§ 34-197. Penalties for violation of article.

(a)

Any person who does anything prohibited or fails to do anything required by this article, upon conviction of the violation in a court of competent jurisdiction, shall be subject to fine, imprisonment, or any combination thereof, in accordance with section 1-8 of this Code. Each act or omission in violation of this article shall constitute a separate offense. Where any offense or violation continues from day to day, each day's continuance thereof shall be deemed a separate offense.

(b)

For any violation of this article, the court may impose the following conditions in any combination thereof:

(1)

Prohibit the offender from owning, possessing, or having on the offender's premises in Fulton County any animal during the term of the sentence;

(2)

Require that the animal be removed from Fulton County;

(3)

Require that the animal be surrendered to the animal control shelter;

(4)

Require that the animal be humanely euthanized;

(5)

Require payment of restitution to the victim(s);

(6)

Require payment of costs for impound, housing, veterinary care, and humane euthanasia.

(c)

Any person who violates the provisions of this article as it pertains to a public nuisance animal shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined pursuant to section 1-8 of this Code, and in addition shall be fined not less than an additional $250.00 for a second conviction, and not less than an additional $500.00 for a third conviction.

(d)

Any person who violates the provisions of this article as it pertains to a dangerous dog shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined pursuant to section 1-8 of this Code, and in addition shall be fined not less than an additional $500.00 for a second conviction, and not less than an additional $750.00 for a third conviction or subsequent conviction.

(e)

If the owner of a dangerous or vicious dog fails to comply with section 34-281 or section 34-284 of this article and his/her dog attacks or bites a human, or if the owner of a dangerous or vicious dog knowingly and willfully fails to comply with section 34-281 or section 34-284 of this article and his/her dog aggressively attacks and causes severe injury to or the death of a human, in addition to any penalties provided in this Code or state law, the animal control officer shall immediately confiscate the dog and place it in quarantine for a period of time as provided by the health department and thereafter the dog may be humanely destroyed.

(f)

If any person or organization violates section 34-213 or 34-214 of this article, in addition to any penalties provided in this Code or state law, that person or organization shall be fined up to $500.00 for each dog or cat sold, exchanged, bartered, offered for sale, auctioned, delivered, or transferred in violation of this article.

(91-RC-441, § V, 8-21-91; 16-0469, Exh. 1, 6-1-16; 16-0728, Exh. A, 9-7-16; 18-0340, Att. A, 5-16-18; 18-0896, 1-9-19)

State law reference

Punishment for misdemeanors generally, O.C.G.A. § 17-10-3; maximum punishments which may be imposed for violations of county ordinances, O.C.G.A. § 36-1-20(b).