Animal Control and Shelter
The mission of the Habersham County Animal Control Department is to enforce state laws and county ordinances pertaining to animal control and management; promote the health, safety and welfare of all animals in Habersham County; help educate the community in responsible pet ownership; and coordinate their adoption through the Friends of the Habersham County Animal Shelter, or their humane euthanization when adoption is not possible. The Habersham County Animal Shelter is staffed by paid employees and volunteers who receive and care for an average of 213 animals monthly. Most of these animals are dogs and cats. County employees are assisted by Friends of the Habersham County Animal Shelter (FOCHAS). Founded in 1998, FOCHAS is a federal tax exempt charitable corporation concerned with the welfare of Habersham County's unwanted, stray and impounded animals. The shelter is governed by a volunteer board and administered by a volunteer executive committee. It is regulated and licensed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Animal Protection Division. The shelter is also a member of the American Humane Association and the Humane Association of Georgia. FOHCAS is not a county agency or department, it is a separate entity. Habersham County does animal control, FOHCAS does sheltering. Habersham County's animal shelter is named for architect John B. Gesbocker. Known as "Jack" to most people, Mr. Gesbocker not only donated his professional services and supervised construction of the shelter himself, he was also the driving force behind founding FOHCAS. He and several community leaders shared a vision in which the community would take primary responsibility for assuring humane care for its stray, unwanted and impounded animals through FOHCAS. FOHCAS was meant to provide programs and community education that comprised the "value added" care that turned a "pound" into a shelter. Mr. Gesbocker's strong belief in the importance of humane care of animals drove him to have the shelter completed and the FOHCAS shelter management and care agreement in place while fighting one last battle against cancer. Mr. Gesbocker achieved that goal. He remained active in FOHCAS until shortly before his death in early 1999. The goal of FOCHAS is to place as many healthy, nonaggressive animals as possible with qualified, committed, loving families. FOHCAS provides in-shelter and off-site adoption opportunities, and works with licensed animal rescue groups to save as many adoptable animals as possible. The organization reserves the right to decline adoption if to do so is in the best interest of the animal or the applicant. FOHCAS participates in virtual shelters petfinder.org and displays animals through Wal-Mart's Very Best Pet Network. In compliance with Georgia law, all animals adopted from the shelter must be spayed or neutered. The adoption fee paid to the Animal Shelter entitles the new owner to take his/her pet for a free health exam, rabies shot, and spay/neuter from a participating veterinarian (some animals are spayed/neutered before leaving the shelter). If you cannot adopt an animal, why not stop by the Animal Shelter and volunteer to help out? Or bring a donation of money, clean towels/blankets/rags, newspapers (not magazines), canned food, small boxes, cat litter, leashes, animal brushes, toys, or anything else that will make a cat's or dog's life more pleasant while it awaits adoption. Lost and Found FOHCAS maintains a lost and found bulletin board at the shelter. Residents are uged to call the shelter immediately if a pet is missing. For more information on FOHCAS and pet adoption, CLICK HERE to visit the FOCHAS website. Contact InformationAnimal ControlMailing Address: 555 Monroe Street Unit 20 Clarkesville, GA 30523 Location: 115 Beaver Dam Road Clarkesville, GA 30523 Phone: 706-754-0044 Fax: 706-754-0714 Jason Smith, Animal Control Supervisor E-mail: jsmith@habershamga.com Friends of the Habersham County Animal Shelter, Inc. Mailing Address: P. O. Box 1442 Clarkesville, GA 30523 Location: 4231B Toccoa Hwy. Clarkesville, GA 30523 Phone: 706-754-3533 E-mail: fohcas@hemc.net |
