Website Contents
Animal Cruelty
- Cruelty Laws covers the basics about Alabama’s two sets of cruelty statutes and municipal ordinances, including what to know prior to reporting cruelty.
- Cruelty Laws in Depth discusses three key differences between the two sets of cruelty statute and why charges must be carefully selected.
- A History of Alabama’s Cruelty Laws traces the philosophic evolution from the concept of animals as mere property to meriting of protection for their own sake, the state’s first cruelty law (1977), and the legislative actions since then.
- Animal Hoarding, thought to be “the number one animal cruelty crisis facing companion animals,” also has significant impacts on the humans at the home, neighbors, and the larger community. Learn how to recognize and report hoarding.
- Animal Hoarding in Depth discusses legal considerations and cross-disciplinary approaches that can promote early intervention and minimize recidivism.
- How to Report Cruelty is a step-by-step guide on how to document, report, and press charges.
Dogs-at-Large Laws
- Dogs at Large Laws explains Alabama Code § 3-1-5, the state dog confinement or “leash law,” and similar municipal ordinances, the conditions in which they apply, where to report a violation, how the laws are enforced, and penalties.
- Has Your County Adopted the Law? Check the map to determine whether your county requires residents of the unincorporated area to confine dogs to their own property. Sources & Details offers supplemental information and research notes on each county.
- Information for Counties & Municipalities includes considerations for elected officials, animal control officers, law enforcement agencies, and citizens prior to adopting the statute.
- How to Report an At-Large Violation is a step-by-step guide on how to document, report, and press charges.
Other Animal Laws & Concerns
- Lost, Stray, or Abandoned is a guide on helping a lost, stray, or abandoned dog or cat, with special consideration of the legal issues involved.
- When Dogs Kill Livestock discusses the laws that hold a dog owner responsible for harm or death to livestock, how to report, and how to determine damages.
- Right to Defend discusses when residents may and may not legally harm an animal and suggests nonviolent remedies.
- Animal Shelter Laws is an overview of the main requirements for and within animal shelters, including the maintenance of an impoundment facility, conditions for impoundment, stray hold, reclaiming lost pets, and sterilization prior to adoption.
Legal Overview
- An Overview of Alabama’s Laws discusses the state's legislative system and governance structure at the state, county, and municipal level and introduces several of Alabama's animal-related laws.
- Elected Officials offers guidance on identifying and communicating with elected and appointed government officials.
- Enforcement of Animal Laws covers jurisdiction, how animal-related violations are enforced, challenges to enforcement, and what to do if a situation is not being addressed.
- Complaints is a guide to the largely unknown process sometimes referred to as “pressing charges” or “swearing out a warrant,” through which a resident can present evidence of a violation. Some violations can only be addressed via complaint; in other cases, a complaint is way to urge action on an issue that is not being addressed by law enforcement or animal control authorities.
- Evidence describes the information and materials that are sometimes necessary to demonstrate a violation.
- FAQ addresses questions such as anonymity of the witness, helping animals without breaking laws, what to do if an animal has critical injuries or medical needs, and legal terms.
Other Content
- Home includes an introduction, a request to share site content, and contact information.
- About shares the personal experience that became the impetus for education and advocacy.
- Sharing offers graphics and share links to make it easy to offer information on reporting cruelty (cat and dog versions) or concerns related to loose dogs (at-large violations; lost, stray, or abandoned; or harm to livestock).
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