Hall County, Humane Society partner on pet education initiative during “dog days” of summer

Hall County is officially in the dog days of summer, a good time to remind residents of some dos and
don’ts when it comes to keeping pets safe.

“I think the people of Hall County truly have a heart for animals and want to do what’s in the best interest of pets; however, I’m not sure everyone is aware of what the local ordinances say when it
comes to animal safety,” said Stephanie Loden, program coordinator for Hall County Animal Services. That’s exactly why Hall County officials and representatives of the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia (HSNEGA) decided to band together to spread the word about some of the County’s most frequently violated animal ordinances and encourage the community to do their part.

“Did you know that there are only six Animal Control officers for our entire county? That’s why we want to work with the community—alongside partner agencies like Hall County Animal Shelter—to help educate the public about how to best care for our four-legged friends. We are all better when we work together. ” said Allison Mayfield, HSNEGA CEO.

Loden said the top five most commonly violated animal ordinances include:
1. Failure to keep an animal under control or restraint (Hall County Code Section: 410.200)
2. Failure to display a current rabies vaccination tag (Hall County Code Section: 410.210)
3. Loud and continued barking (Hall County Code Section: 410.270)
4. Animal abuse or neglect (Hall County Code Section: 410.300)
5. Violation of the anti-tethering law (Hall County Code Section: 410-320- sec D)

“It is against the law to tether an animal to a tree for any extended amount of time, it’s not okay to let a dog bark without checking on their welfare, and it’s never okay to treat an animal badly,” she said.  Since animals can’t report this type of treatment to authorities, it’s important for citizens to speak on behalf of the animals in our area.

“It’s the old adage, ‘if you see something, say something,’” said Marci Knauss, HSNEGA board member. “We have to be their voice so that we can live better together.”

Residents can help by educating their fellow citizens or reporting animal ordinance violations online by clicking the “Report A Concern” button on the homepage of Hall County’s website, hallcounty.org. Citizens can report the violations anonymously if they so choose.

“Together, we can help hold one another accountable and make Hall County a safer place for our furry friends,” said Loden.

For more information about pet safety and/or pet adoptions, log on to www.hallcounty.org/animalservices or www.humanesocietyofnortheastgeorgia.org.