---
title: O.C.G.A. § 4-1-7. Investigation prior to charges of cruelty to animals in animal husbandry.
collection: code
id: 4-1-7
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 4-1-7 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/4-1-7
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/4-1-7.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/4-1-7/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t4-6-(v4)-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=e24c7bd9_0#page=5
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/4-1.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/4-1-6.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: ANIMALS / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 4-1-7. Investigation prior to charges of cruelty to animals in animal husbandry.

Prior to the filing of criminal charges for a violation under Code Section 16-12-4 with regard to conduct involving animal husbandry of food animals, a law enforcement officer shall consult with a licensed and accredited Category II veterinarian employed by the department or other agency of the State of Georgia whose primary practice and responsibilities are food animal veterinary medicine to confirm whether or not such conduct is in accordance with customary and standard practice. For purposes of this Code section, the term “food animal” means any animal that is raised for the production of an edible product intended for consumption by humans or is itself intended for consumption by humans. Such term shall include, but is not limited to, eggs, beef or dairy cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, nonornamental fish, and any other animal designated by such veterinarian as a food animal.

## History

Code 1981, § 4-1-7, enacted by Ga. L. 2018, p. 770, § 1/HB 956.

## Effective Date

This Code section became effective July 1, 2018.