05 LC 21
8011
House
Bill 78
By:
Representatives Williams of the
89th,
Brooks of the
63rd,
Watson of the
91st,
Mosby of the
90th,
Mitchell of the
88th,
and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 8 of Title 4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to dogs, so as to define a certain term; to provide that no person shall import,
sell, transport, carry, own, keep, or otherwise possess any live pit bull dog in
this state; to provide for exceptions; to provide that certain dogs shall be
neutered and confined; to provide a penalty; to repeal conflicting laws; and for
other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
8 of Title 4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to dogs, is
amended by inserting at the end thereof the following:
"4-8-31.
(a)
As used in this Code section, the term 'pit bull' means any dog that is an
American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull
Terrier, or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or
more of the above breeds, or any dog exhibiting those distinguishing
characteristics which substantially conform to the standards established by the
American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club for any of the above
breeds.
(b)
It shall be unlawful for any person to import, sell, transport, carry, own,
keep, or otherwise possess any live pit bull within the state; provided,
however, that the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the
following:
(1)
Any person who import transports, carries, owns, keeps, or otherwise possesses
any pit bull for bona fide zoological, educational, medical, or scientific
purposes;
(2)
Any person who is not a resident of the state transporting a pit bull through
the state for a period of less than one day; or
(3)
As to a specific animal, any resident of the state who, on July 1, 2005, had
maintained such pit bull in the state for at least six months. To be so exempt,
each such animal shall be neutered, shall be maintained in a secure area
designed to prevent the animal from coming into contact with the public, and
shall by fully leashed and muzzled and accompanied by an adult when not so
confined.
(c)
Any person found guilty of violating any provision of this Code section shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $1,000.00 nor more than
$5,000.00 or incarcerated for a period not to exceed six months, or both. Each
day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct
offense."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.