Newton County, GA Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

Newton County Animal Control enforces the microchipping condition under Newton County Code § 8-291, part of Article XI governing impoundment and adoption in unincorporated Newton County. Any animal picked up at-large, surrendered, or otherwise taken into custody may be reclaimed by its owner within three business days (not counting Sundays or county holidays) under § 8-285, but § 8-291(c) adds a further condition: no animal shall be returned unless it has been implanted with an EAID and the owner has paid the county for the implantation.

The owner must also pay all impoundment costs and reclaiming fees set in the county's schedule of fees, and animal control may condition release on a signed contract promising future compliance and proper care. If the animal is never reclaimed, it becomes county property; when animal control later places it for adoption under § 8-292, the same EAID implantation requirement applies to the new owner along with an adoption application, adoption fee, and any vaccination, licensing or veterinary costs. Owners of dogs classified dangerous or vicious face an added microchipping duty: § 8-160(c)(2) makes surgical sterilization and microchipping a condition of the registration certificate required to keep such a dog.

Outside these impoundment, adoption and dangerous-dog contexts, the chapter does not require routine pet owners to microchip a dog or cat; the collar-and-rabies-tag rule of § 8-107 remains the general identification standard for animals that have never been impounded.