Animal Services in Chambers County

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Animal Control in Chambers Co.

Alabama requires local governments to pick up and impound loose dogs. Animal Control Officers (ACOs) also respond to reports related to dogs and cats.

Although ACOs may investigate cruelty or address municipal code violations, most Alabama ACOs are civilians who do not have law enforcement authority. The sheriff’s office and local PDs are responsible for the enforcement of cruelty laws.

Chambers Co. Animal Services At-a-Glance

Report animal concerns according to the location, as noted below. For more information about animal control and enforcement of animal laws, or if your concern is not being addressed, see this guidance.

[County population figure includes municipalities. Waverly is partly in Lee Co. The municipalities listed as § 3-1-5 (RAL column) may also require confinement by ordinance.]

Dog Confinement is Required in All of Chambers Co.

The applicable law is indicated in the right column of the table above. See Dog Confinement Laws for details.

• Tags required everywhere. All dogs in Alabama must wear a current rabies tag, per § 3-7A.
• Dog confinement is required by § 3-1-5 and municipal ordinances prohibiting running-at-large (RAL).

How to get help

• Report a loose dog or a RAL violation by following the reporting instructions provided in the table above.
• If you choose to assist a lost, stray, or abandoned pet, be aware of your rights and responsibilities.
• If your pet is lost, see these tips.
• Ask your Commission or Council to require dog confinement.

Chambers Co. Commission adopted Alabama Code § 3-1-5 in July 2025 via Resolution. The relevant meeting minutes are on pages 3, 7, and 8 of the PDF.

Impoundment Facilities & Shelters

If your pet is lost, remember to check not only the local shelter or impoundment facility, but also those in neighboring cities and counties.

The nonprofit Chattahoochee Humane Society (CHS) is the impoundment facility for all of the county, via a contract with the Chambers Co. Commission. Jessica Strickland and Trey Tingle serve as shelter directors.

Chattahoochee Humane Society committed to no kill principles in 2023, according to the shelter website. The facility has 47 kennels for adult dogs, dedicated spaces for cats and for puppies, and a medical intake area. CHS reported 722 intakes in 2025.

• Found Animals are posted on Facebook and at CHS Found Animals.
• Owner Surrenders are considered, with a $175 minimum fee.

Overwhelming Need, Director Said: In a brief conversation on June 12, 2026, interim director Dale Frazier spoke of how overwhelming the situation has become. She said 194 dogs are in the CHS system right now. Even with strong adoption numbers and constant efforts to transport dogs north, it has been challenging to keep up. Sterilization access is lacking, she said. As we spoke, Dale was about to depart for Atlanta to bring five dogs to a transport service. Volunteers have been contacting rescue organizations in northern states and Canada to expand rescue connections.

Minimal Capacity: We have been informed that Lanett and Valley are allocated only two kennels/month. We do not yet have details on how this is handled or whether the cities contract with CHS, but this capacity seems insufficient for cities of 7k and 10k population.

History: Dale Frazier has stepped up to lead the organization following the April 2026 resignation of former director Phalisha Hadaway (who is now ACO for the City of Valley). Current co-director Jessica Strickland previously served as CHS office manager, and Trey Tingle as kennel manager.

Chattahoochee Humane Society Humane Animal Census

Source: CHS 2024–2026 YTD annual reports; a previously provided 2025 annual report included the same intake data but 90 fewer outcomes.
YTD’26 = Annual rather than monthly reports were provided, with YTD range not specified. Since data was provided on Oct. 16, 2026, YTD may be Jan–Sept. We have requested clarification.
Live Release Rate = Live Outcomes ÷ Total Outcomes.

A substantial difference between Intake and Outcome totals suggests flawed or missing data and is indicated in Missing Outcomes, Adj. Total Outcomes, and in the LRR — pending accounting from the shelter.

Low-Cost Spay & Neuter in Chambers Co.

• Chattahoochee Humane Society facilitates a spay/neuter program when funding is available.
• Several Chambers County vets participate in the ALVMF license plate program. The co-pay is $10 per cat or $20 per dog, plus an average of $40–100 due if the vet deems your pet to be in need of vaccines or parasite treatments.
• See Low-Cost Spay & Neuter in Alabama for additional resources.

Dog Bites & Attacks in Chambers Co.

To have knowledge of a bite or scratch and fail to report it is a crime (§ 3-7A-9). First seek medical attention; then report as soon as possible to:

• Chambers Co. Health Department at 334-756-0758, and
• Law Enforcement: Chambers Co. Sheriff’s Office at 334-576-0914, or your police department.

