Gwinnett Animal Shelter Adoption Hours, Lost Pets, Fees, Reclaim & Animal Control Help
Use official Gwinnett County Animal Welfare & Enforcement resources to check adoption hours, view shelter pets, understand no-hold adoption rules, compare adoption fees, report lost pets, handle stray or nuisance animals, reclaim an impounded pet, request owner surrender, contact animal control, review rabies and bite rules, and avoid confusing the county shelter with private rescue groups.
If you are searching for gwinnett animal shelter, choose the task closest to what you need. This finder points users to the correct official Gwinnett County route for adoption, shelter hours, available pets, lost pets, found pets, animal control complaints, adoption fees, pet reclaim, foster help and owner surrender.
Choose one option. The official action card below updates for Gwinnett adoption, shelter hours, lost pets, found pets, animal concerns, fees, reclaim and owner surrender help.
🐶 Adopt a pet — start with official Gwinnett shelter pets
Use this for: cats, dogs, livestock, reptiles and small animals posted by Gwinnett Animal Welfare & Enforcement.
Best official path: open Shelter Pets, click the animal details, check the available adoption date, then visit during adoption center hours.
Before you go: Gwinnett has no animal holds, adoption and foster are first-come/first-served, and residents must be at least 18 to adopt.
Gwinnett Animal Shelter Quick Facts Before You Visit
The official county shelter is the Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center, operated by Gwinnett County Animal Welfare & Enforcement at 884 Winder Highway, Lawrenceville, GA 30045. The center is an open-admissions shelter that accepts most lost, stray or surrendered animals and works to place animals with adopters, fosters or rescue groups.
The most common user mistake is confusing the county shelter with Gwinnett Humane Society, private rescues, Facebook lost-pet groups, pet-store adoption events or third-party adoption directories. Those resources can help, but they do not control Gwinnett County shelter hours, reclaim fees, stray-hold dates, owner-surrender rules, animal control response or county animal welfare enforcement.
What This Gwinnett Animal Shelter Guide Covers
Gwinnett Animal Shelter Hours, Address and Phone Number
The Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center is located at 884 Winder Highway, Lawrenceville, GA 30045. The main phone number is 770-339-3200 and the fax number is 770-339-3235. Gwinnett lists separate office hours, animal intake hours, adoption center hours, owner surrender rules and road operations hours, so users should not treat one time block as every service.
Adoption Center hours are Monday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday closed. On the first Monday of each month, the adoption center is listed as open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Dates and access can change around holidays, in-service training and construction, so verify before visiting.
Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center
884 Winder Highway, Lawrenceville, GA 30045
Phone: 770-339-3200
Fax: 770-339-3235
Email: AnimalWelfare@GwinnettCounty.com
Monday–Thursday: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday–Saturday: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: closed.
First Monday monthly: 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Office: Monday–Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Sunday closed.
Animal intake: Monday–Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Sunday closed.
How to Adopt a Pet From Gwinnett Animal Welfare & Enforcement
Gwinnett County adopts and fosters animals on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no phone holds and no animal holds at any time. The official website is updated in real time and shows each animal’s available adoption date based on its stray hold, but those dates are still subject to change.
Search official shelter pets first
Start with Gwinnett County’s Shelter Pets page. Animals posted there may be stray, found or available for adoption. Click “view details” on a potential pet to find its available adoption date.
Check the available adoption date
Animals are scanned for a microchip and held between three and 10 days, depending on ownership, before becoming available for adoption. This gives lost pets a chance to return to their owners.
Bring ID and safe transport supplies
Residents must be at least 18 years old to adopt. Bring your form of ID, a leash and collar for a dog, or a cat carrier for a cat. Gwinnett notes adopters may be able to bring the new pet home the same day.
Visit during adoption hours, not only office hours
Visitors may sign in during office hours, but may not visit potential pets until the Adoption Center opens. Do not confuse office access with adoption-center pet visitation.
Ask fit questions before adopting
Ask about activity level, temperament, age, health, heartworm status, vaccine record, other pets, children, housing rules, training needs and first-week care before you commit.
Gwinnett Animal Shelter Adoption Fees and What Is Included
Gwinnett Animal Welfare & Enforcement lists adoption fees by animal type. Dogs and puppies are listed at $45. Cats and kittens are listed at $30, or $20 for two. Senior pets ages seven and older are free, and long-term shelter pets that have been at the shelter 30 days or more are also free.
Adoptions include important starter care. Gwinnett states that spaying/neutering, vaccinations, microchipping and, if needed, heartworm treatment are offered when you adopt a pet. Discounts are available for veterans with proof and for seniors age 50 and older.
Dogs/puppies: $45.
Cats/kittens: $30 or $20 for two.
Senior pets age 7+: free.
