Senate Bill 590
By: Senators Summers of the 13th, Albers of the 56th, Goodman of the 8th, Robertson of the
29th, Hodges of the 3rd and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to animal protection generally, so as to strengthen protections for dogs possessed for
breeding purposes; to provide a definition; to expand minimum standards of care applicable
to dog breeders; to limit the total number of dogs that may be possessed for breeding
purposes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
animal protection generally, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:
<ins>"4-11-10.2.
(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'dog breeder' means any person who:
(1) Sells or offers for sale any offspring of dogs bred or produced by such person,
regardless of whether such person also sells or offers for sale other animals; or
(2) Exercises custody, control, possession, or ownership of more than four intact female
dogs for the purpose of breeding and selling or offering for sale the offspring of such
dogs.
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<ins>(b) A dog breeder shall, in addition to any other requirements set forth in this chapter, at
minimum provide each dog for which such breeder exercises custody, control, possession,
or ownership of with:
(1) Adequate housing, including, but not limited to, ensuring that the primary enclosure
of each dog:
(A) Is sufficient in size to permit the dog to lie down while fully extended without the
head, face, tail, legs, or feet of such dog touching the sides of the enclosure or touching
any other animal in the enclosure;
(B) Has an interior height that is at least six inches higher than the head of the dog
when such dog is in a normal standing position;
(C) Is at least three times the length and width of the dog, from tip of nose to base of
tail and shoulder blade to shoulder blade;
(D) Provides access to suitable shelter, including, but not limited to, shelter that:
(i) Is not an open structure or only covered by a tarp or similar material;
(ii) Allows the dog to remain dry during rain or snow and protects such dog from
wind and excessive heat or cold, including, but not limited to, providing sufficient and
clean bedding material; and
(iii) Provides sufficient shade to protect the dog from overheating or other direct
effects of the sun.
(2) Veterinary care that a prudent veterinarian would provide to a dog for the purpose of
preventing, diagnosing, or treating an illness, injury, or disease or its symptoms in a
manner that is:
(A) In accordance with generally accepted standards of the practice of veterinary
medicine;
(B) Appropriate in terms of type, frequency, extent, site, and duration; and
(C) Not primarily for the economic benefit of the veterinarian;
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<ins>(3) Regular exercise which is sufficient and appropriate for the particular breed of dog;
and
(4) Rest and recovery between breeding cycles in accordance with generally accepted
dog breeding standards.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this chapter, no person shall exercise
custody, control, possession, or ownership of more than 30 dogs for the purpose of
breeding and selling or offering for sale the offspring of such dogs."
</ins> SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.