Dougherty County, GA Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

The county's running-at-large ordinance, enacted by Resolution No. 25-018 on April 21, 2025 and codified at Sec. 5-23, makes it the duty of an owner or anyone in possession of an animal to keep it under control whenever it is off the real property limits of the owner, possessor, or custodian. 'Under control' means the animal is confined in a vehicle, secured by a leash, lead, or other device held by a competent person, or properly confined in an enclosure with the property owner's permission; trained hunting, herding, or working dogs may instead be kept under voice control on private property with the landowner's express permission.

Subsection (b) separately bars tying, staking, or fastening any animal in a street, alley, sidewalk, or other public place, or in a way that lets it reach one. Every animal must be restrained so it cannot chase vehicles or attack people or other domestic animals. Liability is strict: under subsection (d) the owner or custodian of an animal proven to be at large is in violation regardless of the precautions taken to prevent the escape and regardless of the owner's knowledge that the animal got loose.

Subsection (e) lets an animal services officer or authorized representative impound any animal found at large. Separately, Sec. 5-27 bans using a tether, chain, cable, rope, or cord as a dog's primary restraint; a tethered dog must stay in its owner's immediate physical presence and line of sight, on a properly fitted collar or harness, and the tether cannot weigh more than ten percent of the dog's body weight. The county's 'leash or lead' definition in Sec. 5-22 caps a standard restraint at six feet, though a longer or retractable lead is allowed while exercising or training if it does not interfere with public use of the area.