shelter. Ideally, cats should be kept as
indoor-only pets.
- Make sure your pet is under your control--preferably contained within a fenced area.
- Be
considerate of your neighbors regarding your pet’s behavior.
- Consider obedience training classes for behavior
problems.
- Obey your county and/or city animal control ordinances.
- Keep your pets for the duration of their
life.
- Look for your lost pet immediately at the shelter.
Frequently
Asked Questions
Does Paulding County have a leash law? Yes, although the ordinance is not technically a “leash
law”, there are containment laws that govern pet owners in the county. This ordinance does not specify that the animal
must be tied up or inside in a fence at all times (which allows owners to use products such as ‘invisible fence’.
Basically, all pets must be kept on the pet owners property at all times. If the pet leaves the property
it must be secured by a leash.
Are
cats covered under the containment ordinance? Yes, cats and all domestic animals must be kept on the
owner’s property, just like dogs. This best way to keep cats on your property is to keep them indoors. Some people choose
to build pens (with tops) to let their cats enjoy the great outdoors safely.
What about livestock and fowl? All farm animals such as cows,
horses, goats, sheep, pigs, etc. must be contained inside a fenced area (i.e.: pen, fenced pasture) at all times.
Is there a limit to the
number of animals you can own in Paulding County? There is no limit to the number of animals a household
can have, given that the animals are kept in a humane environment and do not become a nuisance to neighbors by either causing
offensive odors or disturbing noises.
Does Paulding have an animal noise ordinance? Yes, we do have a noise ordinance. This
ordinance states that an animal should not be allowed to bark for longer than 15 consecutive minutes where such noise can
be heard over a residential or commercial boundary line.
The complainant must gather evidence to support their
claim that the animal in question is indeed violating the ordinance. This evidence must be in the form of a videotape or audiotape
(with witnesses for audiotape evidence) and must be submitted to Animal Control in accordance with the ordinance.
Anyone wishing to file a noise complaint can come to the animal shelter during normal business hours and pick up a “noise
compliant packet”. This packet will have instruction and documents needed to file a noise complaint.
Who do we call for nuisance wildlife problems?
Paulding County Animal Control’s purpose and the purpose of the County’s animal-related ordinances are to address
problems arising with the domestic animal population in Paulding County.
We generally will answer a wildlife animal
call only when a wild animal poses a rabies risk to either domestic animals or humans. Many species of wildlife are
native to our area and are one of the things that make Paulding such a wonderful place to live.
Unfortunately,
with human population growth many of these animals are displaced and looking for new homes. It is not uncommon to see animals
that are, by nature nocturnal, traveling during the day simply out of necessity. If these animals appear healthy and afraid
of you, you should leave them alone and allow them to move on.
In the case where wild animals need help relocating
or are becoming a nuisance, the Department of Natural Resources may be able to assist. Their number is (706) 295-6041. A licensed
trapper can also assist with the humane removal of unwelcome wild animals. Check the telephone directory (under “Animal
Removal Service” and “Pest Control Services”) for a listing in your area.
What about snakes? As snakes are also wild animals we do not
remove or attempt to control the snake population in Paulding. A licensed trapper can assist you in the removal and identification
of snakes on your property; but please remember, snakes are part of the ecosystem and are very helpful with rodent control.
Check the telephone directory (under “Animal Removal Service” and “Pest Control Services”) for a listing
in your area.
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