Bill > HB177

This bill amends Georgia law to expand protective orders in both family violence and dating violence cases to include provisions for household pets. Specifically, the bill allows courts to grant protective orders that provide for the care, custody, and control of household pets, defined as animals kept for human companionship that are owned by either party or a minor child in the household. The bill explicitly excludes livestock, laboratory animals, working animals, sport animals, and animals kept for commercial purposes or consumption. Under the new provisions, a protective order can now prevent the respondent from harassing or harming the household pet, taking or transferring the pet, concealing the pet, or engaging in conduct that would violate animal cruelty laws. The modifications apply to both family violence protective orders and dating violence protective orders, giving courts broader authority to protect not just human victims but also their pets in situations involving domestic or dating violence. This change recognizes the potential for abusers to target pets as a method of intimidation or emotional manipulation and provides legal mechanisms to prevent such actions.

Justice

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69656