Animal Services in Dallas County

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Impoundment Facilities or Shelters in Dallas County

Selma & Dallas County Animal Shelter is operated by the City of Selma. Hatwatha McGhee, also Selma’s Interim Director of Code Enforcement, has directed the shelter since fall 2024, according to reporting by Black Belt News Network.

• Stray Hold is 7 days.
• Spay/Neuter is performed on all animals prior to release to the adopter.
• Animal Census Reports are prepared monthly. Request from the Commission.

Animal Control in Dallas County

Animal Control in Unincorporated Areas of Dallas County: David Johnston serves as ACO for Dallas County. The Animal Control page states that he handles companion animals as well as livestock. David posts updates and requests on Facebook. For assistance, call 334-431-0056.

Animal Control Within Corporate Limits & Police Jurisdiction:

• Animal Control in Selma is a responsibility of two ACOs at the Selma Police Department. Call 334-876-1259 or 334-876-1220.
• Orrville and Valley Grande are served by Dallas County Animal Control.

If your ACO is unable to help or if your area has no animal services, see this guidance.

Dog Confinement Requirements in Dallas Co.

County Adoption of Alabama’s Dog Confinement Statute: Dallas County officials stated that they enforce Alabama Code § 3-1-5, which requires that dogs be confined to the owner’s premises or kept in the charge of a responsible person if off-premises.

However, Alabama Code § 3-1-5 is applicable only when adopted by the County Commission, and Dallas County officials were not able to locate record of adoption. The Dallas County Commission would be wise to (re-)adopt the statute to confirm its applicability in Dallas County.

Our Recommendation for those in the unincorporated area or in a municipality with unclear statutory authority is to proceed as if the statute or an ordinance is applicable, by keeping their own dogs confined or in their charge and by reporting owners who allow their dog to run loose, for the safety of people and animals alike.

Dog Confinement Requirements Within Corporate Limits & Police Jurisdiction:

• Dog confinement is required by ordinance in Selma (§ 5-61).
• It appears that there may be no confinement requirement by ordinance in Orrville (the town website does not include ordinances) or Valley Grande (does not list any animal-related ordinances on their Ordinances page).

How to Report: See How to Report an At-Large Violation.

Has Dallas Co. Commission Adopted Alabama Code § 3-1-5? Our research of whether Alabama’s dog confinement statute is applicable in Dallas Co. was met with confusion; ultimately we were informed that the statute has not been adopted and is thus not applicable in Dallas Co.

Low-Cost Spay & Neuter in Dallas Co.

• Alabama Animal Alliance Spay/Neuter Clinic in Montgomery is a non-profit clinic specializing in low-cost sterilization. The clinic is open to everyone regardless of income or place of residence.
• $10 sterilization may be available to residents who receive Medicaid or food stamps. See information at Alabama Animal Alliance Spay/Neuter Clinic or call 334-239-7787.
• Three Dallas County vets participate in the ALVMF license plate program. The co-pay is $10 per cat or $20 per dog, plus an average of $40–100 due if the vet deems your pet to be in need of vaccines or parasite treatments.
• See Low-Cost Spay/Neuter in Alabama for additional resources.

Dallas Co. Details, Documents, Sources

Research on Alabama Code § 3-1-5 Applicability:

Dallas County officials stated that Alabama Code § 3-1-5 had been adopted and was enforced in Dallas County. Demetrice Muhannad, payroll at the Dallas County Commission, stated on a Mar. 31, 2025 phone call that the County had adopted. And according to the Dallas County Animal Control page, “For animals roaming at large, the County follows the State of Alabama laws” (accessed Mar. 27, 2025, May 29, 2025, Feb. 1, 2026).

However, officials were unable to locate any record of adoption. A records request submimtted on Apr. 11, 2025 was not addressed during the acknowledgement deadline. After being directed to multiple law enforcement and Commission sources who did not know, the answer came on Apr. 30, 2025 from Toya Stiles: “I was unable to locate any information on my computer regarding the Alabama code. It may have been adopted many years ago.”

Documents:

• County Commission Public Records Request Form: The Dallas 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:

• Apr. 25, 2026: Barbara Harrell, Administrator, Dallas County Commission, 334-874-2560, spoke with Aubrie Kavanaugh on Apr. 25, 2025 about the shelter and animal control.
• Apr. 25, 2026: Hatwatha McGhee, Director, Selma & Dallas County Animal Shelter, spoke with Aubrie Kavanaugh on Apr. 25, 2025. When asked how one could request Animal Census Reports, Hatwatha answered that it would depend on who was asking and why they wanted the information.
• Apr. 30, 2025: Toya Stiles, Director of Dallas County Emergency Management (EMA) and Commission Secretary, 334-874-2560, provided information about Alabama Code § 3-1-5 on April 30, 2025.
• Mar. 31, 2025: Demetrice Muhannad, Payroll, Dallas County Commission, spoke with Kristin Yarbrough about Alabama Code § 3-1-5 on Mar. 31, 2025.

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