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

Section 14-72 sits in the impoundment, redemption and adoption division of Chapter 14, and its mandate is tied to animals that Cobb County Animal Control (CCAC) releases after impoundment or surrender. It does not print a sterilization requirement for privately owned animals in general.

Subsection (a) protects owners first: no impounded animal is neutered or spayed without the owner's consent until the redemption period has expired, except an animal that a licensed veterinarian says must be sterilized to save its life. Once the period of impoundment has expired, or the animal was voluntarily surrendered, subsection (b) has CCAC accomplish sterilization in one of two ways. Either CCAC requires the adopter to sign a binding agreement to sterilize within a set period, being 30 days from adoption for an animal over six months old, or within the first six months of age for a sexually immature animal, or CCAC sterilizes the animal before adoption. If a veterinarian certifies that disease or a medical condition prevents surgery, the animal is sterilized on recovery or as soon as the veterinarian recommends.

The adopter carries the paperwork burden. Subsection (c) requires proof of sterilization to CCAC within seven days of surgery, and the adopter is not relieved until the operating veterinarian certifies the surgery to CCAC, or certifies in writing that the animal died. Under subsection (d), any adopted animal not sterilized in the time specified can be reclaimed by CCAC, and § 14-68(a)(2) adds that the owner of an adopted animal that was not sterilized per the adoption agreement can be barred from reclaiming it.

Two other provisions touch sterilization. Section 14-15 conditions ferret ownership on spaying or neutering before seven months of age, and § 14-11(a)(5) requires a female dog or cat in heat to be confined away from intact males except for planned breeding.