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ANIMAL Care & CONTROL

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Our organization regulates:

  • Uncontrolled domestic animals

  • Assist with bites and attacks by aggressive animals (depending on the jurisdiction)

  • Investigate reports of possible animal cruelty and neglect

  • Pick up stray animals, confined strays, and loose animals without proper rabies identification

  • Rescue injured animals

  • Keep records of lost/found cats and dogs

  • Provide animal information and referrals

  • And promote responsible pet ownership through education.

At GBHS intake, every animal receives full vaccinations, flea and tick treatment, and a veterinary assessment. If intake is after hours and a veterinarian is needed, GBHS has 24/7 veterinarian coverage. After intake, the animals are subject to a state-mandated 7-day stray hold, and after that period, animals that have not been reclaimed by their owners are transferred to the GBHS adoption facility for a chance to find a forever home.

Since January 2015, the Greater Birmingham Humane Society's division of Animal Care & Control has provided animal control services to Jefferson County and its municipalities. In the first year, the GBHS took in more than 18,000 homeless, neglected and abused animals.

Common questions about Animal Control

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What services does Animal Care and Control provide?

We regulate uncontrolled domestic animals, assist with bites and attacks by aggressive animals (depending on the jurisdiction), investigate reports of possible animal cruelty and neglect, pick up stray animals, pick up confined strays, pick up loose animals without proper rabies identification, rescue injured animals, keep records of lost/found cats and dogs, give animal information and referrals, and promote responsible pet ownership through education.

If I call for service, how long will it take for Animal Care and Control to respond?

If it is in a jurisdiction that our officers cover, an animal control officer will arrive as soon as possible after your call. If you are calling after hours, an animal control officer will respond to you via phone within 10-15 minutes of your call and arrive as soon as possible. You may not always see us. We do our best to try and check in with the person who has called; however, sometimes, we are unable to do so. Please remember, just because you did not see us, does not mean that we are not patrolling the area to see if the animal has moved locations. While we work closely with all police departments in Jefferson County, some jurisdictions have their own Animal Control Officers. In these instances, animal control calls are sent to the proper dispatch of that jurisdiction. We do not control response times if your issue falls under the authority of your local animal control officer or law enforcement agency. If that is the case, we will still try to help you resolve your problem as quickly as possible. You can find the contact numbers for your jurisdiction by clicking HERE.

What is the relationship between Animal Care and Control and the Greater Birmingham Humane Society?

Animal Care and Control is a division of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. The legal entity is the Greater Birmingham Humane Society Animal Care and Control, LLC. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society.

Is Animal Care and Control a non-profit?

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society, Animal Care and Control, LLC is a non-profit.

Is a donation to Animal Care and Control tax deductible?

Yes. Donations to Animal Care and Control are tax deductible. You may also make a donation to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and designate your gift to be used solely for Animal Care and Control. To make a donation, please click HERE.

If Animal Care and Control is a nonprofit, why are you charging the county for your services?

Many nonprofits charge fees for service along with funds they receive from private foundations and government grants and contracts. Some examples include Children’s Hospital, Girl Scouts, Shelby County Humane Society, nonprofit counseling agencies, and many United Way agencies. When the county opened the bid for animal care and control services, the Greater Birmingham Humane Society bid and was awarded the contract. Our rates represent an approximate savings of 60% to taxpayers. This was made possible through the generosity of donors. The former vendor was a for-profit entity.

What standard medical services will animals receive at Animal Care and Control?


Adult dogs held at Animal Care and Control will all receive a Bordetella intranasal vaccine on intake. Puppies will receive Bordetella and DA2PP vaccines on intake. All additional testing (intestinal parasite exam / heartworm testing), preventative medical treatment (additional vaccinations, including rabies, heartworm prevention application / deworming medications) and surgical altering will occur after their 7 day hold if they are deemed healthy/adoptable or transferable (ie…rescue groups or other transports). All surgical treatment and/or advanced medical care of the adoptable / transferable pets will occur at GBHS Spay/Neuter & Critical Care Clinic located at 5220 Princeton Way, Hoover, Alabama 35226. All dogs/puppies that are surgically altered will receive an identification microchip implanted subcutaneously. Adult cats and kittens will all receive FVRCP vaccines on intake.

