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1. What Services does the animal shelter provide?

Please view our Services Provided page.

2. Where is the Animal Shelter's hours and location?

Animal Shelter
337 Gil Harbin Industrial Blvd.
Valdosta, GA 310601
Directions

Ph: 229-671-2760

Reclaim Hours
Tuesday - Friday
Noon - 4:45 p.m.

Saturday
Noon - 4 p.m.

Adoption Hours
Tuesday - Friday
Noon - 4:30 p.m.

Saturday
Noon - 3 p.m.

Animal Drop Off Hours
Monday - Saturday
8 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.

3. I have lost my pet, what next?

If you have lost your pet you must come to the shelter to identify it. We cannot tell you over the phone if your animal is here. We hold animals for 3 business days. Every effort is made to contact possible pet owners. Animals with rabies tags, ID tags, and microchips are traced to the last registered owner. If your contact information is not current, please call the microchip company or your veterinarian to update your information.

4. How do I adopt a pet from the Lowndes County Animal Shelter?

Please visit our Adoptions page.

5. How can I have a dead animal removed ?

• If the animal is located in the city, please call city sanitation at 229-259-3585.
• If the animal is located in the county, please call county sanitation 229-671-2700.

6. Why do I have to vaccinate my pet? He never leaves the house ...

To protect the health and safety of its citizens, this state and county has rabies laws. We live in an area where wild and domestic animals have been found to have rabies on occasion. Bats, Raccoons, fox, cats, dogs, and ferrets all can be rabies carriers and fall under the rabies control laws. However, rodents, opossum, squirrel, and rabbits are not likely to be carriers of rabies and exposure of your pet to these animals is not an emergency.

All dogs, cats, and ferrets must have an annual vaccination by a licensed Veterinarian, and display the current rabies tag on their body. If your animal has been exposed to a possible carrier, an exposure report must be made and quarantine procedures followed. Please call the shelter at 229-671-2760 and dial 0.

7. My pet lost its rabies tag. How do I get a duplicate?

Call your veterinarian for a replacement rabies tag. Harnesses are a good way to keep a tag on your dog. If tying out your dog, use 2 collars, one further down the neck for tag and one above it to tie out with. If he breaks free of the collar above he will still have the collar below with a tag. We can trace the animal back to you with a current rabies tag on. Try using a heavy key chain ring to attach the tag to the collar.

8. Is there a low cost spay and neuter program in Lowndes County?

Yes, Low-Cost Spay / Neuter Program sponsored by the Humane Society of Valdosta / Lowndes
County and the Valdosta Veterinary. Pets may be spayed or neutered as young as 3 months. Call 229-242-SPAY (7729) for more information.

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1. Will it hurt my pet when he gets the microchip implanted?

It won’t hurt any more than a routine vaccination – having a microchip implanted doesn’t even require anesthetic. The procedure is performed at your veterinarian’s office and is simple and similar to administering a vaccine or a routine shot.

The microchip comes preloaded in a sterile applicator and is injected under the loose skin between the shoulder blades. The process takes only a few seconds, and your pet will not react any more than he would to a vaccination.

2. Will a microchip tell me my pet’s location?

Pet microchips are not tracking devices and do not work like global positioning devices (GPS). They are radio-frequency identification (RFID) implants that provide permanent ID for your pet.
Because they use RFID technology, microchips do not require a power source like a GPS. When a microchip scanner is passed over the pet, the microchip gets enough power from the scanner to transmit the microchip’s ID number. Since there’s no battery and no moving parts, there’s nothing to keep charged, wear out, or replace. The microchip will last your pet’s lifetime.

3. Why does my pet need a microchip when he already wears a collar with tags?

All pets should wear collar tags imprinted with their name and the phone number of their pet parent, but only a microchip provides permanent ID that cannot fall off, be removed, or become impossible to read.

4. How much does it cost to microchip my pet?

The average cost to have a microchip implanted by a veterinarian is around $45, which is a one–time fee and often includes registration in a pet recovery database.
If your pet was adopted from a shelter or purchased from a breeder, your pet may already have a microchip. Consult your pet adoption paperwork, or have your pet scanned for a microchip at your next vet visit to reveal the unique microchip ID number and register it.

5. Isn’t microchipping only for dogs?

Both cats and dogs need to be microchipped.

Cats often do not wear collars, and may not have any other form of ID. A recent study showed that less than 2% of cats without microchips were returned home. However, if a cat is microchipped, the return-to-owner rate is 20 times higher than if the cat was not microchipped.

