Animal Services in Clay County
Add’l Research by Aubrie Kavanaugh
Updated Oct. 5, 2026
We welcome your updates, additions, corrections, or comments: please email us. Information can be credited to you or kept anonymous, as you prefer.
Animal Control in Clay Co.
Alabama requires local governments to pick up and impound loose dogs. Animal Control Officers (ACOs) also respond to reports related to dogs and cats.
Although ACOs may investigate cruelty or address municipal code violations, most Alabama ACOs are civilians who do not have law enforcement authority. The sheriff’s office and local PDs are responsible for the enforcement of cruelty laws.
Clay Co. Does Not Provide Animal Services
Clay Co. employs no animal control officer, provides no pickup of loose dogs, and has no impoundment facility. As such, Clay Co. 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.” Residents who would like to ask the county to fulfill their mandate may see this guidance.
However, Clay County Commission is involved in an unusual and challenging relationship with Clay County Animal Shelter in which they are required to provide some funding but are not entitled to any direct animal services.
Clay Co. Sheriff’s Office256-354-2176
Animal concerns in the unincorporated area and cities under 5,000 population are the responsibility of Clay Co. Commission, while enforcement of animal law is the responsibility of police departments and Clay Co. Sheriff’s Office.
Clay Co. Animal Services At-a-Glance
Report animal concerns according to the location, as noted below. For more information about animal control and enforcement of animal laws, or if your concern is not being addressed, see this guidance.
| Pop. | Jurisdiction | Pound | ACO | RAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14,207 | Clay Co. | None | None | § 3-7A |
| See Animal Control regarding animal concerns in unincorporated Clay Co. — including the communities of Brownsville, Cleveland Crossroads, Corinth, Cragford, Delta, Hollins, Millerville, Pinckneyville, and Springhill. | ||||
| 2,037 | Ashland | City | PD | 2022-09-06-01 |
| Report animal concerns in Ashland to the PD at 256-354-2122. Code Enforcement Officer Echols responds to calls regarding dogs only. Impounded dogs are held at city kennels near the maintenance shop. Officer Echols is often able to identify the owner; if not, dogs are posted to Facebook to help the dog return home. If not claimed, dogs are offered for adoption on a national listing site and held for 60 to 90 days. A live outcome is usually secured; only aggressive dogs are euthanized. | ||||
| 2,489 | Lineville | None | None | § 3-7A |
| Report animal concerns in Lineville to the PD at 256-396-2633. Lineville has no ACO; the PD responds to reports of loose dogs only if aggressive. The city does not have a boarding contract or city kennels; the very small number of dogs picked up are handled on a case-by-case basis with Clay County Animal Shelter. Lineville has no dog confinement requirement nor any other animal ordinances. | ||||
[County population figure includes municipalities.]
Is Dog Confinement Required in Clay Co.?
The applicable law is indicated in the right column of the table above. See Dog Confinement Laws for details.
- Tags required everywhere. All dogs in Alabama must wear a current rabies tag, per § 3-7A.
- Dog confinement is required when § 3-1-5 and/or a municipal ordinance prohibits running-at-large (RAL).
How to get help:
- Report a loose dog or a RAL violation by following the reporting instructions provided in the table above.
- If you choose to assist a lost, stray, or abandoned pet, be aware of your rights and responsibilities.
- If your pet is lost, see these tips.
- Ask your Commission or Council to require dog confinement.
Impoundment Facilities & Shelters
If your pet is lost, remember to check not only the local shelter or impoundment facility, but also those in neighboring cities and counties.
CCAS is Paid by Clay Co. — Yet No Services Contracted
Clay County Commission is involved in an unusual and challenging relationship with Clay County Animal Shelter in which they are required to provide some funding but are not entitled to any direct animal services.
