Rescue Information
First off, thank you for being a rescue group! We appreciate all the efforts by the dedicated individuals who run rescue groups and foster animals. Recognizing that rescue groups play a major role in re-homing pets and reducing euthanasia, Walton County Animal Control is more than willing to work with licensed rescue groups. However, the biggest hindrance to a successful rescue program is time. Please understand that the WCAC Shelter is an open-door “pound” that receives animals from the public daily and kennel space is very limited. WCAC asks that rescue groups work quickly to rescue animals. There are no fees for rescue groups. However, before a rescue group can pull animals, we must have the following forms on file:
GA Department of Agriculture Shelter License - A copy of your current license from the Animal Protection Section of the Georgia Department of Agriculture must be on file. If your group is not licensed, information on obtaining a license can be found on the Animal Protection Division's webpage on the Department of Agriculture’s website at
http://agr.georgia.gov/ or by calling (404) 656-4914. - Agency Transfer Authorization Document - This is a required Department of Agriculture form but is available from WCAC. It must be completed by the rescue group’s president (or equivalent) and lists all persons authorized to pull animals under the organization’s license.
When a group learns of an animal in which they are interested, they should contact the WCAC Shelter immediately to express interest in the animal and work with the shelter to remove the animal as close to the available date as possible. A representative authorized on the Agency Transfer Authorization Document must come to the shelter to complete the Transfer Release Agreement and pick up the animal. Animals are transferred to licensed groups free of charge. The best method of contact concerning rescue inquiries is via email bill.wise@co.walton.ga.us. Please include the animal's name or some other detail in the email subject line as many emails have been getting tagged as spam and only the subject line is shown.
OUT OF STATE RESCUES:
Altered Animals - If an animal is already spayed or neutered, we may be able to process no-fee adoptions to reputable out-of-state 501c3 rescue organizations. Arranging transport is the responsibility of the out-of-state rescue (see below for information). Extended hold times are not usually possible. Inquire at bill.wise@co.walton.ga.us.
Unaltered Animals - Because of Georgia regulations, we can only process agency transfers of unaltered animals to rescue groups licensed and inspected by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Therefore, out-of-state rescues of unaltered animals can be difficult to arrange. Some GA Licensed Groups are willing to work with out-of-state rescues to pull animals from our shelter on behalf of out-of-state rescues (veterinary, boarding or transport fees may be required). You may see a list of the many GA Rescues active with our shelter on the Success Page. When attempting to arrange a rescue via a GA Licensed Rescue, it is best to cc our shelter on the emails (bill.wise@co.walton.ga.us) so we know efforts are underway and can possibly hold the dog or cat. Please include the animal's name or some other detail in the email subject line as many emails have been getting tagged as spam and only the subject line is shown. GA Licensed Rescues that have offered help are:
TRANSPORT ISSUES:
We are a small animal control facility and are not able to transport animals or take an extensive role in arranging transport. However, the following individuals and organizations have offered transport help for rescues from our shelter: