§ 46-1. Cruelty to animals.

(a)

It shall be unlawful for any person to overload, cruelly treat, maim, bruise, deprive of necessary sustenance, ill use, or in any manner whatsoever torture or abuse any animal.

(b)

Pursuant to agreements between Fulton County, City of Atlanta, other cities in Fulton County, Fulton County Board of Health, and the Atlanta Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Inc., a nonprofit corporation, hereinafter referred to as SPCA, for the enforcement of the provisions of the Fulton County Health Code pertaining to rabies control, employees of SPCA who are appointed as deputy sheriffs of Fulton County by the Fulton County Sheriff shall be empowered to issue citations or make arrests in the enforcement of this section in addition to other law enforcement officers.

(c)

Any person who violates any provision of subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Each and every violation of the provisions of this section shall constitute a separate offense.

(Code 1983, §§ 34-1-1, 34-1-2)

State law reference

Cruelty to animals, O.C.G.A. § 16-12-4; 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).