Dothan Animal Shelter & Control: Adoption Hours 2026
If you remember the old Dothan Animal Shelter on Jerry Drive, there is an important 2026 change to know before you drive there. Shelter care and public pet adoptions are now handled at Wiregrass Pet Rescue & Adoption Center, 2638 Hartford Hwy, Dothan, AL 36305. City of Dothan Animal Services still handles animal-control enforcement and field response.
That split matters. If you want to adopt a dog or cat, visit Wiregrass Pets. If a dog is loose in traffic, you need help with an animal-control complaint, or you are reporting a dangerous animal inside Dothan, use the City Animal Services route instead.
Dothan’s Animal Shelter System Changed: What That Means in 2026
This is the local detail most older listings miss. Dothan no longer uses the old model where the City-operated shelter handled both day-to-day shelter care and Animal Control from the same public-facing facility.
Wiregrass Pets manages the shelter
Wiregrass Pet Rescue & Adoption Center is a nonprofit that now manages onsite animal care, public adoption, fostering, rescue placement, transport, humane education and other shelter programs under the new Dothan/Houston County arrangement.
Its current public address is 2638 Hartford Hwy, Dothan, AL 36305.
Animal Control remains a government function
City of Dothan Animal Services officers continue to handle field response and law-enforcement functions such as stray pickup, animals at large, neglect, cruelty and dangerous-animal complaints inside the City’s jurisdiction.
Animals collected through Animal Control can be taken to the Wiregrass Pets shelter, where the nonprofit then manages their shelter care.
Who Should You Contact in Dothan?
Choosing the correct route saves time and helps keep emergency lines available for real emergencies.
Adopt a dog or cat
Visit Wiregrass Pets during current shelter hours. No normal adoption appointment is required.
Lost or found pet
Use the current stray/lost/found route at 334-793-0215 and contact Wiregrass Pets at 334-761-2440 for shelter-status questions.
Stray, loose or nuisance animal
City of Dothan’s current FAQ directs residents to Animal Services at 334-615-4620 or the City’s online concern-reporting system.
Danger to a person
Call 911 for an immediate life-threatening emergency. Dothan Police lists 334-793-0215 as its 24-hour non-emergency line.
Dothan Animal Shelter Adoption Hours 2026
Current adoption access is based on the new Wiregrass Pets facility, not the former Dothan City shelter schedule.
| Day / service | Current published hours | Practical visitor note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Saturday | 12:00 PM–6:00 PM | Normal public shelter and adoption hours. |
| Sunday | 12:00 PM–4:00 PM | Shorter Sunday adoption window. |
| Normal pet meet | During shelter hours | Wiregrass Pets says no appointment is needed to meet animals housed at the shelter. |
| Pet currently in foster | By arranged meet-and-greet | Email adopt@wiregrasspets.org with the pet you want to meet. |
How to Adopt From the Dothan Shelter in 2026
The current process is designed to let people visit without a formal appointment, but preparing before you arrive makes it easier to focus on the animal rather than paperwork.
Browse current dogs or cats
Start with the official Wiregrass Pets available-dogs page or the current cat listings . Note the pet’s name and choose a backup in case your first choice is adopted before you arrive.
Check whether the pet is onsite or in foster
If the pet is at 2638 Hartford Hwy, you can normally visit during shelter hours without an appointment. For a foster pet, email adopt@wiregrasspets.org to arrange the meet.
Complete the pre-adoption questionnaire
Open the official Wiregrass Pets adoption information page , choose the dog or cat questionnaire and complete the requested household information. The shelter FAQ also says you do not have to complete paperwork in advance, so you can still start the process in person.
Bring valid identification
Current shelter rules require adopters to be at least 19 years old and bring a valid form of identification.
Meet the pet and discuss home fit
Ask about behavior, activity level, health history, children, cats, dogs, crate habits, training needs and the first few days at home. Wiregrass Pets says resident dogs can be brought for a staff-facilitated dog-to-dog introduction when appropriate.