Long-term shelter pets 30+ days: free.
Cattle/swine: $50.
Equine: $100.
Fowl, reptiles, domestic mammals: $10.
Spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchip and heartworm treatment when needed are included under Gwinnett’s adoption information.
Veteran discounts with proof and discounts for seniors age 50 and older may be available.
Always verify the current adoption page before publishing a fee claim.
Before paying any Gwinnett adoption fee
- Confirm the animal is actually available for adoption, not still in a stray hold window.
- Check the animal’s available adoption date in the official listing.
- Ask whether a veteran, senior or event discount applies.
- Ask for medical, vaccine, microchip, spay/neuter and heartworm records.
- Bring the right carrier, collar or leash so the pet can leave safely.
How to View Gwinnett Shelter Pets Online
The official Shelter Pets page shows animals that are stray, found and animals that may be available for adoption. That wording matters. A pet being visible online does not always mean it is immediately adoptable. Gwinnett uses holding periods so owners have a chance to reunite with lost pets.
If you are adopting, click into the animal details and look for the available adoption date. If you are searching for a lost pet, do not only search the adoption section. Check all relevant shelter photos and call 770-339-3200 if you do not see your pet but believe it may be at the center.
Search Official Shelter Pets
Use Gwinnett County’s Shelter Pets page first, because it is tied to the official county shelter record.
Official inventory firstCheck Available Date
Click “view details” to check the animal’s available adoption date before driving for one specific pet.
No holdsGwinnett Lost Pets, Shelter Search and Owner Reclaim Steps
If your pet is missing in Gwinnett County, move quickly. Search the official Shelter Pets page, check photos carefully, call 770-339-3200 and provide a description of your pet plus the address where the pet was last seen. Gwinnett says customer service representatives can provide information or photos for pets at the shelter matching your description.
One online search is not enough. Tags can fall off. Breed labels can be wrong. A frightened pet may look different in a shelter photograph. Injured animal photos may not be posted online because of their graphic nature, so a phone call matters if your pet is missing.
770-339-3200
Give a full pet description and the address or area where the pet was last seen.
Check the official Shelter Pets page and refresh often.
Search visible animals and do not depend only on breed labels.
Lost pet flyers can be placed at the Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center.
Use clear, recent photos and cross streets.
Gwinnett notes microchipping is one of the best ways to reunite lost pets with families.
Update the chip company immediately.
Lost pet steps that actually help
- Search Gwinnett County’s official Shelter Pets page.
- Call 770-339-3200 with a detailed description and last-seen address.
- Visit the Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center when needed.
- Update your microchip contact information right away.
- Place flyers at the shelter and around the last-seen area.
- Use trusted lost-pet resources such as PetFBI.org along with official shelter contact.
Found a Pet or Nuisance Animal in Gwinnett County? Use the Correct Shelter Route
If you find a lost dog, cat or other domestic animal in Gwinnett County, do not assume the pet has no owner. Check for an ID tag if safe, ask nearby neighbors, have the pet scanned for a microchip, and contact Gwinnett Animal Welfare & Enforcement at 770-339-3200 for the correct route.
Gwinnett says residents experiencing a nuisance domestic animal on their property can call 770-339-3200 to have the animal removed and transported to the center. Homeowners may legally capture the animal if the animal is provided adequate food, water and shelter until transport to the center. Any information about the owner must be shared with staff.
Call 770-339-3200 for removal and transport to the center.
Provide adequate food, water and shelter until the animal is transported.
Share any owner information with staff.
Ask a veterinarian, shelter or animal welfare route about scanning the pet when safe.
Do not handle aggressive, injured, sick, trapped or frightened animals yourself.
Gwinnett Animal Control, Ordinance Complaints, Bites, Rabies and Road Operations
Gwinnett Animal Welfare & Enforcement enforces state and local animal welfare laws and Gwinnett County animal control ordinances. The ordinance information covers issues such as cruelty, tethering, neglect, rabies, dog restraint and more. Officers may issue citations for violations, and they are not required to give a warning before issuing a citation.
Road operations are listed daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. For serious animal bite incidents or incidents involving potentially rabid animals, Gwinnett directs users to call or text 911 so a report can be filed. Owners of animals involved in bite cases may be required to quarantine the pet for 10 days from the date of the bite.
Call: 770-339-3200.
Use for stray dogs, animal neglect and cruelty concerns, injured or sick domestic animals, abandoned animals, tethered dogs, backyard breeding and loose livestock guidance.
Daily: 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
This is separate from adoption-center hours.
Call or text 911 for serious animal bite incidents or potentially rabid animal incidents so a report can be filed.
Gwinnett requires current rabies tags for cats and dogs.
