§ 10-7. Disposal of dead animal.

(a)

Legislative authority. This section is enacted pursuant to the Georgia Constitution and 1967 Ga. Laws (Act No. 19), page 914 (see pt. J, § 1-4) and 1969 Ga. Laws (Act No. 213), page 2486 (see pt. I, §§ 2-38, 2-39).

(b)

Abandonment of dead animals; requirements as to disposal generally.

(1)

It shall be unlawful for any person who owns or is caring for an animal which has died or has been killed to abandon the animal, its parts, or blood. Under no conditions may dead animals be abandoned at any location, including but not limited to, in wells or open pits of any kind on private or public land.

(2)

No person shall dispose of an animal, its parts or blood, by burial on the land of another without the permission of the owner of the land.

(3)

Arrangements for proper burial must be made with a county official in order to dispose of a dead animal in a county landfill.

(c)

Removal and disposition of dead animals within rights of way and on public property. Any other provision of this section to the contrary notwithstanding, it shall be the duty of CCAC and the county department of transportation to remove and dispose of the carcasses of all dead animals found within the rights-of-way of all county roads maintained either totally or in part from county funds.

(d)

Methods of disposal of dead animals. Methods which can be used for disposal of dead animals are burial and incineration in a county approved incinerator. Disposal of animal carcasses by either of the approved methods must be completed within 12 hours after the death or discovery of the carcass unless the carcass is properly refrigerated or frozen.

(1)

If incineration is chosen, the entire carcass must be reduced to ashes in the incineration process only in a county approved incinerator.

(2)

Carcasses which are buried must be buried at least three feet below the ground level, but no more than eight feet, and have not less than three feet of earth over the carcass.

(3)

Mutilation of dead domestic animals is prohibited.

(Code 1977, § 3-5-15.1; Ord. of 5-24-05)

State law reference

Dead Animal Disposal Act, O.C.G.A. § 4-5-1 et seq.