Finish checkout and prepare to go home
The official adoption page says checkout can be completed digitally and that cash or credit/debit cards are accepted. The shelter FAQ says adopted pets can go home the same day in most cases.
Dothan Adoption Fees: Dogs, Cats and Included Care
| Pet | Current official fee | Current shelter description |
|---|---|---|
| Dog | $160 | Fee helps cover age-appropriate vaccinations, microchip and spay/neuter. |
| Cat | $90 | Fee helps cover age-appropriate vaccinations, microchip and spay/neuter. |
Adoption Rules Worth Knowing Before You Visit
Adopter must be 19+
Current Wiregrass Pets FAQ says adopters must be at least 19 years old and bring valid identification.
No pet holds
The shelter says adoptions operate on a first-come, first-served basis and pets cannot be placed on hold.
Allow about an hour
Wiregrass Pets says the adoption process commonly takes about an hour, with longer waits possible on busy days.
Dog-to-dog introductions are available
The shelter recommends bringing an existing dog when you are considering another dog and says staff can facilitate the meeting.
No cat-to-dog shelter meet
Wiregrass Pets does not conduct cat-to-dog introductions at the shelter. Staff can provide transition guidance instead.
Ask about foster-to-adopt
Slumber-party and foster-to-adopt options can give an eligible pet time in a real home before a permanent decision.
Emergency & Important Dothan Animal Contacts
These numbers are not interchangeable. Shelter adoption questions, routine Animal Control complaints, police emergencies and rabies exposure use different routes.
| Contact | Number / route | Verified purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Wiregrass Pet Rescue & Adoption Center | 334-761-2440 | Adoption, shelter care, foster, owner-surrender questions and current shelter operations. |
| Dothan Police Animal Services Division | 334-615-4620 | Current City FAQ route for stray-animal / Animal Services requests inside Dothan. |
| Dothan Police Communications / Stray-Lost-Found | 334-793-0215 | Police non-emergency line; current Wiregrass Pets contact information also directs stray, lost and found pet calls to this number. Dothan Police identifies it as a 24-hour non-emergency number. |
| Emergency — Dothan | 911 | Immediate life-threatening emergency requiring police, fire or emergency medical response. |
| Houston County Health Department — Rabies / Environmental Health | 334-678-2815 | Houston County Environmental Health and rabies-control questions, including possible animal exposures. |
Lost, Found or Stray Pet in Dothan
A missing pet can make a normal day feel chaotic. Start quickly and make sure you are contacting both the shelter-care side and the correct government field-response side when needed.
If your dog or cat is missing
- Call 334-793-0215 for Dothan stray/lost/found routing.
- Call Wiregrass Pets at 334-761-2440 and ask whether an animal matching your description is in shelter care.
- Give the exact missing location, species, sex, color, size, collar details and microchip information.
- Search quickly and keep checking; new animals can arrive after your first call.
- Keep photographs, veterinary records and microchip details ready to prove ownership.
If you find a loose pet
- If safely possible, check for a tag without putting yourself at risk.
- Inside Dothan, contact Animal Services at 334-615-4620 or non-emergency dispatch at 334-793-0215.
- Give the exact street, cross street or business location.
- Tell dispatch whether the animal is contained, injured, aggressive, in traffic or simply roaming.
- Outside Dothan city jurisdiction, use the law-enforcement or Animal Control agency serving that exact location.
Animal Bite or Possible Rabies Exposure in Dothan
Alabama public-health guidance treats possible rabies exposure seriously. Do not delay medical evaluation while trying to sort out ownership or shelter paperwork.
Wash the exposed area
Alabama Department of Public Health advises thoroughly washing a bite, scratch or other exposed area with soap and running water.
Get medical advice promptly
Contact a physician or appropriate medical provider, especially for a bite, scratch, bat exposure or saliva contact involving broken skin or a mucous membrane.
