Animal Welfare Candidate Survey
Where do the candidates for Gwinnett County Commissioner stand on the animal-welfare issues affecting our community?
Animal welfare decisions are made at the ballot box, too.
Decisions made by the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners directly affect shelter operations, animal care, public safety and enforcement, funding, prevention programs, oversight, infrastructure and long-term animal-welfare priorities.
GAAA created this survey to give voters more than campaign talking points. Candidates are being asked where they stand on specific policies and what actions they would support if elected.
What We're Asking Candidates
The 68-question survey addresses the major policy, funding and oversight decisions that shape animal welfare in Gwinnett County.
Oversight & Accountability
- Animal Advisory Council independence
- Citizen representation
- Transparency and public records
- Independent review and cameras
Humane Care & Lifesaving
- Enrichment and behavioral welfare
- Veterinary and in-house medical care
- Euthanasia safeguards
- Rescue, foster and adoption opportunities
Prevention & Protection
- Spay/neuter and TNVR
- Breeding and retail pet sales
- Owner retention and reunification
- Animal-protection ordinances and enforcement
Capacity, Community & Resources
- Open intake and shelter capacity
- Emergency overflow planning
- Volunteer and rescue partnerships
- Budget priorities and performance measures
Built Around Gwinnett's Actual Animal-Welfare Issues
This is not a generic candidate questionnaire. GAAA developed the 2026 survey from the issues we have researched, documented and advocated on in Gwinnett County.
Records & Data
County records, shelter data, medical records, contracts, investigations and operational information help establish the factual basis for many of the questions.
Independent Analysis
GAAA's audits and issue analyses examine areas such as enrichment, managed intake, veterinary care, volunteer engagement, community cats and oversight.
Community Experience
Feedback from residents, volunteers, advocates, rescue partners and others helps identify where policies and practices affect animals and the people trying to help them.
Candidate Responses & Results
All candidates for the applicable Gwinnett County Commissioner seats are being given an opportunity to participate. Responses will be posted here after the survey deadline.
Commission District 2
Candidate participation and full survey responses will be published here after August 21.
Commission District 4
Candidate participation and full survey responses will be published here after August 21.
Voters deserve to know where candidates stand before Election Day.
Animal welfare requires decisions about policy, budgets, oversight, enforcement and County priorities. Publishing candidate responses creates a public record voters can use now — and a record residents can return to after the election.