County Required to Fund CCAS: Alabama Code § 45-14-244.07 requires Clay Co. to appropriate 20% of county tobacco taxes to Clay County Animal Shelter. Tobacco tax collected has decreased, thus annual payments have also decreased over the years to approximately $36,000 for the last two years.
No Contract, No Obligation to Clay Co.: The Commission has no contract or MOU of any kind with CCAS. Varner said residents had reported that CCAS did not accept animals found in the county, stating that they did not have space available.
Not Enough…: The $36,000/year clearly does not cover costs of sheltering or Animal Control. CCAS’s April 2026 briefing to the Commission reported that “tobacco tax revenue has dropped from an average of $4,100 to just under $3,000 per month which primarily covers payroll.”
…Yet Also Too Much: Still, Clay Co. Commission is in the unusual position of feeling like they are paying for animal services and thus not seeking other arrangements, Linda explained — all while not receiving any services.
Immediate, ‘Overwhelming Community Need’: Dogs are loose everywhere in the county, Linda told us; while CCAS reported an “overwhelming community need to intake abandoned cats and dogs.”
Clay County Animal Shelter (CCAS) is a nonprofit organization funded by donations, grants, and 20% of Clay Co. tobacco taxes. The bill allocating the funding to CCAS was sponsored by State Senator Gerald Dial, cousin of CCAS founder Nancy Bailey who “promised to keep her dream alive,” according to the CCAS website.
Clay County Animal Shelter200 Lees Bridge Road, Delta, AL 36258
256-354-1453
claycountyanimalshelter@gmail.com
Website, Facebook
The shelter holds no government contracts, per a representative on the CCAS Fb page and as confirmed by Clay Co. Clerk Linda Varner.
- Owner Surrender requests are handled on a managed basis. Residents are offered assistance to help keep families together, and if no other solution can be found, pets are taken in when space becomes available.
- Spay/Neuter is done on all animals prior to adoption, per Linda Clausen.
The only obligation of CCAS required by the tobacco tax allocation law is that CCAS “annually report to the county commission regarding the expenditure of the funds in the preceding year.” Clay Co. Clerk Linda Varner said she does receive this financial report, and also mentioned that CCAS addresses the Commission each year (including with this April 2026 message).
Clay County Animal Shelter Census
The Clay County Animal Shelter 2025 data provided to us is missing several required data points, as noted below. The similar Intake and Outcome numbers suggest that the missing numbers are likely to be low. We were told on May 21, 2026 that compliant data would be provided; we have not received that data.
| CCAS CENSUS | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Intake | 87 | ||
| Stray Intake | 34 | ||
| Owner Surrender | 42 | ||
| Other Intake | 11 | ||
| Total Outcomes | ? | ||
| Live Outcomes | 83 | ||
| Adoptions | 67 | ||
| Reclaim by Owner | ? | ||
| Rescue | 16 | ||
| Fatal Outcomes | ? | ||
| Euthanasia | ? | ||
| Died/Lost | ? | ||
| Missing Outcomes | — | ||
| Adj. Total Outcomes | — | ||
| Live Release Rate | ? |
Source: 2025 data provided by Clay County Animal Shelter Director Ann East.
Live Release Rate (LRR) = Live Outcomes ÷ Total Outcomes.
CCAS reports maintaining a live-release rate at or above 90%. CCAS keeps all animals until a good home is found, according to Director Linda Clausen.
Low-Cost Spay & Neuter in Clay Co.
Clay County Animal Shelter has developed a partnership with Alabama Spay and Neuter Clinic in which animals are transported monthly to Irondale for spay and neuter surgeries. Snip-It Tickets and a Family Assistance Program minimize costs. Register online at the Clay County Animal Shelter website. The shelter continues to raise money to help low-income families alter their dogs and cats. CCAS reported sterilizing over 340 animals in the year of April 2025 through March 2026.
For other low-cost sterilization options, see Low-Cost Spay & Neuter in Alabama and Low-Cost Spay & Neuter in Talladega County.