6. Can anyone with a scanner access my contact information from the chip?

Microchips carry only a unique identification number.

If your pet gets lost and is taken to a vet clinic or animal shelter, your pet will be scanned for a microchip to reveal his unique ID number. That number will be called into the pet recovery service, and you will be contacted using the contact information on file with your pet’s microchip.
**It is vital to keep your contact information up to date so that you can be reached.

7. How many times do I need to microchip my pet?

A microchip will normally last the lifetime of your pet because it is composed of biocompatible materials that will not degenerate over time.

The HomeAgain® microchip has the Bio-Bond™ patented anti–migration feature to help ensure the chip stays where it’s implanted. Also, since microchips require no power source and have no moving parts, there’s nothing that can wear out and need to be replaced. Pet parents can also check to make sure their pet’s microchip is still working by asking a vet to scan it during their pet’s next checkup.

8. My pet has a microchip. Is that all I need to protect him if he gets lost?

A microchip is only the first step! You must register your pet’s microchip to give your pet the best protection.

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1. Why does the water system need to be routinely flushed?

The County’s water distribution system is a complex network of pipes and storage reservoirs where sediment or deposits may naturally accumulate over time. If not removed, these materials may cause water quality deterioration, taste and odor problems, or discoloration of the water. Water may also stagnate in lesser used parts of the distribution system. This can
result in degraded water quality.

2. Is the Utility Department the only ones that flush the lines?

No, the Fire Department is required to flush hydrants when they are testing hydrants to make sure adequate flow and pressure is available.

3. What should I do when I see county utility crews flushing hydrants in my area?

If you see a county utility crew flushing hydrants, please drive carefully.

4. What should I do after the flushing?

If the tap water is used during flushing, it could come out full of sediment and discoloration. If you encounter discolored water, shut the water off and wait several minutes. After waiting, check the clarity by running cold water for a few minutes allowing new water to work its way into your pipes. If not, wait a few more minutes and check again. In some cases, you may experience slight discoloration for a few hours. This discoloration only affects the appearance of the water; it does not affect the taste or water quality.

5. What should I do if my water pressure or volume seems low after flushing?

Check your faucet and washer screens for trapped debris.

6. Why does the water look funny after hydrant flushing?

When a hydrant is opened, there will always be temporary incidences of discolored water containing fine sediment particles. There is no health hazard associated with discolored water. Allow a few hours for discoloration to dissipate. To verify the water has settled, allow your cold water tap to run a few minutes. If the discoloration persists for more than 24 hours, please contact our County Utility Department at 229-671-2500.

7. Is it OK to drink sediment - laden or discolored water during temporary disturbance events?

It is recommended that water users wait until the water has cleared before using it for potable purposes.

8. How is the flushing program related to hydrant testing by the fire departments?

The County Fire Department also conducts routine “flow testing” of fire hydrants. This is an important effort toward ensuring hydrant effectiveness for fire control purposes. Such testing is a separate effort independent from the Utility Department flushing program and assists us with knowing if our fire hydrants are working properly.

9. What is the silt in the water system after flushing?

Water contains minerals and these minerals react with the inside of the pipe to produce the by-product. This chemical reaction between the pipe and water is a normal and natural process. This process can occur on the inside of the pipe and prevent an adequate volume of water flow. The flushing process removes much of this by-product.

10. What will happen if fire hydrants are turned on or off too quickly?

This will cause “water hammer”, which is a pressure surge or wave when water in motion is forced to stop or change direction suddenly. The pressure wave can cause major problems, from noise and vibrations to pipe collapse. In home plumbing, this is experienced as a loud bang resembling a hammering noise. Utility Department and Fire Department employees have received instruction on how to operate fire hydrant valves slowly to avoid water hammer.

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1. How is my property value determined?

Please view the Property Values page.

2. What property exemptions are available?

Homestead, School, Disabled Veterans, & Preferential Agriculture
Property tax is one of the primary sources of revenue for Lowndes County. It is used to fund police and fire services, education, roads, bridges, water, parks, and other county services. The basis for property tax is the fair market value of the property, which is established on January 1 of each year. The tax is levied on the assessment value, which by law is established at 40% of fair market value. The amount of tax is determined by the millage rate. One mill of tax is equal to $1 per $1,000 of assessed value. We accept applications year round. Applications for the current year must be made prior to March 1 of the year the application is being sought. Once you have applied for an exemption, you do not need to reapply unless you move to another location.

