TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND PARTIES:

Pursuant to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, O.C.G.A. § 4-13-14, notice is hereby given that the Georgia Department of Agriculture Animal Protection Section will be considering the adoption of an amendment to Departmental Rule 40-13-13-.07 relating to “Exemptions.” The Department will be accepting written comments from September 1, 2011, to close of business (4:30 p.m. EDT) on October 3, 2011.

SYNOPSIS, MAIN FEATURES AND DIFFERENCES:

It is proposed to amend Departmental Rule 40-13-13-.07 to comply with House Bill 788, which was passed during the 2010 Legislative Session and became law on December 31, 2010, and implemented to change certain provisions relating to the euthanasia of dogs and cats by animal shelters or facilities operated for the collection of stray, neglected, abandoned or unwanted animals.

Departmental Rule 40-13-13-.07(4) exempt’s animal shelters that are located in a county having a population of 25,000 or less from the requirements of Rule 40-13-13.08 relating to euthanasia. HB 788, however, specifically prohibited this exemption and made sodium pentobarbital, or a derivative thereof, the exclusive method for euthanasia. Therefore the Department is proposing to delete this provision from the current rule.

Interested persons may call or submit a written request to obtain a copy of the proposed rule. Please submit written comments to:

Dr. Robert Cobb, Director of Animal Health

Georgia Department of Agriculture

19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Room 102

Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Telephone: (404) 656-3667

FAX: (404) 651-9024

The Department will be accepting written comments from September 1, 2011, to close of business (4:30 p.m. EDT) on October 3, 2011. Comments will be considered on October 4, 2011. You may download a copy of the proposed rules from the link to the right.

This notice is given in accordance with the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act, O.C.G.A. §50-13-4.