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1. Why are you closed on Wednesdays?

The shelter is closed on Wednesdays for deep cleaning, additional vetting, bathing, and other animal related duties. Appointments are available upon request.

2. What do the pet adoption fees include?

The fee for dogs or cats is $90. The price includes sterilization, rabies and distemper vaccinations, micro-chipping, wormer, and a light veterinary exam. All animals are sterilized prior to release for adoption and will be picked up from the veterinarian’s office unless prior arrangements are made with the shelter. Oconee County Animal Services does not guarantee the health, temperament, or behavior of an adopted animal. If problems are evident, the shelter will disclose the information to the adopter. Oconee County Animal Services accepts checks and MasterCard, Visa, and Discover cards. A convenience fee of 3% is added when using cards.

The shelter is partnered with PetSmart and has total access to the Cat Adoption Center located on Epps Bridge Road and with the store supplying all food, litter, cleaning materials, and volunteers cleaning, the shelter is able to adopt these cats at a reduced price; $50. This discount applies to animals at PetSmart only, unless otherwise noted.

To view the shelter’s animal inventory, please go to: petango.com/oconeecountyanimalcontrol

If you have any difficulty navigating the page, please feel free to contact the shelter at your earliest convenience. 706.769.3956

3. How can I support the Animal Services Shelter?

If you would like to donate, whether by volunteering or items, please contact the shelter at 706-769-3956. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Animal Services will accept: - Adams Flee Spray - Any Type of Treats - Blankets and Sheets - Canned Dog Food - Catnip - Dog Eyewash - Esiblac Milk Replacement - Knotted Raw-Hides

Any other item you may wish to donate to the shelter will also be accepted.

4. What action should I take when finding an injured pet animal?

To report an injured animal, call the shelter during business hours (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.), 706-769-3956. If after 5 p.m., call 911. Keep away from the animal. If the animal is in pain, it may bite. Officers have special training and equipment to help an injured animal without further injuring the animal and without the Officers getting injured. The best way you can help is to call the professionals.

5. How can I protect my family and pets from rabies?

Protect your family and your pets from the rabies virus by keeping your pet current on its vaccination and keeping your pet under control. Sterilizing your pet will help reduce unwanted pregnancies causing pets not to be properly cared for or vaccinated regularly. Call Animal Services at 706-769-3956 to remove all stray or seriously ill animals from your neighborhood, and to keep potentially unvaccinated animals from your family and pet. Daytime activity of otherwise nocturnal animal is occasionally a sign of sickness. However, during spring and early summer, while offspring are being born and raised, it is not rare to find wildlife active during the day, especially on overcast days or on wooded lots. Remove bird feeders, pet food, and access to other types of food or water to decrease the chances of wildlife interaction with people and pets. If you see wildlife, contact the Sheriff's Office non-emergency, 706-769-5665, or an animal removal company.

6. My pet was impounded. How do I reclaim my animal and what will it cost?

Prior to reclaiming your pet, you must provide proof your pet is current on its rabies vaccination. Contact your veterinarian and request a faxed copy of your pet’s rabies certificate. The shelter’s fax number is 706-769-2933. Owners are responsible for all boarding and impound fees and fees are due at the time of reclaim. If your pet is not current, you are required to purchase a pre-paid rabies voucher from a veterinarian. The cost will vary by each clinic. You have 3 business days to vaccinate your pet. If you elect not to comply, a citation may be issued. Boarding and Impound Fees start on the first day the animal is impounded. All animals, without a rabies tag on the collar, will receive the following: - A Microchip upon reclaim (if not micro-chipped already) - Bordetella – kennel cough vaccination (dogs only) - Distemper vaccination - Wormer Find reclaim fees on our page.

Departmental Fees (PDF) page.

7. How do I register an animal nuisance complaint such as barking or other vocalizing?

On the HOMEPAGE, scroll down and to the right of the page, clink the link "Report a Concern". Be sure to give as much detail as possible; what the complaint is, who is the owner (if known), address (if known), type of animal, color, etc. Please refer to the Animal Ordinance, Section 5-8; Animal Nuisance. The more information you provide, the sooner your complaint will be remedied.

Register an Animal Nuisance Complaint page.

8. Do you accept volunteers at the Animal Shelter?

The shelter encourages individuals and groups to volunteer at the shelter. After a brief orientation, volunteers may play with the cats and kittens, walk puppies and dogs or play in the interaction pens, and even bathe the animals to make them more adoptable. For groups of 5 or more, please call ahead and schedule an appointment. Volunteers 16 and younger must be accompanied by a supervising adult.

9. What is the best way to contact Animal Services in the case of an animal problem?

Call Animal Services, 706.769.3956, and ask your question. It may not be a service the county provides, but staff will help direct you in to the right agency. Animal Problems page.

10. What do I do if I see a sick or injured wild animal?

Contact the Sheriff's non-emergency number - 706.769.5665 Sick or Injured Wild Animal page.

11. How do I report a lost or found animal?

All lost and founds are directed to Helping Lost Pets. It's a free website. HelpingLostPets.com You are required to set-up an account. You decide how contact is made; email, phone, text. You may upload a picture and identify the location. You are welcome to call and see if the pet is at the shelter or see if someone may have called about the pet. 706.769.3956

Report a Lost or Found Animal page.

12. How can I report animal cruelty or neglect?

To report animal cruelty or neglect, please click on the link "Report a Concern" towards the bottom of the page. Please supply as much information as possible to insure the call is responded to properly.

Report Animal Cruelty or Neglect page.

13. I am no longer able to care for my pet. How do I surrender it to the Animal Shelter?

If you are an Oconee County Resident, you may bring the animal to the facility. There is an owner surrender fee and it's based on the animal's weight. Please refer to the "Fee" link.

Surrender a Pet to the Animal Shelter page.