Assistance
Clay County Animal Shelter coordinates Pet Food Pantry events for families in need. The pantry served over 450 households in the year ending in March 2026, according to CCAS documentation, helping families keep their pets during financial hardship and reducing shelter intake.
Dog Bites & Attacks in Clay Co.
To have knowledge of a bite or scratch and fail to report it is a crime (§ 3-7A-9). First seek medical attention; then report as soon as possible to:
- Clay Co. Health Department at 256-396-6421, and
- Law Enforcement: Clay Co. Sheriff’s Office at 256-354-2176, or your police department.
See Dog Bites & Attacks for more information on reporting, quarantine, criminal charging, and legal implications.
Details, Documents, Sources
Payments from Clay County Commission to Clay County Animal Shelter, provided by Clay County Clerk Linda Varner on Oct. 5, 2026, and rounded to the nearest thousand:
- FY 2017–18: $78,000
- FY 2018–19: $52,000
- FY 2019–20: $53,000
- FY 2020–21: $51,000
- FY 2021–22: $50,000
- FY 2022–23: $43,000
- FY 2023–24: $42,000
- FY 2024–25: $37,000
- FY 2025-26: $27,000 + three more monthly payments
Clay Co. Documents:
- Clay 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:
- Oct. 5, 2026: Linda Varner, Clay County Clerk, 256-354-7888, discussed Animal Control and sheltering with Kristin Yarbrough on Oct. 5, 2026. The county is required by Alabama Code § 45-14-244.07, a county law, to distribute 20% of tobacco tax to Clay County Shelter; CCAS in turn “shall annually report to the county commission regarding the expenditure of the funds in the preceding year.” Linda said she does receive this financial report, and also mentioned that CCAS addresses the Commission each year (including in April 2026). The Commission has no contract or MOU of any kind with CCAS. Linda said she has not herself brought an animal to CCAS; what she had heard from others is that CCAS does not accept animals, stating that they do not have space. Linda kindly provided the exact payment to CCAS for each year starting from FY’17–18 to present. Previously, Linda spoke to Aubrie Kavanaugh on May 5, 2025 about the shelter and animal control, and to Kristin Yarbrough on Mar. 28, 2025 regarding Alabama Code § 3-1-5 and loose dogs in the county. Linda initially said she was “pretty much certain” that the statute has not been adopted, and said she would follow up if she received different information from the county attorney, who has worked for the county for 25 years. Linda followed up on the same day to state that the attorney was not aware of any resolution.
- Oct. 5, 2026: City of Ashland Municipal Court Clerk Robin Catrett was super helpful in providing information about Animal Control and impoundment on Oct. 5, 2026.
- Oct. 5, 2026: City of Lineville information is from the PD Dispatcher, who declined to give her name
- Oct. 4, 2026: Clay County Animal Shelter representative commented that "we are a non-profit that does receive a small percentage of the Alabama Tobacco Tax. We don’t have a contract and beyond that money, we are funded entirely by donations and fundraisers." We had previously listed Clay Co. as compliant with the 3-7A-7 requirement that every county provide an impoundment facility.
- May 15, 2026: Ann East, President, Clay County Animal Shelter, prepared Animal Census Reports on May 15, 2026, at our request, however the data was missing required data points. Ann spoke to Aubrie Kavanaugh on May 9, 2025 regarding the shelter.
- May 2026: Pam, Clay County Animal Shelter, conversed with Kristin Yarbrough in May 2026 regarding the shelter and the animal census.
- May 7, 2025: Linda Clausen, Director, Clay County Animal Shelter, 251-402-6513, spoke to Aubrie Kavanaugh about the shelter on May 7, 2025. Linda had not heard of the Animal Census Reporting Act; the statute and a form were provided upon her request. (Clay County Animal Shelter later reported that they prepare Census Reports each month.)
Do You Have a Correction, Addition, or Comment?
Please see the note at the top of this page.