To All Interested Persons and Parties:
Synopsis, Main Features and Differences:
In January 2012, the Department proposed rules regarding the promulgation of a Dog and Cat Sterilization Grant Program (“DCSGP”) to allow licensed municipal animal shelters and licensed nonprofit animal rescue organizations with 501(c)(3) status to apply for a grant to assist with sterilization procedures on animals that are owned or in the possession, custody or control of the municipal animal shelter or nonprofit animal rescue. The Department received ample comments in support of this program, and the final rule became effective on March 27, 2012.
Recently, however, it was brought to the Department’s attention that the DCSGP would reach more animals if licensed municipal shelters and nonprofit animal rescues were allowed to offer subsidized spay and neuter procedures to the public via sterilization events or vouchers, which were specifically prohibited in the final rule. Therefore, the Department is now proposing to delete this exemption and allow licensed municipal shelters and nonprofit animal rescues with 501(c)(3) status to apply for the DCSGP to request funding for subsidized spay and neuter events or vouchers. The Department feels that this will increase the number of sterilization procedures that may be provided via the DCSGP and further help curb the dog and cat overpopulation statewide. The proposed rule change will delete the provision that animals must be owned or in the possession, custody, or control of the municipal animal shelter or nonprofit animal rescue.
Additionally, the proposed rule change will clarify the fact that the veterinarian performing all surgical procedures must use acceptable standards of care as provided by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) guidelines.
Comment Period and Additional Information:
The Department will be accepting written comments from August 3, 2012, to close of business (4:30 p.m. EDT) on September 4, 2012. Comments will be considered on September 5, 2012. Please submit written comments to:
Dr. Robert Cobb, State Veterinarian
Georgia Department of Agriculture
19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Room 106
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Telephone: (404) 656-3671
Fax: (404) 657-1357
Interested persons may call or submit a written request to obtain a copy of the proposed rule. A copy of the synopsis and the proposed rule may be downloaded from the Georgia Department of Agriculture website at www.agr.georgia.gov.
This notice is given in compliance with the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-13-4.