Animal Welfare and Enforcement works to enforce state and local laws and endeavors to protect the health and safety of Gwinnett’s residents and animals, so they can co-exist. The Gwinnett County Animal Control Ordinance, which is in compliance with the state of Georgia’s Responsible Dog Owners Act, includes information on cruelty, tethering, neglect, rabies, and much more.

Animal Welfare and Enforcement will issue citations for situations that violate the Gwinnett County Animal Control Ordinance. Animal Welfare and Enforcement is not required to give a warning before issuing a citation; however, when possible, efforts are made to seek a resolution before court action occurs.

If your pet damages property or injures another animal or a human, you can be subject to criminal and/or civil legal action. If you receive a citation for violating a law, you may have to pay restitution and a court fine at your hearing.

Occasionally, a resident may receive a warning card as notification of a potential Animal Control Ordinance violation or complaint. Opportunities are offered to correct a violation whenever possible before court action occurs. Call 770.339.3200 for details of the complaint.

For those wanting to pay their citation fine before the court date, call the Recorder’s Court at 770.619.6100. If the citation specifies a city court, contact the city court for information.

Dog leash

• It is unlawful for any owner or possessor of any dog to fail to keep the dog under restraint or control as provided in section 10-71 – Restraint of Dogs in the Gwinnett County ordinance.  
• To request a leash law letter be sent, call 770.339.3200.

Tethering
It is unlawful to tether an animal outdoors except when ALL the following conditions are met:

• The animal is at least six months old and not sick or injured.
• The owner or adult custodian of the animal must be outside at all times with the animal, and the animal must be visible to the owner. 
• Tethering an animal by a trolley system is the only approved form of tether. Only one animal may be attached to each trolley system.
• Any cable attached to the trolley system and the animal must be a minimum of ten feet and shall not allow the animal to come within five feet of the edge of the property line. The trolley system must be a minimum of ten feet in length and mounted no more than seven feet above ground level. Tethers must be made of a substance that the animal cannot chew, not weigh more than 5% of the animal's body weight and have a swivel on each end. The length of the tether from the trolley system to the animal's collar should allow access to the maximum available exercise area and will enable the animal free access to food, water, and shelter.
• The animal must be attached to the tether by a properly fitted harness or collar with enough room for two fingers to fit. Choke collars and pinch collars are prohibited to tether an animal.
• The trolley system must be a sufficient distance from other objects or animals to prohibit cables from tangling or extending over an object to cause strangulation or injury.
• The animal is not outside during extreme weather, including, but not limited to, extreme heat or near-freezing temperatures or storms.

Call or text 911 for any serious animal bite incidents or incidents involving potentially rabid animals, so a report can be filed.

The owners of animals involved in bite cases are required to quarantine their pet at a veterinarian, animal hospital, or approved boarding facility for 10 days from the date of the bite as required by Gwinnett County Animal Control Ordinance.

In bite report cases, the victim and animal owner will be notified of the conclusion of the mandatory quarantine period and/or the results of rabies testing. Potentially rabid or vicious animals are not available for adoption.