How to Report an At-Large Violation
A Note About Applicability
Only under all of the following conditions can Alabama Code § 3-1-5 or a local dog confinement ordinance be enforced:
- Running at large is prohibited at the location by either a municipal ordinance and/or by the state confinement law, and
- The dog is owned, and
- You know who the owner is.
If you don’t know who owns the dog, see Lost, Stray, or Abandoned.
How to Report
- Locate: Note the address at which the dog is running at large.
- Learn whether the statute and/or a municipal ordinance applies.
- Collect evidence: take photos and videos that clearly show the dog outside of the owner’s premises in violation of the law. Ensure that both the dog and surrounding landmarks can be identified.
- Report: If the violation is occurring within municipal limits, call the police department. If there is no local PD or if the violation is occurring in the unincorporated area, call your county’s Dispatch, non-emergency, or animal control. State that you would like to report a dog confinement violation. It can help to mention the law you are reporting under, whether § 3-1-5 and/or a municipal ordinance. Ask for the case number.
To learn how your report may be addressed and what you can do if violations continue, see Enforcement. If no citation is issued and violations continue, you may bring your evidence directly to the court. Ask the court magistrate or clerk for guidance and read Complaints before continuing. This is the general process:
- Follow up: Pick up the Incident Report and ensure that it is complete.
- Press charges: Bring the Incident Report and your evidence to the appropriate courthouse (county or municipal) during magistrate hours to write a statement and speak with a magistrate. If there is sufficient cause to charge the dog owner, he will be summoned to court to have the opportunity to plead guilty or to contest.
Procedures may vary. The outline above aims to balance the depth necessary for usefulness with the breadth required for statewide applicability. If you find significant differences in your area, please contact us. See the FAQ for additional information.