Animal Services in Lee County

We welcome your updates, additions, corrections, or comments: please email us. Information that you provide can be attributed to you or kept anonymous, as you prefer.

Impoundment Facilities or Shelters in Lee County

Lee County Commission does not operate or contract with any animal shelter. Impounded animals are posted on the AHC Facebook page and on the Lee County Animal Control Recovered Pets page and held for a minimum of seven days with a contracted veterinary offices:

• Animal Health Center in Opelika is paid $300 by Lee County for every animal held, for a total of about $900,000/year for approximately 3,000 animals. Animal Health Center also contracts with the City of Opelika. Animals that are being held are posted on the Intakes at Animal Health Center from Lee County and Opelika Animal Controls Facebook page.
• Opelika Animal Hospital, according to Josh, health manager at CARE Humane Society.

Animal Census Reports are prepared monthly by Chief ACO Lisa Wimberly, per Cherokee County ACO and statewide trainer Dustin Dutton.

CARE Humane Society was founded in 1974 as Lee County Humane Society, according to the CARE website. CARE is the contracted animal shelter for Auburn and Opelika, according to Josh, CARE health manager. The Stray Pets page states that a seven-day stray hold is followed. Josh said that the organization used to hold the Lee County contract, but some years ago Lee County opted to instead board animals with vet offices. The shelter has an average live release rate above 90%, according to the CARE FAQ.

Friends of Lee County Animal Control is an unaffiliated nonprofit organization which coordinates a foster program and promotes reclaims and adoption.

Animal Control in Lee County

Animal Control in Unincorporated Areas of Lee County: Lee County Animal Control includes Chief ACO Lisa Wimberley, ACO Terrell, and ACO Chris. The department is structured under Lee County Commission’s Environmental Services and serves the unincorporated area of Lee County as well as municipalities other than Auburn and Opelika. For assistance, call 334-737-7013.

Animal Control Within Corporate Limits & Police Jurisdiction:

• For assistance in Auburn, call 334-501-3090. Auburn Animal Control Division is managed by Krista Weldon.
• Opelika ACO Desmond Boswell can be reached at 334-705-5480. Opelika’s animal control is structured in the Environmental Services department. Most impounded dogs are brought to CARE Humane Society, according to the city website; while other dogs and cats may be taken to Animal Health Center.
• For help within the municipal limits of Phenix City, see Animal Services in Russell County.
• If you have an animal-related concern in Loachapoka or Smiths Station, or in the the Lee County portion of Notasulga or Waverly, contact Lee 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 Lee County

County Adoption of Alabama’s Dog Confinement Statute: Dog confinement is required in Lee County because the Lee County Commission adopted 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.

Lee County adopted Alabama Code § 3-1-5 in 1979. Lisa Wimberley, Chief Animal Control Officer at Lee County Animal Control, provided the resolution. The Lee County Animal Control Q&A page (accessible via the menu at top left) states “the county has a confinement law” and quotes the statute.

Because Lee County animal control officers are not APOSTC-certified law enforcement officers, they do not have the authority to issue citations for violation of Alabama Code § 3-1-5 (or any other statute), Lisa said. If an ACO witnesses a violation, the sheriff’s office prepares an Incident Report. However, “nine times out of ten” the ACO does not see the dog or the dog is back on the owner’s property, in which case it is up to the citizen to sign a warrant at the magistrates’ office, Lisa said. Lee County Animal ontrol is then subpoenaed to bring in records, such as of the resident calling 15 times about the neighbor’s loose dog.

Dog Confinement Requirements Within Corporate Limits & Police Jurisdiction:

• Dog confinement is required by ordinance in Auburn (§ 4-16), Notasulga (Ordinance 2024-04 #1), Opelika (§ 4-43), Phenix City (§ 10-39).
• Loachapoka, Smiths Station, Waverly: It is likely that dog confinement is required in these municipalities, whether by ordinance and/or statute, however since these municipalities do not appear to share their ordinances on their websites or via Municode, we have not yet confirmed whether a running at large law is in effect. Please email us if you can share information.

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

Low-Cost Spay & Neuter in Lee County

• SNYP and SNYP Plus reduce the cost of sterilization to $5 to $25 per pet for Lee County residents with a total household income of $50,000 or less.
• Reduced cost sterilization and pet transportation to Alabama Animal Alliance is available to all, regardless of income or residence location. The FIXIT Waggin’ departs from Auburn and returns the day.
• The Ann Pearson Memorial Community Cat Program is a TNR program that assists with sterilization and vaccination of feral and friendly community cats in Lee County.
• Two Lee County vets participate in the ALVMF license plate program, which offers $10 cat sterilization or $20 dog sterilization for Medicaid recipients.
• See Low-Cost Spay/Neuter in Alabama for additional resources.

Access to Information & Public Records in Lee County

Lee County Animal Control: Chief ACO Lisa Wimberley and ACO Terrell were both aware that Alabama Code § 3-1-5 had been adopted by Lee County Commission, and Lisa was especially knowledgeable and gracious in sharing information about animal control in Lee County. We also applaud Lee County Animal Control for mentioning the statute on their website.

Lee County Documents

• Lee County Resolution to Adopt Alabama Code § 3-1-5 (1979)
• Lee County Commission Public Records Request — If your request is denied on the basis of the in-person requirement stated on the form, see this information.

Sources

• Lisa Wimberley, Supervisor at Lee County Animal Control, offered information about animal control and Alabama Code § 3-1-5 status on Mar. 28 and Apr. 25, 2025.
• Terrell, ACO at Lee County Animal Control, Mar. 28 and Apr. 25, 2025.
• Chris, ACO at Lee County Animal Control, Mar. 31, 2025. We had a brief conversation about Lee County ACOs not having enforcement authority, which he said is fine in some circumstances and in other times necessitates escalation to LEOs.
• Dustin Dutton, Cherokee County ACO and statewide animal control trainer, June 6, 2025.
• Josh, Health Manager, CARE Humane Society, Apr. 25, 2025.

Do You Have a Correction, Addition, or Comment?

Please see the note at the top of this page.