Brookhaven, GA Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)

Sec. 5-25 of the Code of the City of Brookhaven, Georgia limits mandatory sterilization to specific groups instead of ordering every pet fixed. First, the owner of a dog or cat that a court of competent jurisdiction declares a classified animal must have it sterilized by a licensed veterinarian within 30 days of the final order. Sec. 5-12(b)(4) backs this up: written evidence that the animal has been sterilized by a licensed veterinarian is one of the documents required before the police chief issues the annual certificate of registration.

Second, the owner and/or qualified adoption facilitator, rescue group or animal shelter must have any dog or cat adopted from the city sterilized. Puppies and kittens must be sterilized within six months of the date of adoption, and adult dogs and cats within 30 days. A qualified organization must be licensed as a shelter by the State of Georgia or be a non-profit under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, with the express mission of facilitating the sterilization and adoption of homeless and unwanted animals, and it provides a copy of its state license or IRS letter to the city on request.

Third, Sec. 5-25(d) provides that unowned, free-roaming cats are vaccinated, sterilized and ear tipped as part of the community cat program. Sec. 5-25(c) sends owners of ferrets to any state law applicable to ferrets, and Sec. 5-32(d)(5) requires potbellied pigs kept under the keeping-of-animals section to be spayed/neutered and vaccinated.

The paperwork side sits in Sec. 5-21(b). Veterinarians must return spay/neutered certificates to the chief of police within 30 days of the date of surgery, and vouchers for city requested sterilization submitted by veterinarians for payment more than one year after the date of surgery are not honored. Sec. 5-1 defines a spay/neuter certificate as documentation that certifies the animal has been sterilized as of the date of surgery.