Latest News

United Spay Alliance's campaign of "No Babies No Rabies" Rabies may be one of humanity’s oldest and deadliest diseases, but it is also one of the most preventable. And it’s not just a problem somewhere else. Just this past week in Georgia, a cat in Norcross tested positive for rabies after attacking two people. Gwinnett County officials are reminding residents to avoid animals behaving unusually and to make sure pets are current on their rabies vaccinations. September 28th is

Veterinarians performing spay/neuter surgery We’re excited to share an important outcome of Georgia Pet Coalition’s advocacy: Georgia has rolled out a veterinary education loan repayment program specifically designed to help address the shortage of veterinarians serving shelters, nonprofit spay/neuter programs, and underserved communities. Thanks to the leadership of Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick and the advocacy of the Georgia Pet Coalition, SB 20 was enacted in 2025, adding this new

Advocates and City Council Members Celebrate Passage of Sales Ban On September 15, 2026, the CITY OF TUCKER became the 20th jurisdiction in Georgia to adopt an ordinance prohibiting the sale, barter, or display of dogs, cats, and rabbits in public places such as parking lots, sidewalks, roadsides, and ALL flea markets. This local law enables animal control and law enforcement to write citations in accordance with the 2025 state law, O.C.G.A. § 4-11-10.1. VERY SPECIAL THANKS a

Two Cute Pups at the GA State Capitol August 26 is National Dog Day -- a reminder that ALL dogs deserve adequate food, water, shelter, exercise, basic vet care, socialization, and humane treatment by guardians, regardless of breed, purpose, or location. As our understanding of canine behavior has evolved, so have the laws that govern responsible dog ownership. Reflecting this shift, communities across the country are moving away from breed-specific legislation (BSL) toward br

Orange Cat on its way to lobby the GA State Legislature August 8 is International Cat Day - a reminder to support policies that enable effective management of community cat populations in Georgia through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. The GA Pet Coalition (GPC) recently advocated for updates to Georgia’s Animal Protection Act Rules (40-13-13-.01 through 40-13-13-.10) to better support community cats and TNR practices. These recommendations were submitted in response to th

Canine non-live outcomes increased 95% at GA public shelters from 2021 to 2025

Dog housed in adequate shelter Many thanks to the Troup County Board of Commissioners (BOC) for passing an ordinance establishing some of the strongest shelter standards for dogs in the state of Georgia. These improvements help ensure that dogs kept outdoors receive adequate protection from extreme weather by clearly defining what constitutes appropriate shelter. The ordinance also strengthens requirements for access to clean water and adequate food, areas that were previousl

Caregiver tends to community cats The Georgia Pet Coalition recently submitted formal comments to the Georgia Department of Agriculture regarding proposed amendments to the Animal Protection Act Rules. Our comments focused on ensuring that Georgia's regulations better recognize and support evidence-based management of community cats through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. Among our recommendations, we urged the Department to: Add clear definitions for community cats, feral

Dr. Ellard and Dr. Haines instruct vet trainees in HQHVSN techniques. On May 30th, the HELP Spay/Neuter Clinic teamed up with Butts Mutts, United Spay Alliance, GA Pet Coalition, and the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA) to host Georgia’s seventh surgical training for veterinarians in high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter (HQHVSN) techniques. Expert surgeon instructors, Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Ellard and Dr. Katherine Haines, provided didactic and hands-on instruction

Peggy McCarthey received the Save Our DeKalb Animals (SODA) Partnership Award (on behalf of GA Pet Coalition) from Commissioner Michelle Long Spears on April 1, 2026 On April 1, 2026, District 2 Commissioner Michelle Long Spears hosted the 3rd Annual State of DeKalb Animals Address and Luncheon at the Brookhaven City Centre, bringing together elected officials, advocates and residents who share a strong commitment to improving animal wellbeing in the community. At the meetin

Puppies being sold at an illegal outdoor location Last year, Georgia took a major step forward for animal welfare by passing a statewide law that bans the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in public places like parking lots, roadsides, and seasonal flea markets . This law targets the unregulated, transient sales that too often put animals and consumers at risk. Click here to read more about the state law . Passing this law was an important milestone, but now the focus turns to

Mother dog with puppies in deplorable conditions ACTION ALERT: Public comments needed to USDA by APRIL 20th regarding standards of care for breeding female dogs, and exercise and socialization for all dogs in USDA-regulated facilities (aka puppy mills). Feel free to use these talking points in your comments: As a U.S. citizen and voter, I care deeply about adequate standards of care for dogs. Every single dog raised in a USDA-regulated puppy mill deserves proper care for a h

A Proclamation by Governor Kemp recognized February 2026 as SPAY/NEUTER AWARENESS MONTH in Georgia. Please use this Proclamation in any way that benefits your organization. Click here to download a pdf of the Proclamation . February 24th was WORLD SPAY DAY which promotes the sterilization of pets to reduce the number of unwanted and homeless animals. February was also designated by United Spay Alliance as FELINE FIX BY FIVE AWARENESS MONTH and highlights their campaign to enc

By Gregory DL Morris Published February 23, 2026 A 2025 “wet lab” training session in DeKalb County was one of several where veterinarians learn high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter techniques. Photo courtesy of LifeLine Animal Project Feb. 24 is World Spay Day and February is Spay and Neuter Awareness Month in Georgia. February is also Feline Fix by Five month, a reminder to have kittens fixed before they turn five months old. That focus on prevention is important for t

Doraville became the 12th jurisdiction in Georgia to adopt an ordinance prohibiting the sale, display, or barter of dogs, cats, and...

Atlanta, GA — 9/10/25 — In Fulton County, Georgia, Joshua Allen was sentenced to 11 years in prison with no possibility of parole for the...

Here are a few recommendations from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) on how to keep your pets safe for the upcoming...

PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME TO LETTER OF THANKS FOR SB 20 AND HB 177 BY MAY 23rd: https://www.gapetcoalition.org/thank-you-for-your-support...

This week the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed an ordinance to establish Georgia's FIRST local litter registry for...

On May 12, the Dunwoody City Council unanimously passed an ordinance to prohibit the retail sales of dogs and cats in pet stores....