Animal Shelter

The Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center Contact Information

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The Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center is an open-admissions shelter, which accepts most lost, stray, or surrendered animals.

We strive to find appropriate adoptive families, foster homes, or rescue groups for all the animals in our care. If you're interested in adopting or fostering a new pet, or if your pet is lost, the shelter is a great place to start!

Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center

884 Winder Highway,
Lawrenceville, GA 30045

Phone: 770.339.3200
Fax: 770.339.3235


Email:

Main: AnimalWelfare@GwinnettCounty.com
Animal Rescue: AnimalRescue@GwinnettCounty.com
Dead Animal Removal: DeadAnimalRemoval@GwinnettCounty.com
Volunteer Projects: AWEVolunteers@GwinnettCounty.com
VolunteerGwinnett.net


Office Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 8:30am – 5:00pm
Friday – Saturday: 8:30am – 4:00pm
Sunday: Closed


Animal Intake Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 11:00am – 5:00pm
Friday – Saturday: 11:00am – 3:00pm
Sunday: Closed


Adoption Center Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 11:00am – 5:00pm
Friday – Saturday: 11:00am – 4:00pm
Sunday: Closed

1st Monday of each month

11:00am – 8:00pm


Road Operations:

Daily: 8:00am – 10:00pm


Owner Surrender Hours

By appointment only. Call 770.339.3200 during office hours for an appointment

 

The center will be closed on the following dates:
Monday, February 16 President's Day
Monday, May 25

Memorial Day
Friday, June 19

Juneteenth
Friday, July 3

Independence Day
Monday, September 7

Labor Day
Wednesday, November 11

Veterans Day
Wednesday, November 26

In-service training
Thursday, November 26

Thanksgiving Day
Friday, November 27

Day after Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, December 24 Christmas Eve
Friday, December 25 Christmas Day

Dates are subject to change.
 

The center will conduct in-service training on the fourth Wednesday of each month and will be open for intakes and closed for adoptions and reclaims:

Wednesday, January 28
Wednesday, February 25
Wednesday, March 25
Wednesday, April 22
Wednesday, May 27
Wednesday, June 24
Wednesday, July 22
Wednesday, August 26
Wednesday, September 23
Wednesday, October 28
Wednesday, November 18
Wednesday, December 16

We may charge the following fees as applicable:

Adoptions

Reclaim Fee
  • First offense – $50
  • Second offense – $100
  • Third offense or subsequent confiscation – $200
Owner surrender
  • $25 per animal
Domestic animal boarding (pending citations and court cases only)
  • $10 per animal per day
  • $10 per day per animal for stray animals reclaimed by an owner
Livestock animal boarding (pending citations and court cases only)
  • $15 per animal per day
Rabies quarantine
  • $200 per animal plus impound fees as applicable
Dart
  • $50 per animal
Domestic dead animal disposal (must drop off at the shelter)
  • $7 per animal
Trailer
  • $35 per user

Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement will respond to:
  • Barking dog complaints, leash law letters for animals that are not currently loose and you know where the dog lives and the dog is frequently out without a leash
  • Return to Community Cat program (TNR) or to schedule a meeting to surrender an animal.
  • Evictions where animals are still in the home and owners are not present. The agency conducting the eviction must call Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement.

Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement will NOT respond to:
  • Animal Welfare officers are not permitted to go into crawlspaces, attics, unfinished basements, sewers or climb trees to capture animals.
  • Animal Welfare and Enforcement does not respond to calls regarding rodents (rats, mice, squirrels), native snakes, or other pests, such as raccoons or possums.
  • Please contact a pest control or a wildlife management business for assistance.

Call 770.339.3200 for direction on how best to handle the following situations:
  • Stray dogs (Gwinnett County does not have a leash law on cats).
  • Rabies vector animals (raccoon, bats, opossums, fox).
  • Animal neglect and cruelty cases as defined in the County ordinance section 10-173. Including lack of proper vet care, unsanitary conditions, animals being abused physically, dogs outside with no water or proper shelter.
  • Injured/ sick domestic animals (dogs, cats, livestock).
  • Abandoned animals (Officers cannot enter a home or yard to immediately remove an animal if an owner is not present; we must post the property for a time frame of 36 hours per the County ordinance 10-9).
  • Tethered dogs – single point tethering is not permitted per ordinance 10-71(c).
  • Backyard breeding.
  • Loose livestock.
  • Loose chickens or roosters that are confined inside of a coop or fenced yard please contact
    code enforcement.
  • Large dead animal removal.

Call 911 for an active animal-to-human bite, animal-to-animal attack, or one that just occurred.

Cold Weather Safety
Keep pets safe when the temperature drops.

  • If a pet can’t be inside, provide a warm, solid shelter to protect from extreme temperatures.
  • Cats and dogs are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia when outdoors for extended periods in below-freezing conditions. Adjust time outdoors according to your pet’s tolerance to the cold.
  • Cold weather can worsen certain medical conditions; stay current on wellness veterinary exams.
  • Dogs expend more energy while playing in the cold; speak to your veterinarian about adding more food to your pet’s diet.
  • If pets are kept outdoors, replace metal food and water bowls with plastic bowls.
  • Check your pet’s paws for cracked or bleeding paw pads.
  • Keep your pet’s toes clipped to reduce ice ball accumulation.
  • Avoid exposure to antifreeze and deicers as these are toxic to animals. Wash and dry your dog’s feet, legs, and belly after walks to reduce the risk of poisoning due to exposure and then the pet licking itself.
  • A warm vehicle can be an appealing heat source for cats and small animals. Honk the horn or tap on the hood before starting your vehicle.
  • Just like hot vehicles in hot weather, cold cars also pose a risk to animals’ health. Pets should never be left unattended in a vehicle.


Hot Weather Safety
Some like it hot, pets do not! Keep your pets safe with these tips:

  • Provide shelter from constant direct sunlight.
  • Provide plenty of cool water.
  • Protect their paws from hot surfaces.
  • Know the signs of heatstroke:
    • Fever
    • Panting
    • Rapid heartbeat
    • Vomiting

 

A 70-degree day can quickly become dangerous for a pet left unattended in a vehicle. The temperature in a car can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, even with the windows partially open. 

It can take up to 24 hours before signs of heat stress begin showing in animals. Take your pet to a veterinarian immediately if they are exhibiting any of these signs:

  • Deep red or purple tongue
  • Glazed eyes
  • Heavy panting
  • Rapid pulse
  • Red or purple dots on belly, ears, or loin area
  • Staggering gait
  • Unsteadiness
  • Vomiting

 

Never leave a pet in a car
If you see an animal in a car exhibiting signs of heat or cold stress, call Gwinnett Animal Welfare & Enforcement at 770.339.3200 or the local police department and take the following steps:

  • Get the vehicle’s make, model, color, and tag number.
  • Alert the management of a nearby business, who could make an emergency announcement.
  • Return to your vehicle or the business and wait for police near the vehicle.
  • Once police or animal control officer arrive, inform them of your findings.

 

Possible consequences for leaving a pet unattended in a hot vehicle.
Inadequate ventilation for your pet is considered animal cruelty, according to Gwinnett County’s Ordinance Sec. 10-173. Causing unnecessary suffering is a secondary charge; leaving an animal unattended in a vehicle is a third charge. A law enforcement officer may use any force necessary to remove any animal locked in a closed vehicle when the temperature outside the vehicle is 80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If there is damage to the vehicle during such removal, the law enforcement officer shall not be liable for any damage per Gwinnett County’s Ordinance Sec. 10-175.