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

It shall be the duty of the owner of a dog or cat declared to be a classified animal by a court of competent jurisdiction to have the animal sterilized. Such sterilization must be performed by a licensed veterinarian within thirty (30) days of a final order of a court of competent jurisdiction finding that the dog or cat is a classified animal.(b)It shall be the duty of the owner and/or qualified adoption facilitator, rescue group or animal shelter to have a dog or cat adopted from the county sterilized. Puppies and kittens must be sterilized by a licensed veterinarian within six (6) months of the date of adoption. Adult dogs and cats must be sterilized by a licensed veterinarian within thirty (30) days of the date of adoption.(c)Owners of ferrets must comply with any state law applicable to ferrets.(d)Unowned, free-roaming cats shall be vaccinated, sterilized and ear tipped as part of the community cat program. Cats brought into the community cat program are exempt from registration, licensing, and stray animal provisions of this chapter, shall not be deemed abandoned when returned to the location where captured, and as necessary and appropriate, may be exempt from other provisions of this Code applicable to owned animals. (Ord. No. 15-09, Pt. I, 12-15-15)