Animal Control

Field Services & Animal Control

Douglas County Animal Services provides animal control and field support to ensure public safety, promote animal welfare, and uphold local ordinances. Our Field Services Officers serve as first responders to animal-related concerns, with a focus on education, reunification, and responsible enforcement.

Our Philosophy: Education Over Enforcement

We believe most animal-related issues stem from a lack of information — not intent. Our officers prioritize educating pet owners and community members before issuing citations. We work to build trust, improve compliance, and promote responsible pet ownership through respectful, solution-based interactions.

Free Ride Home Project

Through our Free Ride Home initiative, we return lost pets with microchips or visible ID directly to their owners without a trip to the shelter. This reduces stress on animals, limits shelter overcrowding, and reunites families faster. Owners must have up-to-date contact information on file to qualify.

  • Applies to pets with microchips, collars with ID tags, or rabies tags.
  • Available during normal field service hours.
  • First-time return is free. Repeat incidents may include citations or fees.

Report a Concern (Non-Emergency)

If you need to report a non-emergency animal concern, including strays, nuisance complaints, or welfare concerns, please provide location, animal description, and complaint information to animalcontrol@douglascoutyga.gov. Photo or video evidence is extremely helpful to officers.

Note: For emergencies involving aggressive animals, please call 770-942-5961 or 911 immediately.

Emergency Response & Animal Welfare

Our officers are trained to respond to urgent animal-related calls, including:

  • Injured animals in public areas
  • Aggressive or dangerous animals threatening public safety
  • Sick or suffering stray animals
  • Bite cases and quarantine follow-up

For safety, we ask residents not to approach or attempt to capture sick, injured, or aggressive animals. Report the situation and allow trained professionals to respond.

Wildlife & Rabies Information

Animal Services does not trap or relocate healthy wildlife. Most sightings of raccoons, opossums, foxes, and other wild animals are normal — especially in early morning or evening hours. These animals help control pests and play a vital role in the ecosystem.

When to report wildlife:

  • Unusual behavior (e.g., aggressive, stumbling, disoriented)
  • Wildlife that has had direct contact with a person or pet

All animal bites must be reported immediately to Animal Services for rabies protocol. Rabies is a serious but preventable disease — vaccinations for pets are required by law.