Home General Info Adoption info Events Licenses Lost and Found Meet the Staff Ordinances Spay Neuter Community Service Veterinarians PET FINDER General Information: Animal Bites Animal Turn In Complaints Hours Directions Emergencies FAQ Responsibilities Humane Education Animal Bites Report all bites to the Madison County Health Department at 539-8101. All bites are required to be reported within 24 hours (whether it was your pet that bit, or you were the victim). If you are the victim of a bite, you are required to go to a medical facility as soon as possible to have the wound treated. Obtain an accurate description of the biting animal. The health department handles all bites. Huntsville Animal Services does not house rabies quarantines. Animals that have bitten, must be quarantined at a licensed vet at the expense of the owner. The health department can give you more information regarding this procedure. Animal Turn-ins Huntsville Animal Services accepts all animal turn-ins. Citizens must notify us if it is their pet, or one they found stray. If the animal is not the citizen’s pet, all procedures apply that are applicable to stray animals. Due to the extreme volume of animals that we handle, it is not possible to call back the party that turned in the animal. If you turn in an animal and wish to adopt it if it is not reclaimed by the owner, you must notify us at the time you turn the animal in, and you must follow up with the shelter. If you are unable to care for your pet, you may bring it to the shelter. We DO NOT GUARANTEE ADOPTION! By signing ownership of the animal over to Huntsville Animal Services, the pet may be euthanized at any time. We will not call people back advising them of the outcome of the animal they turned in. We are unable to do so because of our volume of animals. If you contact us to pick up your pet, you will be charged $5 per animal (litters with or without parents will be considered as ONE). You can bring the pet to the shelter yourself and turn it in without a fee. If you live in Madison City, Redstone Arsenal, or outside of Madison County, you will be charged $30 per animal for a turn-in. We are a part of Huntsville City Government, we must provide our services directly for our citizens. We will be happy to assist others, however, we are forced to charge a nominal fee to do so. Complaints BEFORE YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER It is very easy to misinterpret animal shelters from the outside. It is equally possible to misunderstand what is observed happening on the inside. The following are some common complaints that can be easily misinterpreted by volunteers and visitors. On the other hand, these can also be valid complaints. In either case, before you complain, take a moment to talk with the shelter management and find out more about the daily operations. BEFORE YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER Many dogs and cats soil their water on a regular basis. All the animals are provided clean potable water minimally twice a day. NO FOOD: Animals that "free feed" often over-eat and get diarrhea. Shelter animals are provided fresh food every morning (more for sick, young, or special needs animals) so when you visit, there may not be any food in the pens. EUTHANASIA: Yes, animal shelters need to euthanize animals. It is not pleasant for anyone to have this responsibility. However, the need to euthanize comes from the tragic overpopulation of companion animals. There are established guidelines on euthanasia decision-making. DIRTY CAGES: No matter how often or how well a shelter cleans there will be some dirty cages at any one time. Cages are often at there worst first thing in the morning before the shelter staff has had a chance to thoroughly clean and disinfect all the runs. Hours Adoption/Office Hours M-F 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (256) 883-3782 Animal Drop-Off Hours M-F 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Dispatch Hours M-F 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sat. 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. (256) 883-3788 PLEASE NOTE: ALL ADOPTIONS END ½ HOUR PRIOR TO CLOSING. THIS WILL ALLOW ALL THE NECESSARY PROCEDURES TO BE FINALIZED BY CLOSING TIME. THANK YOU! Huntsville Animal Services is located at 4950 Triana Boulevard. Directions Huntsville Animal Services is located at 4950 Triana Boulevard. From the North : (Memorial Parkway) Travel south to Airport Road. Turn Right (west) onto Airport Road. Follow until it ends (when it crosses Leman Ferry it will change names to Johnson Road). At the end, turn left onto Triana Blvd. (south) The shelter will be less than ½ mile on the left. From the South : (Memorial Parkway) Travel north to Airport Road. Turn Left (west) onto Airport Road. Follow until it ends (when it crosses Leman Ferry it will change names to Johnson Road). At the end, turn left onto Triana Blvd. (south) The shelter will be less than ½ mile on the left. From the West: (Madison, Athens area) Travel east on I-565 to Bob Wallace Road exit. The second light on the exit ramp will be Bob Wallace Road, turn Right (south/east). Follow Bob Wallace to Triana Blvd. Turn Right onto Triana Blvd. (south) The shelter will be about 1 ½ miles on the left. From the East: Travel west on I-565 Or Hwy. 72. (if you come in Hwy. 431 or Hwy. 231, get to the Parkway) Take Memorial Parkway South to Airport Road. Turn Right (west) onto Airport Road. Follow until it ends (when it crosses Leman Ferry it will change names to Johnson Road). At the end, turn left onto Triana Blvd. (south) The shelter will be less than ½ mile on the left. Emergencies Emergencies: If you experience an animal emergency with your personal pet, you must transport the animal to your local veterinarian. Remember, your pet is your responsibility. The Animal Emergency Clinic is open when most veterinarians are closed. They are located at 2306-A Memorial Pkwy. SE. Their number is 533-7600. We do not recommend or endorse any specific veterinarian, this information is made available solely for your convenience. However, if you have an emergency (such as a STRAY dog or cat which has been hit by a car and is still alive) please contact Animal Services Dispatch at 883-3788 during regular dispatch hours (M-F 6 a.m. – 7 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.). We understand that not all emergencies occur during normal business hours. If that is the case, and you have an emergency involving a STRAY pet, contact the Huntsville Police Department at (256) 722-7100. FAQ Frequently Asked Questions What are your Hours? M-F 9-5 Sat 9-3 What if I have an after hours emergency? If you have an “after hours” emergency, contact Huntsville Police on their non-emergency line to report the situation. A loose dog, wild life in your yard, stray cats, a dog that’s been hanging