Dogs, cats and ferrets that bite or scratch a person may require a 10-day quarantine period.
How to Reclaim an Impounded Pet From Gwinnett Animal Shelter
If your pet is at the Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center, move quickly. Search the official Shelter Pets page, call 770-339-3200, bring proof of ownership, bring photo ID, gather vaccination and rabies records, and ask staff which reclaim, boarding or other fees apply before visiting.
Gwinnett lists reclaim fees that may apply: first offense $50, second offense $100, and third offense or subsequent confiscation $200. Domestic animal boarding may be $10 per animal per day for certain pending citation or court cases and for stray animals reclaimed by an owner. Livestock animal boarding may be $15 per animal per day.
First offense: $50.
Second offense: $100.
Third or subsequent: $200.
Domestic animal boarding: $10 per animal per day when applicable.
Livestock boarding: $15 per animal per day when applicable.
Bring ID, photos, veterinary records, microchip records, rabies information and any ownership proof.
Holding periods and available adoption dates matter.
Call quickly if your pet may be at the shelter.
Gwinnett Owner Surrender, Foster Help and Rescue Options
Owner surrender at Gwinnett Animal Welfare & Enforcement is by appointment only. Gwinnett strongly encourages owners to attempt to rehome the pet themselves first through family, friends and coworkers, and then to try rescue resources before bringing the pet to the shelter.
Owner-surrender pets must meet specific criteria. The owner must be a Gwinnett County resident, show proof of ownership and residency, pay the $25 owner-surrender fee per animal, provide proof that the pet is current on vaccinations administered at least two weeks before surrender by a licensed veterinarian, and the pet must not have health issues. The pet must also pass a temperament evaluation by an animal control officer. At peak seasons, the shelter may not accept surrendered pets because of lack of space.
$25 per animal
Appointment and eligibility rules apply.
Gwinnett County residency, proof of ownership, current vaccination paperwork, no health issues and temperament evaluation.
Complete the owner surrender appointment request form and upload a required photo.
Gwinnett says you should receive an email within three business days stating whether the request is accepted or denied.
AnimalFoster@GwinnettCounty.com
678-226-7225
Gwinnett Animal Welfare vs Humane Society, Rescues and Lost-Pet Groups
The phrase “gwinnett animal shelter” can lead to the official county shelter, Gwinnett Humane Society, private rescues, foster groups, Facebook lost-pet groups, PetFBI, Petco Love Lost and third-party adoption directories. Those resources are not interchangeable.
Gwinnett County Animal Welfare & Enforcement and the Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center at 884 Winder Highway, Lawrenceville, GA 30045.
Gwinnett Humane Society, private rescue groups, pet stores, foster-only organizations or social media networking pages.
Wrong organization means wrong hours, wrong fee, wrong animal ID, wrong reclaim route, wrong complaint path and wrong lost-pet search.
Confirm the official domain, shelter address, phone number and animal listing before visiting, reporting, reclaiming or paying fees.
Official Gwinnett Animal Shelter, Adoption and Animal Services Links
Use these official resources first. This protects users from old hours, copied pet photos, expired adoption specials, wrong reclaim fee assumptions, private-rescue confusion and third-party pages that do not control Gwinnett County Animal Welfare & Enforcement operations.
🏠 Animal Welfare & Enforcement
Main Gwinnett County Animal Welfare & Enforcement page for shelter services, adoption, lost pets, owner surrender and enforcement resources.
Open Animal Welfare⏰ Animal Shelter
Official address, office hours, adoption hours, intake hours, road operations, closures and fee information.
Open Shelter Page🔎 Shelter Pets
Official shelter pet listing page for adoptable, stray and found animals.
View Shelter Pets🐾 Adoptions/Fosters
Official adoption process, no-hold rules, first-come policy, fees and foster information.
Open Adoption Info📍 Lost Pets
Official lost-pet guidance, shelter search advice and nuisance domestic animal information.
Open Lost Pets🤝 Owner Surrender
Official owner-surrender rules, criteria, appointment process and fee guidance.
Open Owner Surrender🚨 Ordinances & Complaints
Official animal ordinance, complaint, citation, dog restraint, tethering and bite case information.
Open Complaints Page💉 Rabies and Other
Official rabies tag, quarantine and animal health-related guidance.
Open Rabies Info☎️ Contact Animal Welfare
Official address, phone, fax and email for Gwinnett Animal Welfare & Enforcement.