Special Exemptions
You may be eligible for conservation use or preferential agricultural assessment exemption if you are in good faith agricultural / forest production. This would include producing plants, trees, fowl or animals, or the production of aquaculture, horticulture, floriculture, forestry, dairy, livestock, poultry and apiarian products. With both programs, you enter into a 10-year covenant with Lowndes County whereby you agree to continue your property in agricultural or forestry production.

Residential Transitional Exemption
If you live in an area that is in a transition from residential to commercial use, and it is affecting the value of your property, you may apply for a residential transitional assessment covenant. This is also a 10-year covenant. For all 3, apply between January 2 and April 1.

For additional information view the Exemptions page.

3. How can I appeal my assessment?

Basis for Appeal
After the assessors establish a new value on a piece of property, the taxpayer is sent an assessment notice. The assessment informs you of the new proposed valuation of your property. You have 45 days to appeal the new valuation if you feel its incorrect. The appeal must be filed in writing. Late appeals are invalid. Basis for appeal After you have given careful consideration to the value placed on your property and if you feel its incorrect, your appeal should be based on one of the following areas of appeal:

• Taxability: Is the property taxable or does it qualify for exempt status?
• Uniformity: Does the property value compare with the value of similar properties?
• Value: Is the property value too high or too low?

Appeals Process
When you file an appeal, the Board of Assessors reviews it and determines whether a change in the valuation is warranted. If no change is made, it will then go to the next level of appeal, either to arbitration or to the Board of Equalization but the taxpayer must choose 1 at the time the original appeal is filed. If either side disagrees with the decision of the arbitrator(s) or the Board of Equalization, the taxpayer or the assessor may proceed to the next level of appeal, Lowndes County Superior Court.

For more information view the Assessment Appeals page.

4. How is the tax rate figured?

The tax rate, or millage, is set annually. A tax rate of 1 mill represents a tax liability of $1 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Example
The assessed value--40% of the fair market value--of a house that is worth $100,000 is $40,000. In a county where the millage rate is 25 mills the property tax on that house would be $1,000; $25 for every $1,000 of assessed value or $25 multiplied by 40 is $1,000.

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1. How much is my citation?

Please contact the Lowndes County Clerk's Office at 229-671-3320.

2. When is my court date?

If you have a citation please contact the Lowndes County Clerk's Office at 229-671-3320 to find out your citation payment due date and court date. If you have a non-jury or jury trial court date please contact the Solicitor's Office
at 229-671-2510.

3. I need to change my court date. Who do I need to speak to?

Please contact the Solicitor's Office at 229-671-2510.

4. I've paid my citation but I received a letter from the State of Georgia saying I owe $200 for a Super Speeder fine. What do I need to do?

Please contact the Georgia Department of Driver Services and click on Pay Reinstatement / Super Speeder fee(s) in the box labeled Online Services or call GA Department of Driver Services.

Driver's License Information
Ph: 678-413-8400
Ph: 678-413-8500
Ph: 678-413-8600
Ph: 866-754-3687 (Inside Georgia but outside the Metro Atlanta Area)

Hours
Monday - Friday
7 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.

5. I would like to pay my citation using my credit card. How do I do this?

Please call 855-862-8851 or go online pay your ticket online. You must have your citation number and fine amount. If you do not have this information please contact the Lowndes County Clerk’s Office at 229-671-2905.

6. I need a clearance form. Who can help me with this?

Please contact the Lowndes County Clerk's Office at 229-671-3320 and they will help you.

7. Who do I need to speak to about failure to appear?

Please contact the Lowndes County Clerk's Office at 229-671-3320 and they will be able to help you with this.

8. I need a certified copy of my court disposition. What do I need to do?

Please submit a request by mail to:
Lowndes County State Court
P.O. Box 1349
Valdosta, GA 31603

Please include:

• Address you would like your certified copies sent to
• Charges
• Contact number
• Date of birth
• Date of charge
• Your full name (including maiden name and/or any alias)

There will be a minimum charge of $7.50 per case (E.g. If you request certified copies of 2 cases the fee would be $15 or if you request 2 certified copies of 1 case the total would be $15). Please allow 3-5 business days to process your request.

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1. What is property taxation?

Property tax is an ad valorem tax, which means according to value. Ad valorem tax, the tax collected by the tax commissioner, is based on the value of the taxable property in the county.

