Animal Control in Atlanta, GA: Who to Call and What to Do

If you search for “Animal Control Atlanta GA”, you’re usually dealing with a loose pet, a stray dog, a wild animal on your property, or an emergency like a bite. In Atlanta, different agencies handle different situations, and knowing who to contact can save you time and stress.

This guide walks you through how animal control works in Atlanta, what services are available, and what to do in common real-life scenarios.

Key Animal Control Contacts in Atlanta

Here is a quick overview of the main public animal control resources that serve Atlanta residents:

How Animal Control Works in Atlanta

City vs. County Responsibilities

If you live within the city limits of Atlanta, animal issues are generally handled through a combination of:

• City of Atlanta Animal Services Unit (through the Atlanta Police Department)
• Fulton County Animal Services for most city residents in Fulton County
• DeKalb County Animal Services for Atlanta addresses in DeKalb County

If you’re unsure whether your address is in Fulton or DeKalb, check your property tax bill, utility account, or address lookup on official county resources.

Common Services Animal Control Provides

Across Atlanta’s jurisdictions, animal control typically handles:

• Loose, stray, or aggressive dogs
• Injured domestic animals in public spaces
• Animal bites or attacks (dogs, other pets, and sometimes wildlife)
• Animal cruelty, neglect, or hoarding complaints
• Dangerous or vicious animal investigations
• Quarantine of animals after bites, when required

They usually do not provide routine pest control (rats, insects) or full wildlife relocation for non-dangerous nuisance animals like squirrels in attics; those are often handled by private wildlife or pest services.

City of Atlanta Animal Control: What They Handle

Within the city limits, the Atlanta Police Department (APD) operates an Animal Services Unit that focuses on public safety and enforcement.

You would typically contact the City of Atlanta Animal Services/Police for:

• Aggressive dog roaming your neighborhood
• Dog fight or attack in progress
• Dog chasing people or blocking a sidewalk or school route
• Animal hit by a car on a public roadway
• Dangerous exotic or prohibited animals posing a risk

In an emergency (active attack, serious threat, injured animal in traffic), call:

• 911 – for immediate response
• Clearly state: “This is an animal control issue in the City of Atlanta.”

For non-emergency animal issues, Atlanta residents can typically use the police non-emergency number (commonly listed as 311 or local non-emergency line, depending on the area) to request an animal control officer, especially for:

• Loose but not actively aggressive dogs
• Ongoing nuisance complaints (chronic roaming)
• Abandoned pets in a house or yard (non-emergency)

Because phone numbers and routing can change, many residents start by calling 911 in true emergencies, or the local non-emergency line and asking to be connected to animal control for non-urgent issues.

Fulton County Animal Services (Most of Atlanta)

Much of the City of Atlanta lies in Fulton County, and animal services there are centralized.

Fulton County Animal Services generally handles:

• Stray dogs and cats
• Lost and found pets
• Owner surrenders (by appointment, with rules)
• Adoptions and fostering
• Vaccination and spay/neuter events (when offered)
• Cruelty and neglect investigations

Core functions include sheltering animals picked up by animal control officers or surrendered by owners, and working to reunite lost pets with their families.

Fulton County Animal Services typically maintains a physical shelter in the Atlanta area where:

• Stray animals are held for a period while owners can reclaim them.
• Adoptable animals are housed for public viewing.
• Residents can bring in found stray dogs and cats (subject to intake rules).

If you find a stray pet, have lost your own pet, or need to report a non-emergency animal issue in Fulton County, contacting Fulton County Animal Services is often the right move.

DeKalb County Animal Services (East Atlanta Areas)

Some Atlanta neighborhoods fall into DeKalb County—for example parts of East Atlanta, Kirkwood, and nearby areas. If your address is in DeKalb County, DeKalb County Animal Services is typically your primary resource.

They handle services similar to Fulton County, including:

• Stray pet pickup and sheltering
• Lost and found pet support
• Adoptions
• Neglect and cruelty reports
• Dangerous animal complaints

Atlanta residents near the DeKalb–Fulton line sometimes are unsure which county to call. A helpful approach:

1. Check your county on any property or utility record.
2. If unsure and the situation is urgent, call 911 and the call-taker will route the request.

What to Do in Common Animal Situations in Atlanta

1. You See a Stray Dog or Cat

Ask yourself: Is this an emergency?

• Call 911 if:

  • The animal is attacking or threatening people or pets.
  • It is injured in a roadway or creating a dangerous traffic situation.

• Call animal services or non-emergency line if:

  • The animal is loose but not actively aggressive.
  • The dog is wandering your neighborhood but not posing an immediate threat.

If the animal is friendly and you feel safe, some residents:

• Check for a collar and ID tag.
• Take the pet to a nearby vet or shelter to scan for a microchip.
• Post on local lost-and-found platforms or neighborhood boards (describing details and general location, not your exact address).

If you cannot safely contain or transport the animal, request pickup from animal services in your county.

2. An Animal Bites You or Your Pet

In Atlanta, bites are treated as public health and safety issues.

If a person has been bitten:

1. Get medical attention promptly.
2. Call 911 if the injury is severe or bleeding heavily.
3. The incident should be reported to local animal control so:
   • The animal can be identified and possibly quarantined.
   • Rabies risk can be evaluated.

If your pet is bitten:

• Contact a licensed veterinarian.
• Report the bite to local animal control, especially if:
  • The biter was a stray or wild animal.
  • The attacking pet’s owner is unknown or uncooperative.

