Georgia Animal Rescue and Defence, Inc. is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit animal charity and a licensed 509(a)2 no-kill animal shelter that is funded entirely by private contributions, and receives no government funding. GARD was founded in 2006 by, and is privately owned by, a family of animal lovers who have dedicated their lives to saving animals and educating others regarding the pet over-population problem. GARD is called upon by numerous Animal Control Shelters to help them with over-crowding, hoarding situations, and special needs dogs that no other rescue will take. GARD has been called upon by citizens in the local community to help find homes for dogs they can no longer keep, soldiers being deployed who have no one to take care of their dogs, elderly persons going to nursing homes, local people who have found stray, starving dogs abandoned on the roads (something we see far too much of), and the list goes on and on. GARD is committed to finding homes for all adoptable pets. We do not euthanize adoptable animals, and there are no time limits for the animals once they are in our care. We only humanely euthanize those animals suffering from significant medical issues or that pose behavior concerns. We are proud to be a part of the solution to ending pet homelessness and overpopulation in Southeast Georgia.
Adoptions are not first-come-first-serve, but are based on the best fit for an animal’s particular needs. We are an all volunteer organization and spend many hours reviewing applications, checking vet references, etc. We adopt in our home state of Georgia, certain areas of FL, and all along the east coast. Approved adopters in GA, FL, SC, and NC would need to drive to one our mobile events and pick up their new pet. All other areas in our adoption zone would require a paid transport and this fee would be in addition to our adoption fee. We may be unable to accommodate same-day adoptions. Please plan on scheduling an appointment with an adoption coordinator to finalize the adoption. Due to the influx of applications received daily, we ask for you to allow us a minimum of 72 hours to process and approve your application. All members of the family must be present in order to adopt. We want to make sure it’s a good fit for everyone! (Certain exclusions may apply). If you are planning on adopting a dog and already have an existing dog, we ask that you leave them at home during your first visit. Once you’ve picked out a dog you’d like to adopt, you can schedule an appointment with an adoption coordinator to bring your dog to an agreed location to meet your potential new pet. This is not necessary for cats. You must be 25 years or older to adopt. Please bring a valid form of I.D. Renters must provide a copy of their lease (including pet policy). Home owner’s must provide a copy of their HOA agreement (if applicable). Townhome/Condominium owners should be familiar with their HOA by-laws, including restricted breeds, weight limits, and maximum number of pets allowed. Adopters must be willing to allow a GARD representative to make a follow-up contact, either in person or by phone. Spaying/Neutering of cats and dogs through any humane organization is state law. If at any time you are unable to keep the pet or offer it proper care, it must be offered back to GARD before alternate arrangements are made. A perspective adopter’s current pet(s) must be current on their veterinary care AND be spayed/neutered. The current pet(s) must also have a consistent history of annual vet care. Applications must be completed and approved prior to adopting an animal. If approved, an applicant must sign a contract to adopt an animal which outlines the responsibilities of the shelter and the adopter. This contract is legally binding. Active military members MUST provide an approval letter with permission to restricted breeds. Renting with Cats: Since we want to make lifelong placements for our cats, we ask that adopters make sure their landlord allows cats and to pay any pet deposits in advance of adopting. Renting with Dogs: Since we want to make lifelong placements for our dogs, we ask that adopters make sure their landlord allows dogs and to pay any pet deposits in advance of adopting.