After the 7-day hold, cats and kittens deemed adoptable will be tested for FeLV / FIV, intestinal parasites and begin additional preventative medical treatment (additional vaccines, including rabies, deworming medications and topical heartworm/flea prevention). They will also be surgically altered. All further testing, preventative care and surgical altering will be performed at GBHS Spay/Neuter & Critical Care Clinic. All cats/kittens that are surgically altered will receive an identification microchip implanted subcutaneously.

What equipment does GBHS Spay/Neuter & Critical Care Clinic have at their site to serve animals at Animal Care and Control?

We are excited about the fact that all animals under the care of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society have access to the following diagnostic equipment: We have a wide array of in-house diagnostic equipment that allows a problem-based, scientific approach to most medical and surgical issues faced in a shelter veterinary medical environment. In-house blood analyzers allow for complete blood counts with a 5 part differential, a comprehensive serum chemistry machine (complete serum chemistries with electrolytes, thyroid and cholesterol testing)and the ability to check coagulation profiles. GBHS Spay/Neuter & Critical Care Clinic is blessed to offer digital radiography with the ability to email or hard copy to CD radiology studies for referral to specialists, referring veterinarians or rescue organizations requiring further information. Our diagnostic imaging capabilities also includes color flow Doppler ultrasonography with thoracic/cardiology and abdominal functions

Additional diagnostic capabilities include digital tonometry, ophthalmoscopic and otoscopic examinations, antigen testing for heartworm disease, feline leukemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus and parvoviral enteritis. Complete urinalysis as well as microscopic examinations for fine needle aspirates/impression smears/urine sediment/skin scraping and other cytology are commonly performed in our fully functional laboratory.

How much is GBHS charging Jefferson County and cities for these services?

The 2015 rate sheet that won the award can be found here. It represents an almost 60% reduction in previous charges. These rates are what we will charge each city and the county for the services listed. You can download the 2016 Jefferson County Intent to Bid here. View the 2016 rate sheet we submitted here.

Questions about animal cruelty and neglect? Please click the button below.

  HOURS AND LOCATIONS

 
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ACC BIRMINGHAM
Address: (MAP)
6227 5th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35212. 

CONTACT
Animal Care and Control takes phone calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Please call 205-591-6522 to report stray dogs and cats, injured dogs and cats, or for assistance with animal complaints.
Our fax number is 205-595-5014.
After hours calls are answered by an on-call officer. The Animal Control Officer on-call will return all calls within 10 minutes.

HOURS

GBHS City of Birmingham Animal Care and Control (ACC) is open to the public:

  • Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

  • Saturday from 9 - 11:30 a.m.

  • Sunday - CLOSED

Animal Care and Control provides emergency response and on-call officers:

  • Noon on Saturdays through 8 a.m. on Monday

  • 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Monday through Saturday

ACC JASPER
Address: (MAP)
2302 Birmingham Ave Jasper, AL 35501

CONTACT
City of Jasper Animal Care & Control: 205-221-6621

HOURS

GBHS City of Jasper Animal Care and Control (ACC) is open to the public:

  • Monday - CLOSED

  • Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

  • Sunday - from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m

City of Jasper Police Department provides emergency response, stray pick-up, and on-call officers:

  • Jasper City Police Department: 205-221-6790

HOLIDAY CLOSINGS:

ACC Birmingham & ACC Jasper

Animal Care and Control adheres to municipal holiday scheduling, subject to change.

  • New Year’s Eve

  • New Year's Day

  • Easter Day

  • Memorial Day

  • Independence Day

  • July 5th in observance of Independence Day

  • Labor Day

  • Thanksgiving Day

  • Black Friday

  • Christmas Eve

  • Christmas Day 

 

GBHS Animal Care and Control Covers Unincorporated Jefferson County.

The cities below have their own animal control officers:

  • Hoover

  • Adamsville

  • Hueytown

  • Bessemer

  • Mountain Brook

  • Vestavia Hills

  • Homewood

  • Birmingham

While we desire to resolve the public’s concerns in these cities, we have no authority to pick up animals without a signed agreement from the police department located in that city.

 
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