Animal Control

Daphne Animal Services currently employs one (1) Animal Control Officer (ACO).  Our ACO is responsible for responding to animal-related complaints, investigating animal cruelty cases and reports of rabid animals & animal bites. The Animal Control Officer also enforces the City of Daphne's leash law & animal control ordinances regulating dogs & cats. In addition, they capture stray & lost animals and issue citations/fines.

Our ACO must effectively communicate with animals and people to resolve problems. They may inspect animal-related complaints to be sure that animals are receiving adequate care, rescue trapped or injured animals, investigate animal bites and cruelty complaints, issue citations and file for prosecution of people who violate laws concerning animals. ACOs work to protect stray, injured, abused and unwanted animals, and will never abuse or mistreat any animal nor allow another person to do so. 

To accomplish all this, Animal Control Officers require knowledge of common anti-cruelty and control laws, proper animal care standards, common animal diseases & treatments, and basic rules of criminal procedure.

Animal Bites

ACOs investigating animal bites are to instruct the owner to quarantine the animal for a period of ten (10) days from time of the bite, regardless of any vaccinations. The animal must be quarantined and under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian who will determine whether the animal is free from rabies. All expenses shall be the responsibility of the owner. During quarantine, the animal cannot be sold, given away or moved to another state or location.

Note: ACOs will remain very familiar with Title 3-7-1, Chapter 7 pertaining to the Alabama State Law on rabies. ACOs who investigate animal bites will present a copy of page 42 of the law to the owner of the animal. This page covers the confinement of animals which have bitten humans, particularly Section 3-7-9.

Humane Society

The ACO staff maintains a close relationship with other local organization such as the Baldwin County Humane Society, The Haven and the Safe Harbor Animal Coalition.

Wildlife Removal

The Daphne Animal Shelter staff members or Daphne Animal Control Officers do NOT handle wildlife removal calls for nuisances such as alligators, snakes, bobcats, birds, raccoons, coyotes, or fox. If you need assistance in removal of wildlife, please call a professional wildlife removal service or the US Fish & Wildlife office.

Animal Control Fines

For a listing of infractions and penalties associated with each, please click here to view the Daphne Animal Shelter Policies. Please note that some offenses may receive a citation with penalty amount to be paid, but will require a court appearance at Daphne Municipal Court.

To pay your Daphne Animal Control fine(s), please click the link below:

Daphne Animal Control Fine Link