The Athens-Clarke County's Animal Services Department is currently grappling with staff shortages, leading to a scaled-back schedule for field operations that address community needs. Essential emergency services, such as responding to animal bites, actively aggressive dogs, care for sick and injured animals, and animal welfare checks will remain a priority.
Citizens in need of non-emergency animal services may find themselves redirected to voicemail during business hours, owing to the lean staffing situation. In a notification provided by the Animal Services Department, residents were informed they will receive callbacks from officers once they've concluded their field duties. Those experiencing animal-related emergencies and unable to reach Animal Services directly are urged to dial the Police Department's dispatch at 706-613-3345, or 911 after standard operating hours for immediate assistance.
The adjusted field operations schedule is as follows: from Monday to Thursday, full-service operations will be available between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Fridays are dedicated exclusively to emergency field services, whereas the weekends will have staff on-call for emergencies only. The official announcement from the department is accessible for the public at www.accgov.com/animalservices or by calling 706-613-3540.
