Animal Services in Limestone County

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Impoundment Facilities or Shelters in Limestone County

Limestone County Animal Care & Control is structured under both the Commission and the Sheriff’s Office, according to Tev, vet tech at the leased facility, which WHNT described as an “overcrowded rented veterinary clinic currently being used as the county shelter.” Christy Perry has directed since September 2024. Tev provided the following facility details:

• Stray Hold is 7 days.
• Spay/Neuter is performed on all animals prior to release to the adopter.
• Animal Census Reports may be requested from the Commission.

Limestone County Commission purchsed a 3.5 acre parcel for $355,000 from the City of Athens in June 2026 with the intention of building a shelter, Archie Snowden reported for WHNT. “Commissioners say they hope to begin taking bids for the new construction in the coming months,” Snowden wrote.

Previously, Athens Limestone (now Athens City Animal Shelter) handled county animal control and sheltering via a contract with Limestone County. In fall 2024, the county declined Athens Limestone’s renewal bid, opting instead to handle AC and sheltering directly, per reporting by WHNT and WAFF.

Athens City Animal Services, a nonprofit organization, was awarded the City of Athens contract in Sept. 2024, according to AL.com. Animal census reports are published at the Athens City Animal Shelter website.

Animal Control in Limestone County

Animal Control in Unincorporated Areas of Limestone County: Limestone County Animal Control’s two ACOs are officers at Limestone County Sheriff’s Office, Tev said. Call 256-233-8700 for assistance.

Animal Control Within Corporate Limits & Police Jurisdiction:

• Athens is served by Athens City Animal Control. Call 256-233-8700 or report a lost or found animal on the Athens Limestone Animal Services website.
• In Ardmore, Elkmont, Lester, or Mooresville, contact Limestone County Animal Control.
• Decatur information is at Animal Services in Morgan County.
• For assistance with concerns in Huntsville or Madison, see Animal Services in Madison County.

If your ACO is unable to help or if your area has no animal services, see this guidance.

Dog Confinement Requirements in Limestone County

Dog confinement is required in Limestone County because the Limestone County Commission adopted 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.

Limestone County adopted Alabama Code § 3-1-5 in 1994 via Resolution. The county website includes an undated copy of the adoption resolution.

Limestone County Municipal Dog Confinement Requirements:

• Dog confinement is required by ordinance in Athens (§ 10-36), Decatur (§ 4-2 and 4-4), Huntsville (§ 5-44), Madison (§ 6-11).
• Ardmore, Elkmont, Lester, Mooresville most likely do require dog confinement, whether via statute or ordinance. (These municipalities do not publish their ordinances online.)

How to Report: See How to Report an At-Large Violation.

Low-Cost Spay & Neuter in Limestone County

• The SNYP Program, funded by the Athens City Council, helps members of the Athens City community who cannot afford to have their pets sterilized. See the Athens Limestone Animal Services FAQ for application instructions.
• Assistance may be available from North Alabama Animal Warriors. Leave a detailed message or text at 256-664-1041.
• See Low-Cost Spay/Neuter in Alabama or Low-Cost Spay Neuter in Madison County for additional resources.

Limestone County Commissioner Derrick Gatlin told WHNT that once the new county facility is operational, the Commission would “try to partner with a low cost spay and neuter program to try and help with the front end of the population to control it.”

Access to Information & Public Records in Limestone County

Commission, Archives Department: April Davis and Allen, Limestone County archivists, guided me to the Alabama Code § 3-1-5 adoption resolution on a Mar. 18, 2025 phone call. April and Allen located the resolution on page 16 of the 1994-1995 Resolutions book which can also be accessed online: go to the Archives website, click the link under Online Documents, select County Commission Minutes, leave the form blank and press Search, click Open for 1994-1995, and go to page 16. There is essentially no related discussion recorded in the minutes (page 15–16). April and Allen went above and beyond in immediately searching for the document, which April said they did by querying the archives for “dog resolution” and then checking each of the results for relevance (I also checked out of curiosity about other dog topics, but none of the other results appeared to relate to dogs), and also showing me how to navigate to it in the archives system. I applaud the archivists and Limestone County for having thorough digitalized records and making them freely available to the public.

Limestone County Documents

• Athens City Animal Services Animal Census
• Limestone County Commission Alabama Code § 3-1-5 adoption resolution (1994) and updated copy
• Limestone County Archives
• County Commission Public Records Request Form: I did not find a form on the county website. Check the Archives, call the Commission to request, or submit according to the Open Records Act template.

Sources

• Tev, vet tech, Limestone County Animal Care & Control, shared information about the impoundment facility and animal control via tel on Apr. 25, 2025.
• April Davis and Allen, Limestone County archivists, provided the Alabama Code § 3-1-5 adoption resolution, as detailed above.
• North Alabama Animal Warriors assist with spay and neuter in Limestone County (only), per the CEO via email on Jan. 16, 2026.

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