---
title: O.C.G.A. § 4-5-6. Destruction of diseased and disabled animals which have been abandoned.
collection: code
id: 4-5-6
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 4-5-6 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/4-5-6
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/4-5-6.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/4-5-6/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t4-6-(v4)-2013-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=8c0a1199_0#page=73
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/4-5.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/4-5-5.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/4-5-7.md
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 / DISPOSAL OF DISEASED, DISABLED, OR DEAD ANIMALS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 4-5-6. Destruction of diseased and disabled animals which have been abandoned.

For the purpose of putting a speedy end to the suffering of hopelessly diseased and disabled animals, any person finding any abandoned domestic animal which is diseased or injured past recovery may apply to any magistrate of the county, who may summarily decide whether such animal should be destroyed, after giving notice to the owner, if known, whenever such notice can be given without defeating the object of this Code section. The order authorizing the destruction of such animal shall not defeat the owner’s claim for damages against the person destroying or procuring the destruction of such animal.

## History

Ga. L. 1878-79, p. 183, § 2; Code 1882, § 4612(b); Civil Code 1895, § 1755; Civil Code 1910, § 2014; Code 1933, § 62-211; Ga. L. 1983, p. 884, § 4-1.