Animal Control & Pounds by County

What Animal Services are Provided in Alabama Counties?

Every Alabama county is required to provide a pound and impoundment officer and to report to the public on animal intake and outcomes. Every city with a population of 5,000 or more must provide their own pound or contribute to the county facility. The requirements are set forth in Alabama Code § 3-7A-7 and detailed at Animal Shelter Requirements in Alabama.

The map provides a bird’s-eye view of pounds and animal control at the county level. Counties that provide a pound and animal control (AC) are shown in blue below. Alabama counties that lack animal services are indicated in gray, green, or stripes. Information about all facilities in each county, plus animal control, dog confinement requirements, low-cost sterilization, and more can be found by selecting the link to your county.

The map reflects only the existence of a county impoundment facility and an animal control officer. State law also requires that municipalities over 5,000 provide or fund animal services. Municipal animal services are detailed at Resources in Your County.

The map also does not reflect whether the services provided are “suitable,” which is a requirement of the statute. Compliance with the State Requirement discusses what might be considered “suitable.”

There is significant variation in the size, scope, and structuring of impoundment facilities and animal control from county to county. For example, Franklin County is shown on the map as having both a pound and animal control, but actually has only two ACOs who are also the only staff members of the small pound. Adoption is not offered; animals not reclaimed or rescued during the stray hold are driven to Marion County to be killed. County residents report that both manpower and facilities are insufficient and loose animals are only rarely impounded — a situation that led to two dog attack deaths in 2022.

Animal Services in Your County

Click your county name for details. Each county page offers details on pounds, shelters, and animal control serving the unincorporated area and municipalities, as well as whether dog confinement is required, low-cost sterilization, and other information and resources.

Click each county name for details. B = The County has no shelter; impounded animals are boarded (hence the ‘B’) at a contracted veterinary facility. ½ = Marion and Winston counties share a single shelter. (Population and square mileage data is from Wikipedia.)

Research and notes are by Aubrie Kavanaugh and Kristin Yarbrough. If you would like to share an update or have any questions, additions, or corrections, please be in touch.

Updates and expansions are continual. The map above is updated whenever a county establishes or terminates animal services.