2. What property is taxed?

All real estate and personal property are taxable unless law has exempted the property. (OCGA 48-5-3) Real property is land and generally anything that is erected, growing or affixed to the land; personal property is everything that can be owned that is not real estate. Personal property typically consists of inventory and fixtures used in conducting business, boats, aircraft, farm machinery, motor vehicles and mobile homes. Your household property is not normally taxable.

3. Who decides how much my property is worth for tax purposes?

The Board of Assessors and their staff have the responsibility of determining the value of property in Lowndes County. Each year between January 1 and April 1 every property owner has the ability to declare a proposed value for their property. (OCGA 48-5-9) These values are declared in the manner of 'filing a return'. Returns for real estate are filed in the Tax Assessor's office and returns for personal property are filed with the Board of Assessors. The Board of Assessors will review your proposed value and if they disagree, an assessment notice with the Boards' value will be mailed to you.

4. What if I disagree with the Tax Assessors' value?

Taxpayers may challenge an assessment by Lowndes County Board of Tax Assessors by appealing to Lowndes County Board of Equalization or to an arbitrator(s) within 45 days from the date of the assessment notice. Once the county board of equalization or the arbitrator(s) has rendered a decision, the taxpayer may continue their appeal to the superior court by mailing or filing with Lowndes County Board of Tax Assessors a written notice wishing to continue the appeal. For more information about the appeal process, visit the Lowndes County Tax Assessors page.

5. What is the difference between fair market value and assessed value?

Assessed value is defined as being 40% of the fair market value. Property in Georgia is taxed on the assessed value.

6. What is a millage rate?

The tax rate, or millage rate, is set annually by the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners and the Lowndes County Board of Education. A tax rate of 1 mill represents a tax liability of 1 dollar per $1,000 of assessed value. Each governing authority estimates their total revenue from other sources. This figure is subtracted from their overall budgetary needs, and then a millage rate is set that will generate the necessary revenues to fulfill budgetary requirements.

7. How is my tax bill calculated?

Once the property owner and the Board of Assessors have come to terms with an appropriate value, this value is provided to the tax commissioner for tax bill calculation. To calculate a tax bill, you must first deduct any exemptions that may apply from the assessed value; thus generating a net assessed (taxable) value. Next you multiply the net assessed value by the millage rate.

8. What is the HTRC credit on my tax bill?

The HTRC (Homeowner's Tax Relief Credit) is the result of the homeowner's tax relief enacted by the Governor and the General Assembly of the State of Georgia in 1999. This credit only applied to homesteaded property. This state tax relief grant that funded an increased homestead exemption for homeowners for the last several years will not be available in 2009. Declining state revenues during the current recession means there is no money for the State to give the tax relief to homeowners. This will mean a property tax increase of $200 to $300 on the 2009 tax bills for many Georgia homeowners. The grant appropriated by the General Assembly and the Governor for the last several years to counties, cities and schools had given tax relief to homeowners in the form of a credit on their tax bills.

9. When is my tax bill due?

Taxes for real estate and business personal property are normally due in Lowndes County on November 15 each year. Mobile / modular homes are due May 1 of each year and motor vehicles are due based on the owners' birthday. After the due date, for real estate and business personal property, interest at the rate of 1% per month is charged after November 15. Additionally, a penalty of 10% will apply to all taxes that are not paid within 90 days of the deadline, however, homesteaded property with a tax liability of less than $500 does not receive the 90 day penalty. If the property taxes remain unpaid, the tax commissioner has the right and responsibility to levy on the property for non-payment. Of course we consider this a last resort for tax collection and prefer to use other collection methods.

10. Is there anyway to reduce my tax bill?

Yes. There are several exemptions and special assessment programs available that may apply to your property. The most common are the homestead exemption for real estate and for business personal property there is the Freeport Exemption. Contact the Lowndes County Tax Assessors Office for details of the available special assessment programs. Contact the Lowndes County Tax Commissioner's Office for details of the available Homestead Exemptions.

11. What is and how do I file for homestead exemption?

Homestead exemption is the system developed by the State of Georgia that exempts from taxation a specified amount of assessed value of your home. You may apply for homestead exemption in the Tax Commissioner's Office. To qualify you must both own and occupy your home as of January 1. Once you have qualified for homestead exemption and remain in the same house you do not need to reapply. However, if you move, you are required to reapply for the exemption for the new location. Application for homestead exemption may be submitted any time during the year but must be received before March 1 of the taxable year to qualify for the exemption that year. If received after March 1, the tax assessor will activate the exemption the following year. When the homeowner reaches the age of 65 years old, they may apply for an additional homestead exemption.

