State guide
Alabama
Alabama splits animal control by local jurisdiction. County offices handle some unincorporated areas, while cities such as Huntsville, Mobile, and Birmingham maintain city animal services or animal-control functions; Huntsville’s city department also serves unincorporated Madison County.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Who handles animal control locally
- Usually a county animal-control office for unincorporated areas or a city animal services/animal control department inside city limits; coverage varies by jurisdiction.
- State wildlife agency (nuisance and injured wildlife)
- Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
- Nuisance wildlife help
- Official page →
- Reporting an animal bite
- Any bite or scratch from an animal should be reported to the county health department.
- State rabies contact
- Alabama Department of Public Health, Infectious Diseases & Outbreaks Division / State Public Health Veterinarian
Official resources in Alabama
State rabies page explaining exposure concerns and telling residents to report bites or scratches to the county health department.
Official contact page listing the Infectious Diseases & Outbreaks Division and the State Public Health Veterinarian.
State wildlife page explaining when injured or orphaned wildlife should go to a permitted rehabilitator.
Official statewide list of currently permitted wildlife rehabilitators by county and species accepted.
Key facts for Alabama
- ADPH says any bite or scratch from an animal should be checked by a physician and reported to the county health department.
- Outdoor Alabama says a Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit is required before possessing most sick, injured, or orphaned native wildlife.
- Outdoor Alabama publishes a statewide list of permitted wildlife rehabilitators and a help number: 334-242-3469.
- ADPH lists Dee Jones, DVM, as State Public Health Veterinarian.
- Huntsville Animal Services provides sheltering, enforcement, and prevention services for Huntsville and unincorporated Madison County.
- Mobile County Animal Control handles welfare concerns, nuisance complaints, dog bites, animal attacks, strays, and injured stray domestic animals.
Local animal control offices in Alabama
| Office | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville Animal Services Madison | Huntsville | 256-883-3782 | Provides sheltering, enforcement, and prevention services for Huntsville and the unincorporated areas of Madison County. |
| Mobile County Animal Shelter Mobile | Mobile | 251-574-3647 | Handles animal-control enforcement in unincorporated Mobile County, including welfare concerns, dog bites, strays, and injured stray domestic animals. |
| City of Mobile Animal Shelter Mobile | Mobile | 251-208-5311 | City animal services office for Mobile city limits. |
| Department of Public Works Jefferson | Birmingham | (205) 254-6316 | City department page lists animal control among Birmingham Public Works services. |
| Madison County Animal Control Madison | Huntsville | Not published* | County animal-control page lists licensing and contact information for Madison County residents. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- If a person is bitten or scratched, wash the wound, seek medical care, and report it to the county health department.
- For injured or orphaned native wildlife, call the state wildlife rehabilitation contact before handling the animal.
- Check whether your address is inside a city or in an unincorporated county area before calling local animal control.
Not seeing your office or county?
Not every office publishes its rules online. Try these, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Alabama's population center, for comparison only):
- Cobb County Animal Services, Georgia · about 143 miles
- Fulton County Animal Services, Georgia · about 144 miles
- City of Atlanta ATL311 / Dead Animal Removal, Georgia · about 144 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office.ADPH Infectious Diseases Contact Page
Website →Phone: (334) 206-5347 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Alabama local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Alabama page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us with a link to the official page.