around for a week, these type incidents are not considered emergencies. If it is YOUR PET and you have an emergency, you should contact the local emergency vet clinic in your area. They are usually listed in the yellow pages. What do I do if I have a wildlife problem? Contact your local Game & Fish Division of Alabama’s Conservation & Natural Resources Department. They are located in the Blue Pages of the phone book under “State Government”. Is the Rabies Tag & License Tag the same thing? No! The rabies vaccination is required by State Law. A tag is issued by the vet to show vaccination against rabies. The License is issued by our office to show that your pet has been vaccinated against rabies (you can not get a license without current vaccination) and that you have registered your pet with us. BOTH tags must be on the pet at ALL times!!!! See our Licenses section for more information. What if I move? If you move into the City of Huntsville, you must register your pet with us within 30 days or possibly incur a penalty. If you move out of the City of Huntsville, notify us so we can update our files! What if I don’t get a renewal notice on my pet? The renewal forms are sent as a courtesy ONLY! It is your responsibility to ensure your pet is renewed on time. Why is there a late fee on my renewal notice that I just got? That indicates that our records show a license was not purchased the previous year(s). Whether you are 1 day late or 3 years late, the late fee remains the same. If you are assessed a late fee, but can prove that a license was issued the previous year (canceled check or internal receipt number), just show it to us! We’ll be happy to correct any error on our part. Sometimes people forget to renew, even when they are usually very conscientious about it! Sometimes we have duplicate files on a pet. If I leave a deposit, will you hold an animal for me? No. All our adoptable pets are on a first-come first-served basis. We do not have the room to hold animals for people. If the pet doesn’t work out, can I get a refund? No. We will be happy to take the pet from you and try to find it another home, but no guarantees are made that we will be able to. Do you guarantee the health of the pet? No. We do not have diagnostic facilities on site and are unable to guarantee the health of the animal. All newly adopted pets that go for sterilization receive a complementary external physical exam. If the vet has any questions or concerns about the pet at that time, they will contact you. If you decide to have the vet perform any test on the pet, that will be at your expense. There are certain specific requirements regarding refund procedures depending upon if the refund is pre or post sterilization surgery. Any allowed refunds will only be for terminal health purposes. Behavior problems are non-refundable. These procedures are discussed at the time of adoption Due to the amount of animals housed at Hunstville Animal Services, many animals develop a cold or cough. This is very common and not a terminal illness. Often, this will clear up in a few days. Sometimes antibiotics are necessary to help heal the pet. We hope this will not discourage you from adopting one of our pets. They get colds just like we do. A little TLC and medicine will have them back up to their old self again in no time. What if I’ve lost my pet? This is the first place you should check!!! We house lost & stray pets for the City of Huntsville as well as for Madison County. Due to our volume, you should check the shelter in person every 2-3 days for your pet. Also, see our Lost & Found page. Can I leave information about my lost pet? Yes. Our volunteers maintain our lost & found reports. We will be happy to take a report over the phone, but again, we highly urge you to come to the shelter and look. Only you know your pet! Is there a fee to turn in my pet? No. We take all owner turn-ins. However, we DO NOT guarantee adoption of that pet. The more information you give us when you turn in your pet, the better its chances of placement. Health records are a great benefit. How long will you hold my pet? There is no specific time period. We hold them as long as possible. If they show signs of aggression or illness, they will be put to sleep. What if you don’t find a home for my pet? It will be euthanized in a humane manner. Will you call me before you put it to sleep? No. Due to our volume, it is impossible to call everyone who turns in a pet. Do you spay & neuter before adoption? Upon adoption, the pet will be transported by our office to a participation vet. They will spay/neuter the pet before you take it home. You will pick the pet up within a few days from the vet. They will call you when your pet is ready. Responsibilities All owners of pets are responsible for their own pets. Huntsville Animal Services sends out the renewal forms for the licenses as a courtesy ONLY. It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure their pets are renewed each year. We do not have a vet on staff. We do not have any type of veterinary clinic. We are not able to provide vaccinations, surgeries, or other veterinary services for the public. All medical care for privately owned pets must be obtained by the owner at a licensed veterinary clinic. Due to our call volume involving public safety, we do not transport for citizens. Just remember: your pet, your responsibility. Humane Education The Humane Education Program of Animal Services is a community education and outreach program. Anyone is welcome to attend sessions that are offered. You may request a visit from our Humane Educator for a group or school(ages 3 and up). You may want to take the opportunity to visit with your group here at the shelter, please call 883-3794 to make the arrangements. This is a free program; however we welcome any donations of items or money. Some of the programs we teach here are Bite Prevention, Responsible Pet Care, Community Implications of Overpopulation,and Nuisance Wildlife and the humane options for getting rid of them. We have a program designed specifically for High school Biology students. It teaches them about different dog and cat viruses and parasites. We also go over different career options available with animals. The 3rd Wednesday of every month is set up for people who have been issued a citation for an animal violation. It is a 2 hour class where we go over the different animal laws and why they are important to the community. This presentation utilizes a PowerPoint Presentation along with videos and a shelter tour. This program is called PAWS(Pet Awareness & Welfare Session). Our Humane Educator wears many hats around here. She not only teaches children and adults but also serves as our Volunteer Coordinator, Public Relations Coordinator, and Special Events Coordinator.
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