12. Where do I get a copy of my warranty deed?

You can obtain a copy of your warranty deed from the Clerk of Superior Court record center. This office is located:
Lowndes County Courthouse
100 Central St.
Valdosta, GA 31601

13. Do I pay taxes on my mobile / modular home?

Yes. Mobile / modular homes are considered personal property and are taxable in the State of Georgia. Tax must be paid annually with a due date of May 1. The owner of any mobile / modular home located in Lowndes County must file a return and obtain a location permit. In order to obtain this permit the mobile home tax for the current year must be paid in full.

14. Where do property tax dollars go?

• To build and maintain county roads
• To build and repair public buildings and bridges
• To pay expenses of courts, county jail and law enforcement
• To provide for fire protection
• To provide for public health and sanitation
• To support administration of county government and the public school system

This is an abbreviated list; please see Georgia Code for a complete list. (OCGA 48-5-220)

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1. Where are you located?

Administration Building
327 N. Ashley St.
1st Floor
Valdosta, GA 31601
Ph: 229-671-2500

2. What are your hours?

Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

3. What is needed to open an account?

• Drivers License
• Lease Agreement (renting)
• Sign a User Agreement
• Social Security Number

4. Is a deposit required?

A refundable $100 deposit is applied to your first months billing. The deposit is refunded after a year in service with good payment history.

5. How do I get my Deposit back?

After you have been in service for a year, with a good payment history, you can request to have your deposit refunded to you, or your deposit will stay on file until you close your account at which time the deposit is applied to your outstanding account balance and the difference refunded or you will have a balance due on your closing account statement.

6. Will my water be turned on the same day?

If you sign up for service before 3 p.m., water will be turned on that same day.

7. What are your water / sewer rates?

Water / sewer billing is based on the amount of water consumption that you use. Please see Utility Rates.

8. What if we need to contact Utilities after regular business hours?

Contact the after hour emergency number at 229-671-2500.

9. My sewer is backing up, what do I do?

Contact the Lowndes County Utility Office at 229-671-2500 and report the problem.

You may also want to contact a plumber. Lowndes County Utility Department will check the county's main sewer lines to make sure there is proper flow in our lines and no blockage. If our lines are clear this indicates that the customer service lines may have a blockage and the customer would be responsible for contacting a plumber to unplug their service lines.

10. I have no water...

Contact the Lowndes County Utility Office at 229-671-2500 and report the problem. Sometimes it is our customers that alert us to problems in the field that we may not know about.

11. I don't think you are reading my meter...

We encourage our customers to always check the readings on their monthly billing statements with the readings that are on the actual water meter. Keeping in mind that a reading may have been taken on one day and it takes a couple of days to get the billing statements to our customers so there may be additional usage within those days, but the readings should be pretty close to what is reported on your billing.

12. I don't ever see the meter reader looking at my meter and there is dirt and water over the meter dial, there is no way they can get readings from this meter...

Lowndes County has radio read water meters, which means that our meter reader has a computerized system in their vehicle and as they drive down a street they are able to electronically (radio waves) pick up meter readings without actually looking at the individual meters.

13. My neighbor’s water bill is less than mi ne and we use the same amount of water...

Unless you have a faulty water meter, if you use the same consumption that your neighbor does, your water bills will be the same.

14. How do I know if I have a faulty water meter?

We encourage our customers to understand how their water meter works. Customers can perform a simple meter calibration test to see if the meter is recording the correct amount of water usage. Fill a bucket with 10 gallons of water and take another reading on your water meter and the difference from the first reading and the reading after you fill the bucket should be 10 gallons. Faulty meters will give zero readings. If the meter is not registering a reading for 3 months the Utility Department will request to have the faulty water meter changed out.

15. Why does my water taste or smell funny?

A noticeable taste can come from the chlorine that is added to the water to kill germs. A rotten-egg odor is caused by a smelly chemical in the water called hydrogen sulfide, sulfur water, this is a natural product in our water supply that comes from the Floridian Aquifer. Metallic tastes can come from copper that has dissolved from copper pipe and from rusted iron pipes that are used for plumbing inside the customer's home.