Department of Public Safety   Animal Control Division

779 Industrial Blvd. N.
Dallas, Ga. 30132

Office:  770.445.1511
Fax:  770.505.1368

Facility Hours, Open to the Public

   Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday:       12pm-5pm

Wednesday: Closed

Saturday: 12pm-5pm

Sunday: 12pm-5pm

Closed on county-recognized holidays

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 $20.00. 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.
• 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.

Links

Paulding Humane Society

Paulding County Animal Control Ordinances

Georgia Department of Human Resources- Division of Public Health

Georgia Rabies Control Manual