Animal Services
Decatur Animal Services is an animal control facility operated by the City of Decatur. In addition to enforcement of local animal ordinances and cruelty investigations, our programs include adoptions, education and volunteerism. Our mission is to improve the bond between humans and animals, to provide excellent service to the community and to promote humane treatment of animals and respect for life.
| Decatur Animal Services is open for adoptions Monday through Saturday. | |
| Monday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Wednesday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Thursday | 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. |
| Friday | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | 8:00 a.m. - Noon |
| The shelter opens for receiving at 8:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday. | |
ANIMAL ADMITTANCE
Decatur Animal Services receives domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, from citizens of Decatur. It is helpful for any medical records to accompany owner-surrendered pets to assist in the adoption. Exotic pets are accepted as long as the caging accompanies them.
Owner-surrendered animals from residents outside the Decatur city limits may be accepted if space permits; a fee is required. For assistance with animal issues outside the City of Decatur, please contact Morgan County Animal Control at (256) 773-2934 or Lawrence County Animal Control at (256) 974-9442.
Animals Left at the Shelter After Business Hours
No person may leave an animal on the property of Decatur Animal Services after regular hours of operation. Any person doing so is guilty of abandonment, which is punishable by law under Section 13A-11-241 of the State Criminal Code.
Reference: Section 5-3, Code of Decatur
Report an Animal Problem
Decatur Animal Services is on call 24 hours a day in the event of an animal bite to a person; a reported suspicion of a vicious, rabid animal; or a stray, injured animal. Any such cases that occur after regular business hours are to be called into the Decatur Police Department at (256) 341-4600. If an animal is lying dead in the street or on City property, the Sanitation Department should be contacted during their regular business hours. Animals roaming the streets are not to be considered an emergency; they can be reported to the Shelter during the next working day.
ANIMAL ADOPTION AND FEES
To adopt an animal from the shelter, a City-approved adoption application must be completed and signed. Failure to agree to and comply with the terms of the adoption agreement shall be grounds for disqualification to adopt an animal. Animal Services has the right to select the best possible placement for any animal and to deny a request to adopt an animal if not convinced the adopter can provide a suitable home or care for the animal.
When you adopt there is a 10-day grace period. If things are not working out between you and your new pet or if it becomes sick, please bring it back to the shelter along with the paperwork and veterinary diagnosis and we will apply the original charges towards another pet. Adopters must be 19 years of age and can show picture identification.
Adoption Fees:
Dogs - $110.00, which includes a rabies vaccine, a bordatella vaccine, a distemper/parvo vaccine, a canine antigen heartworm test, and an intestinal parasites test. $75.00 of the adoption fee is a spay/neuter deposit.
Cats - $95.00, which includes a rabies vaccine, a bordatella vaccine, a panleukopenia vaccine, a rhinotracheitis vaccine, a feline leukemia and aids test, and an intestinal parasites test. $75.00 of the adoption fee is a spay/neuter deposit.
Volunteers
Decatur Animal Services offers many volunteer opportunities for anyone 16 years of age or older. Opportunities range from cleaning cat cages and doing adoptions at local pet stores, picking up donated pet foods, posting our Pets of the Week flyers to promote adoptions, walking, bathing, grooming, in-home fostering or letting the cats out to stretch. If you are interested, please contact our shelter for available positions.
FYI
1 unaltered female dog + 6 years = 67,000 offspring
1 unaltered female cat + 7 years = 420,000 offspring
Please don’t add to the overpopulation; be a responsible pet owner and have your pet spayed or neutered.
