GA Pet Coalition Works with Local Governments to Make it Easier to Enforce New State Law

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 ensuring it can be effectively enforced.

On Monday, March 23rd, GA Pet Coalition’s Peggy McCarthey presented to the Tucker City Council at a working meeting, providing guidance on how local governments can strengthen enforcement of the new state law.

Her presentation focused on a critical issue: without a local ordinance, only POST-certified law enforcement officers can issue warnings or make arrests under the state law.

By adopting a local ordinance that mirrors the state law, cities and counties can empower animal control, code enforcement, and law enforcement officers to issue warnings or citations - dramatically increasing the likelihood that illegal roadside sales are stopped.

This is a key part of GA Pet Coalition’s strategy: turning a strong state law into real, on-the-ground enforcement across Georgia.

We’re proud to be working hand-in-hand with local governments to make this happen.

Peggy McCarthey speaks at the Tucker City Council working session on March 23, 2026

So far, the following jurisdictions have adopted local ordinances to prohibit outdoor or transient sales of pets:

**Counties**

• Paulding (2025)

• Tift (2025)

• Cobb (2025)

• Douglas (2025)

• Walton (2025)

• DeKalb (2024)

• Fulton (2023)

• Hall (2023)

• Athens-Clarke (2022)

• Forsyth (2022)

**Cities:**

• Douglasville (2025)

• Chamblee (2025)

• Doraville (2025)

• Brookhaven (2025)

• Dunwoody (2024)

• Johns Creek (2024)

• Roswell (2024)

• Gainesville (2023)

• Royston (2023)

Each of these ordinances expands enforcement authority and sends a clear message: our communities will not tolerate the inhumane and unregulated sale of pets in public spaces.

GA Pet Coalition is actively working with additional cities and counties across the state - providing model ordinances and direct support - to ensure this law achieves its full impact.