Animal Services in Cullman County

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Animal Control in Cullman 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.

One of Cullman Co. Animal Control’s three ACOs is an APOSTC-certified law enforcement officer; the other two ACOs were expected to earn their certifications in December 2025 and April 2026. Director Rodney Banister took the helm in Cullman County in June 2022; previously he had served as an ACO in the City of Cullman Police Department since 2001.

For after-hours emergencies, Cullman County Sheriff’s Office is on duty.

Cullman 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.

Arab: See Marshall Co.
[County population figure includes municipalities. Garden City is partly in Blount Co. Municipalities listed as § 3-1-5 (RAL column) may also require confinement by ordinance. Please email us to provide information.]

Is Dog Confinement Required in Cullman 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.

Cullman Co. officials state that they enforce Alabama Code § 3-1-5, which requires that dogs be confined to the owner’s premises or kept in the charge of a responsible person if off-premises.

Whether Cullman Co. Commission has formally adopted the statute is unclear. Officials point to Commission actions documented in 1989 meeting minutes and a 2014 resolution. However, neither record demonstrates an intentional adoption of § 3-1-5. Every other county commission voted specifically to adopt § 3-1-5, and most also passed a resolution regarding § 3-1-5 specifically. Cullman Co. Commission has done neither, according to the Commission’s documentation.

Even if the 1989 or 2014 actions are recognized as legal adoption, the county has much to gain were the Commission to pass a resolution to clarify adoption of § 3-1-5, much like their 2014 resolution to clarify utilization of § 3-1-16. A resolution today could create an opportunity to broadcast that dog confinement is required across the county, to get media coverage, and to ensure that residents affected by loose dogs know how to get help, for their own protection and to reduce potential county liability were there to be an attack. The increased communication could ease the work of ACOs. It could reduce the number of dogs killed or injured on roads and the burden of roads department personnel to remove their bodies or get medical treatment. And it could reduce breeding and thus the annual intake at the shelter. And it could protect dogs and other animals.

Animal Control Director Rodney Banister said enforcement usually begins with a resident’s report. An officer then goes to the scene. “Normally we give people warning,” Rodney said; “we don’t have to, but most of the time we educate first about the leash law.” If another report comes in the next week, Rodney explained, a citation is issued if the dog is off-premises during the ACO’s visit. If the ACO does not witness a violation, the resident has the option of going to the magistrate for a warrant, Rodney said.

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.

Cullman Co. Animal Shelter is operated by the Commission. Andrea Hudson directs the Cullman County Animal Shelter.

The shelter provides services to the City of Cullman and is currently helping Hanceville until that city determines the future of its disbanded police department in the wake of criminal allegations, Andrea said.

Andrea stated that sterilization is performed on all animals prior to adoption. Adopters pick up from the veterinary office after surgery. If the animal is too young for surgery, the adopter receives a sterilization voucher, and shelter staff follow up. They are very strict about compliance, Andrea said.

Cullman Co. Animal Census

Census Reports for Aug–Dec. 2025 were requested Oct. 14, 2026 from Director Rodney Banister.

Source: Cullman Co. Commission, with thanks to local advocate Michelle Miller.
Live Release Rate (LRR) = 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 Cullman Co.

• Cullman Veterinary Hospital participates 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, Madison County, or Jefferson County for additional resources.

Dog Bites & Attacks in Cullman 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:

• Cullman Co. Health Department at 256-734-1030, and
• Law Enforcement: Cullman County Sheriff’s Office at 256-734-0342, or your police department.

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

Access to Information & Public Records in Cullman County

Cullman County Attorney Brad Wilson spoke openly and knowledgeably about Cullman County’s recognition of the importance of animal control and the efforts to appropriately empower County ACOs for effective protection of public safety and animal safety alike. Brad shared information that may greatly assist other counties and ACOs.

Cullman County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to my Apr. 22, 2025 request for record(s) of § 3-1-5 adoption.

Cullman County Commission records have been hard to come by. I have obtained records from Commissions across the state through emailed public records requests, but Cullman County Clerk Tiffany Merriman and County Administrator John Bullard refused to provide records, citing an in-person requirement, and Animal Control Director Rodney Banister did not have a record of § 3-1-5 adoption.