Biting dogs or other animals may be subject to quarantine and dangerous dog investigations under Georgia and local rules.

3. You Suspect Animal Cruelty or Neglect

Atlanta residents frequently report:

• Animals left without shelter in extreme heat or cold.
• Starving or severely underweight pets.
• Dogs kept on short chains with no apparent water or shade.
• Houses or yards with many animals in poor conditions.

If you suspect cruelty or neglect:

• For urgent life-threatening cases (e.g., animal in immediate danger, violence in progress), call 911.
• For non-emergency but serious concerns, contact your county’s animal services and provide:
  • Exact address or location description.
  • Type and number of animals.
  • What you saw, with dates and times if possible.

You are generally not required to confront the owner. Providing clear, specific information helps officers investigate more effectively.

4. Wildlife in or Around Your Home

Atlanta’s green spaces and tree canopy mean encounters with raccoons, opossums, foxes, coyotes, snakes, and bats are not unusual.

When to call animal control or emergency services:

• A wild animal is inside your living space and cannot be safely removed.
• A wild animal is acting unusually aggressive, disoriented, or unafraid of people (which may raise concern about disease like rabies).
• A bat has had close contact with a person, especially a child or sleeping adult.

For routine nuisance wildlife (for example, raccoons in the attic, squirrels chewing through soffits), many Atlanta residents use licensed wildlife or pest control companies that handle humane trapping and exclusion. Local public animal services may not remove healthy wildlife that is behaving normally.

Some practical steps:

• Secure trash cans with tight lids.
• Do not leave pet food outdoors overnight.
• Keep yards well lit and avoid feeding wildlife intentionally.

5. You Found Injured Wildlife

If you encounter injured wildlife (like a bird with a broken wing or an injured opossum) in Atlanta:

• If there is an immediate public safety issue (e.g., the animal is in the middle of a busy street), you can contact local animal services or 911.
• For smaller, non-threatening wild animals, many residents reach out to:
  • Licensed wildlife rehabilitators in the metro area.
  • Local vets who may know rehab contacts.

Avoid handling injured wildlife with bare hands—this protects both you and the animal.

Lost, Found, and Adoptable Pets in Atlanta

If You Lose a Pet

If your pet goes missing in Atlanta:

1. Contact your county’s animal services (Fulton or DeKalb) as soon as possible.
   • Provide photos, microchip number (if applicable), and last known location.
2. Visit the shelter in person if possible; descriptions over the phone can be imperfect.
3. Check:
   • Your neighborhood and surrounding streets multiple times.
   • Flyers in local areas (parks, intersections, pet stores).
4. Keep your microchip registration and ID tags up to date—these are often how shelters quickly reunite pets with owners.

If You Find a Pet

If you find a lost dog or cat in Atlanta:

• If the animal is friendly and safe to approach:
  • Check for ID tags and try contacting the owner directly.
  • Have the pet scanned for a microchip at a nearby vet or shelter.
• If you cannot locate the owner:
  • Report the found animal to your county animal services.
  • You may be able to bring the pet to the shelter or request pickup, depending on the situation.
• Many finders also share details on local lost-and-found pet channels, but shelter reporting is important so owners know where to look.

Leash Laws and Pet Rules in Atlanta

For residents and visitors bringing pets into the city, Atlanta and surrounding counties enforce various animal ordinances intended to keep people and animals safe.

These usually include:

• Leash requirements for dogs in public spaces, except in clearly designated off-leash dog parks.
• Requirements to clean up pet waste in public areas.
• Rabies vaccination requirements for dogs and cats.
• Rules against allowing pets to roam at large off the owner’s property.

Violations can lead to citations, fines, and in some cases, impoundment of the animal. To avoid problems:

• Keep dogs on a leash unless in an off-leash area.
• Make sure pets are current on vaccinations.
• Secure your yard and gates to prevent escapes.

When You’re Just Visiting Atlanta With a Pet

If you’re visiting Atlanta with your dog or cat:

• Bring proof of current rabies vaccination.
• Keep your pet on leash in city parks and on sidewalks.
• Know the nearest emergency vet and be aware that if your pet is involved in a bite incident, local animal control and health rules will apply, even if you’re from out of state.
• If your pet is lost while traveling, immediately contact:
  • The local county animal services where it went missing.
  • Nearby vets and boarding facilities.

How to Decide Who to Call: Quick Guide

Use this simple checklist if you’re unsure what to do:

• Is anyone in immediate danger?
  • Yes → Call 911.
• Is there an aggressive or injured animal in public?
  • In Atlanta city limits → 911 or non-emergency line, ask for animal control.
• Is it a stray or lost pet with no active danger?
  • In Fulton side of Atlanta → Fulton County Animal Services.
  • In DeKalb side of Atlanta → DeKalb County Animal Services.
• Is it about long-term neglect or cruelty?
  • Call your county animal services or 911 if urgent.
• Is it healthy wildlife causing minor nuisance?
  • Consider licensed wildlife removal, and secure food/trash.
• Is it injured wildlife or unusual behavior (possible rabies risk)?
  • 911 or local animal services, explain the behavior and location.

Understanding how animal control in Atlanta, GA is organized—by city and county, and by type of issue—helps you get the right help faster, whether you’re a long-time resident, a new arrival, or just visiting the city with a pet.