Animal Services in Macon County

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Impoundment Facilities or Shelters in Macon County

With no impoundment facility and no animal control, Macon County is failing to fulfill the statutory mandate of Alabama Code § 3-7A-7 that “Each county within the state shall provide a suitable county pound and impounding officer.”

The only shelter in Macon County is the private Macon County Humane Society, which receives no funding from Macon County or from any city government.

The private nonprofit Macon County Humane Society accepts animals from Macon County Compliance Office and Tuskeegee Animal Control, as space allows, and helps them find homes and rescue commitments.

Animal Control in Macon County

Animal Control in Unincorporated Areas of Macon County: Jabari Ware and office manager Josetta Stewart of the Macon County Compliance Office are responsible for impoundment of loose dogs in Macon County, among many other Compliance Office duties. They are assisted by Building & Grounds Department staff, Josetta said. Impounded dogs are taken to Macon County Animal Shelter if space is available or to the nonprofit 100-acre Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Shorter, where Josetta said they are held for “a couple days” to give owners an opportunity to reclaim.

To report a lost or found dog, call the Compliance Office at 334-724-2554. Enforcement of animal laws, including neglect and abuse, is the responsibility of the Macon County Sheriff’s Office; call 334-727-2500.

Animal Control Within Corporate Limits & Police Jurisdiction:

• Tuskegee Animal Control is operated by Tuskeegee Police Department. Call 334-727-0200 for assistance. Impounded dogs and dogs available for adoption are posted on the City of Tuskeegee Animal Control Facebook page.
• To request help with an animal concern in Franklin, Notasulga, or Shorter, call the police department, town hall, or the contacts listed above for Macon County.

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

Dog Confinement Requirements in Macon County

Macon County officials stated that they enforce Alabama Code § 3-1-5 and believe it to be applicable, but had no record of statute adoption and expressed misconceptions over statute applicability, as detailed in Sources.

It is unclear whether Macon County municipalities Franklin, Notasulga, Shorter, or Tuskegee have ordinances that require owners to keep dogs confined on their own property. Please email us if you can share information.

Our Recommendation for those in the unincorporated area or in a municipality with unclear statutory authority is to proceed as if the statute or an ordinance is applicable, by keeping their own dogs confined or in their charge and by reporting owners who allow their dog to run loose, for the safety of people and animals alike.

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

Low-Cost Spay & Neuter in Macon County

• Sterilization and other veterinary services may be available from the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine. Call 334-727-8436 or email tucvmvetcare@tuskeegee.edu.
• See Low-Cost Spay/Neuter in Alabama for other programs that may be available to Macon County residents.

Macon County Documents

• Macon 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

• Tracey Moon, human resources & payroll director, Macon County Commission, 334-727-5120 x1, shared information about sheltering and animal control in Macon County on an Apr. 30, 2025 phone call.
• Josetta Stewart, office manager, Macon County Compliance Office, 334-724-2554, discussed Alabama Code § 3-1-5 on Mar. 31, 2025. Josetta said the statute had been adopted, and that she would call back with the year of adoption. On Apr. 29, Josetta emailed, “I thought we had adopted this law but as of now I cannot find it. I will keep looking and ask some questions about whether it has been done or not.” On May 5, 2026, Josetta relayed that a superior said the county is “governed by all of the state laws” and required to enforce all [e.g., including § 3-1-5]. I mentioned that § 3-1-5 was an exception in that it had to be adopted by the Commission to be applicable; she said she remembered seeing that in the information I had sent her. We also discussed animal control on that call.

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