The initial refusal, an Apr. 2, 2025, email from Heather Conn, stated, “I also spoke with our clerk and she said that if a copy is needed, we will need a records request, received in person, here in the County Commission office.” After attorney J. Evans Bailey, specialist on public records law and counsel to the Alabama Press Association, advised me that an in-person requirement is a violation of the Open Records Act, I sent another request on Apr. 7 stating such. I did not receive the records or a estimate of charges in the 10-day initial response period delineated by the law, so I followed up. On Apr. 22, County Clerk Tiffany Merriman refused the request, stating that no exception could be made to the Commission’s requirement to bring the form and DL in person. I emailed Commission Chairman Jeff Clemons and County Administrator John Bullard on the same day. On May 1, Tiffany said I would have to have an attorney contact the Cullman County attorney.

On May 1, County Administrator John Bullard said that his first concern was cybersecurity (which could easily be addressed by having me mail the request or fill out a form on their website rather than emailing it directly), “and secondly to verify who we are getting it from is a real person.” (Would a bot fake an email address, spoof a landline, and forge a DL to research a dog law?) John said the in-person policy was installed after the 2024 update to the Open Records Act, that he trusts that the policy is in compliance, and that he does not have the power to change the policy. Unlike every other county, the only option Cullman County made available was an in-person request.

In August 2025, Cullman resident Michelle Miller offered to request in person. Michelle submitted on Aug. 20 and received records on Sept. 3. The Commission also required Michelle to pickup of paper copies (rather than providing documents via email). Michelle paid the $5 fee. The Commission did not properly fulfill either portion of the request: the requested resolution was cut off (see page 2 of this PDF) and the shelter census was not in compliance with the Census Reporting Act.

Cullman Co. Documents & Sources

Documents:

• Cullman County Commission Public Records Request Form
• City of Cullman Public Records Request Form
• Cullman County Shelter Census data for Jan. through Aug. 2025, with thanks to Michelle Miller
• Cullman Title 3 Documentation, with thanks to Michelle Miller

Cullman County Sources:

• Cullman County Commission: 256-775-4878 or 256-739-3530 x5.
• Andrea Hudson, director of Cullman County Animal Shelter. Aubrie Kavanaugh spoke to Andrea on April 30, 2025.
• Heather Conn, Commission accountant. On Apr. 2, 2025, Heather emailed that she spoke to Rodney whose memory was that Title 3 was adopted by the Commission on Aug. 10, 1989 and that the Resolution adopted at the 2014 meeting was “only to clarify wordage.”
• Rodney Banister, Cullman County Animal Control Director: 256-734-5448. We spoke on May 7 and Oct. 30, 2025; Kristin requested Census Reports via email on Oct. 14, 2026, and also welcomed any corrections or additions to this page.
• John Bullard, Cullman County Administrator: 256-775-4925.
• Brad Wilson, Cullman County Attorney: 256-775-4893. We spoke on Oct. 28, 2025.
• Hon. J. Chad Floyd, District Court Judge: 256-775-4766. I called both District Criminal judges on Oct. 28, 2025, to ask about Cullman being the county apparently most efficient in enforcing § 3-1-5 (can they confirm convictions for violations? can they comment on citation by non-LEOs?); there was no answer. I also tried calling the office of Hon. Gregory A. Nicholas, Presiding Judge, where the call was answered by a recording that did not accept voicemails.
• Hon. Rusty Turner: 256-775-4767. See Hon. Floyd.
• Cullman County Sheriff’s Office: 256-734-0342.

Municipalities:

• City of Cullman: A FB post suggests that animal control is handled by the Cullman Police Department, 256-734-1434. Cullman County AC Director Rodney Banister confirmed this when we spoke on Oct. 30, 2025.
• Hanceville: 256-352-9830 x5x116. City Clerk Tania Wilcox did not answer, so I emailed an information request the morning of Oct. 27, 2025, then left a follow-up voicemail the afternoon of Oct. 28. Tania provided information when I called on Oct. 29. Ordinance 606 states that at-large dogs are impounded, perhaps per the referenced Ordinance 550 which is not posted on the Hanceville website’s ordinances section.

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