See Dog Bites & Attacks for more information on reporting, quarantine, criminal charging, and legal implications.

Chambers Co. Documents & Sources

Documents

• Chattahoochee Humane Society Animal Census: 2025
• Chambers County Commission Resolution to Adopt Alabama Code § 3-1-5 (see pages 3, 7, and 8 of the pdf).
• Chambers County Commission Public Records Request Form: The County Commission does not appear to have a Public Records Request form on their website. Call the Commission to request a form or submit according to the Open Records Act template.

Sources

Chattahoochee Humane Society

• Oct. 18, 2026: Kristin emailed Jessica Strickland with questions regarding the tobacco tax allocation.
• Oct. 16, 2026: On Oct. 11, Kristin emailed Jessica Strickland, new co-director of Chattahoochee Humane Society, at the email address provided by Phalisha. I requested 2024–present monthly Animal Census Reports, preferably with beginning and end counts, and also invited Jessica to provide any corrections or additions to this page. Jessica provided annual numbers on Oct. 16.
• Sept. 28, 2026: Following an update from Phalisha, we invited Dale Frazier, interim director, and CHS to provide any corrections or additions to this page, and also asked for clarification of a couple Census data points.
• June 12, 2026: Dale Frazier, interim director, spoke about the shelter with Kristin Yarbrough and provided 2025 census records on June 12, 2026. Thanks to Jessica for passing the message to Dale.
• Mar. 20, 2025: We messaged CHS's Facebook page on Mar. 20, 2025 to ask whether Alabama Code § 3-1-5 status had been adopted by the Commission, but did not hear back.
• Mar. 20, 2025: Friends of Chattahoochee Humane: We contacted this organization's Facebook page on Mar. 20, 2025 to ask whether Alabama Code § 3-1-5 status had been adopted by the Commission, but did not hear back.

Other Animal Organizations:

• Oct. 19, 2026: Thanks to Forrest of Lanett Animal Clinic for an open and informative conversation about spay/neuter and sheltering in Chambers Co. A wide-ranging conversation included the information that Lanett and Valley are allocated only two kennels at CHS per month.
• Oct. 17, 2026: Tammy Gilpin of Angel’s Cabin of Cats provided information via Messenger.

Regina Chambers, Chambers County Manager, 334-476-2540:

• June 13, 2026: On May 20, 2026, Ms. Chambers quickly answered a request for Chattachoochee Humane Society census reports, stating that “Chambers County Commission does not have this information.” After receiving CHS 2025 census data , we passed it on to Ms. Chambers for her and the commissioners’ awareness on June 13, 2026.
• Jan. 22, 2026: Regina exchanged emails with Kristin Yarbrough on Jan. 22, 2026 regarding Alabama Code § 3-1-5 adoption and provided the resolution and meeting minutes.
• Apr. 25, 2025: Regina spoke to Aubrie Kavanaugh on Apr. 25, 2025 about the shelter and animal control in the county and municipalities. Regina reported that sterilization is performed on all animals prior to adoption, however the following year we learned that was not true.

Skip McCoy, Chambers County Attorney:

• Apr. 1, 2025: When we inquired with the Commission about Chambers County's Alabama Code § 3-1-5 status, we received an unsigned reply from commission.info@chamberscountyal.gov: “Your question has been forwarded to the county’s attorney for assistance.” Soon after, County Attorney Skip McCoy presented and explained the statute to Commissioners, who voted to adopt in July 2025.

Phalisha Hadaway, Valley ACO & former director of CHS:

• Oct. 11, 2026: Phalisha Hadaway, emailed on Sept. 28, 2026 to inform us of her new ACO position as at the Valley Police Department. We invited Phalisha to provide any corrections or additions to this page, and also asked for clarification of a couple Census data points. In continued conversation, we discussed the Census and invited Chattahoochee Humane to provide monthly Census Reports with beginning and end counts. Phalisha provided the current directors’ names on Oct. 11.

Lisa Wimberley, Supervisor at Lee County Animal Control:

• Mar. 28, 2025: Lisa Wimberley, Supervisor at Lee County Animal Control, offered information about animal control and Alabama Code § 3-1-5 status to Kristin Yarbrough on Mar. 28, 2025. Lisa stated that when animal control calls are received by Chambers County officials, residents are told to shoot the dog (which remains illegal in the absence of legal cause) or to transport the dog to the Chattahoochee Humane Society.

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