Open Contact PagePhone, address and contact details
Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center
884 Winder Highway, Lawrenceville, GA 30045
Main: 770-339-3200
Fax: 770-339-3235
Main: AnimalWelfare@GwinnettCounty.com
Animal Rescue: AnimalRescue@GwinnettCounty.com
Dead Animal Removal: DeadAnimalRemoval@GwinnettCounty.com
Email: AnimalFoster@GwinnettCounty.com
Phone: 678-226-7225
Gwinnett Animal Shelter Map and Visit Location
The Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center is located at 884 Winder Highway, Lawrenceville, GA 30045. Use this location for adoption visits, shelter pet checks, lost-pet searches, reclaims, appointment-based surrender steps and official Gwinnett Animal Welfare & Enforcement contact.
Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center
Address: 884 Winder Highway, Lawrenceville, GA 30045
Gwinnett Animal Shelter FAQs
What is the official Gwinnett Animal Shelter?
The official county shelter is the Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center, operated by Gwinnett County Animal Welfare & Enforcement at 884 Winder Highway, Lawrenceville, GA 30045.
What are Gwinnett Animal Shelter adoption hours in 2026?
Adoption Center hours are Monday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Friday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sunday closed. On the first Monday of each month, the adoption center is listed as open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Verify before visiting during holidays, training days or construction changes.
What is the Gwinnett Animal Shelter phone number?
The main phone number is 770-339-3200. The fax number is 770-339-3235. The main email is AnimalWelfare@GwinnettCounty.com.
Does Gwinnett Animal Shelter allow holds on animals?
No. Gwinnett states there are no animal holds at any time. Adoptions and fosters are handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and there are no phone holds.
How much does it cost to adopt from Gwinnett Animal Shelter?
Dogs and puppies are listed at $45. Cats and kittens are listed at $30 or $20 for two. Senior pets age seven and older and long-term shelter pets of 30 days or more are free. Other animal categories have separate fees, and discounts may apply for veterans with proof and seniors age 50 and older.
What is included with a Gwinnett Animal Shelter adoption?
Gwinnett states that spaying/neutering, vaccinations, microchipping and, if needed, heartworm treatment are offered when you adopt a pet.
What should I do if my pet is lost in Gwinnett County?
Search the official Shelter Pets page, call 770-339-3200 with a description and last-seen address, update your microchip contact information, place lost-pet flyers and visit the Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center if your pet may be there.
What should I do if I found a pet or nuisance animal in Gwinnett County?
Call Gwinnett Animal Welfare & Enforcement at 770-339-3200. If you legally capture a nuisance domestic animal, provide adequate food, water and shelter until transport and share any owner information with staff.
How do I reclaim an impounded pet from Gwinnett Animal Shelter?
Call 770-339-3200, search the official shelter pet listings, bring proof of ownership, photo ID, microchip or veterinary records and ask staff which reclaim or boarding fees apply before visiting.
What are Gwinnett Animal Shelter reclaim fees?
Gwinnett lists reclaim fees as $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second offense and $200 for a third offense or subsequent confiscation. Boarding fees may also apply depending on the situation.
Can I surrender a pet to Gwinnett Animal Shelter?
Owner surrender is by appointment only. The owner must be a Gwinnett County resident, show proof of ownership and residency, provide qualifying vaccination paperwork, pay the $25 fee per animal, and the pet must meet health and temperament criteria. The shelter may not accept surrendered pets during peak seasons because of space.
Who do I call for animal complaints, bites or rabies concerns in Gwinnett County?
Call 770-339-3200 for animal welfare concerns such as stray dogs, neglect, cruelty, tethered dogs, sick or injured domestic animals and loose livestock guidance. For serious animal bite incidents or potentially rabid animal incidents, call or text 911 so a report can be filed.
Best Way to Use Gwinnett Animal Shelter Resources in 2026
The best path is simple: use Gwinnett County’s official Animal Welfare & Enforcement pages first, check current adoption hours, search Shelter Pets, click animal details for available adoption dates, call 770-339-3200 when a pet issue is time-sensitive, and use the correct official page for adoption, lost pets, found pets, reclaim, surrender, animal complaints, rabies and foster help.
For the focus keyword gwinnett animal shelter, this guide covers the full user intent: adoption hours, address, phone number, adoption fees, no-hold rules, available dates, lost pets, found pets, nuisance animals, reclaim fees, owner surrender, foster contact, animal control, rabies and bite reporting, map and official links. That is the difference between a useful county shelter page and a thin article that only repeats an address.
Important Notice: This article is an independent informational guide and is not Gwinnett County Government, Gwinnett County Animal Welfare & Enforcement, the Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center, a private rescue, a veterinarian, law enforcement, or a legal authority. Adoption availability, shelter hours, adoption fees, adoption discounts, no-hold policies, stray-hold status, reclaim fees, boarding fees, owner-surrender acceptance, construction access, holiday closures, animal control response and shelter operations can change. Always verify urgent or official matters directly with Gwinnett County Animal Welfare & Enforcement, emergency services, or the appropriate official agency before acting.