Animal Shelter Laws in Alabama

Alabama Law Requires a Pound

Although Alabama Code § 3-7A-7 requires every county to maintain a “pound” and every city with 5,000 or more residents to have a pound or pay a pro rata share toward the county pound, there are many counties in Alabama where there is no animal shelter, no animal control officer, and no veterinarian within 100 miles.

If your area has no animal control officer and no animal shelter, contact the office of the law enforcement official in charge (i.e. the sheriff or chief of police) to ask how you can get help. Everyone should have an opportunity to reclaim a lost pet no matter where they live, even if there is no shelter, and you should be able to help an animal without being charged with theft of property or without being told your only choice is to keep that animal yourself.

Impoundment, Stray Hold, Reclaiming Lost Pets

Alabama Code § 3-7A-2 requires current rabies vaccination for dogs, cats, and ferrets of three months of age or older. Dogs or cats found outside of the owner’s premises and not wearing a current rabies tag may be impounded, per § 3-7A-7. To request impoundment, you may either:

• Bring the animal to the shelter yourself, if you can safely do so; or
• Call the presiding police department or sheriff's office to request impoundment. To ensure that the officer can locate the animal upon arrival, confine the animal until then, if you are able to safely do so.

The owner, if known, must be notified and the dog must be held for seven days, per § 3-7A-8. This is a rabies hold period and is not a “property hold” period. The amount of time animals are held by shelters, often referred to as “stray hold,” varies greatly depending on the shelter and the circumstances. In Huntsville, an animal can be placed after three days.

Owners of impounded animals may reclaim at the shelter (or other facility as designated by the county or municipality). If the owner does not have a certificate of current rabies vaccination, Alabama law requires the purchase of a rabies vaccination and a penalty of up to double the (currently $10) state-set vaccination fee (§ 3-7A-6 and § 3-7A-8). A boarding fee is almost always required also.

Since collars can be lost or removed, microchipping is recommended (in addition to a collar with name and phone number) as a secure and inexpensive way to improve the odds of reuniting with your lost pet. Proactive ACOs scan for microchip data in the field, so that pets may be returned home without a stay in the shelter.

There are other circumstances for which a resident may be asked for an impoundment fee or intake fee:

• When a good samaritan brings a lost or abandoned animal to the shelter or protects the animal until the ACO picks up, an impoundment fee is not appropriate. If you are told you must pay to help an animal you do not own, that is wrong. Complain to the elected officials for the location so they know what is happening. Shelters that refuse to impound dogs found running at large or that require a fee are promoting abandonment (which is illegal when done by the public) and are failing in their public safety mission.
• Some shelters allow owners to relinquish their pets (sometimes called “owner surrender”), for which they require an intake fee to offset costs.

Sterilization Requirement

Sterilization of all sexually mature (defined as 180 days old) dogs and cats is required prior to relinquishment of custody to the adopter by all animal shelters, animal control agencies, and rescue organizations, per § 3-9. As an alternative, the law allows for a written agreement guaranteeing sterilization within 30 days after acquisition or within 30 days of the animal’s sexual maturity. However, written agreements have been found to be ineffective and difficult to enforce.