Report the animal situation
Use Dothan Animal Services / non-emergency police routing so the animal can be located or appropriately handled.
Contact Houston County Environmental Health
Call 334-678-2815 for Houston County rabies-control information. The state also advises reporting animal bites or scratches to the county health department.
Need to Surrender or Rehome an Owned Pet?
Wiregrass Pets uses managed intake. That means surrender is not a same-day walk-in guarantee. If you are moving or facing a deadline, start early rather than planning to bring the pet to the shelter on your final day.
Call before transporting the pet
Current shelter guidance says Wiregrass Pets cannot accept every owned pet on the same day because available kennel space changes.
$30 owner-surrender fee
Wiregrass Pets currently publishes a $30 fee per owned pet surrendered. Confirm space and intake instructions before paying or travelling.
Private rehoming may be less stressful
The shelter encourages owners to explore safe private rehoming, friends/family placement and other support options before relinquishing a pet when possible.
Foster, Slumber Party and Dog Day Out Options
Adoption is not the only way to help. Wiregrass Pets currently supports several foster models, which can give an animal a break from kennel life while also helping staff learn how that pet behaves in a home.
Foster until adoption
Some animals can remain in foster care for several weeks or longer while waiting for a permanent family.
Slumber Party
An overnight or weekend stay can provide decompression and help a prospective adopter or foster learn more about the pet.
Dog Day Out
Eligible shelter dogs can spend a day away from the shelter, gaining exercise, enrichment and useful behavior observations.
Veterinary Care and Low-Cost Spay/Neuter in Dothan
Wiregrass Pets provides medical care to animals in its custody and says adopted pets leave spayed/neutered, microchipped and appropriately vaccinated. Its current public pages do not advertise the shelter as a normal walk-in veterinary hospital for privately owned pets.
Included with adopted pets
Current adoption information says dog and cat adoption fees help cover age-appropriate vaccination, microchipping and spay/neuter.
No current official public veterinarian roster, public wellness exam fee or owned-pet doctor schedule was found for the shelter, so this guide does not invent one.
Wiregrass Spay/Neuter Alliance
The shelter itself points owners toward Wiregrass Spay/Neuter Alliance for low-cost spay/neuter help.
Address:
570 South Foster Street, Dothan, AL 36301
Phone:
334-671-8111
The clinic’s current site lists Monday–Thursday morning hours and asks clients to call for an appointment. Vaccines are offered in connection with surgery rather than as a general full-service veterinary hospital.
Open the official Wiregrass Spay/Neuter Alliance site , then call before travelling to confirm the current surgery appointment process and the fee for your pet’s species, sex and size.
Who Runs the Current Dothan/Houston County Shelter?
Rachel Smith — Executive Director
Wiregrass Pets’ current leadership page identifies Rachel Smith as Executive Director. The nonprofit manages the current physical shelter and onsite animal programs; Dothan Animal Services officers remain the government enforcement side for City animal-control functions.
Related Alabama Shelter & Animal-Control Guides
If the animal issue is outside Dothan or you are comparing adoption options elsewhere in Alabama, use the guide for the actual jurisdiction rather than assuming Dothan Animal Services covers another city.
Huntsville
For north Alabama adoption, reclaim, surrender and City Animal Services information, see our Huntsville Animal Shelter guide .
Tuscaloosa / Northport
Tuscaloosa County uses a different multi-jurisdiction shelter system. Review the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter & Control guide for the correct local contacts.
City of Mobile
For animal services inside incorporated Mobile, use the City of Mobile Animal Shelter guide .
Mobile County
If the issue belongs to the county rather than the City of Mobile, see our Mobile County Animal Shelter guide for county-specific adoption and Animal Control routing.
Searching beyond Dothan?
Our Animal Shelter Near Me guide explains how to find the shelter responsible for a specific location and why official jurisdiction matters for lost pets and Animal Control calls.
Map: Current Dothan Adoption Shelter
Current public adoption location: Wiregrass Pet Rescue & Adoption Center, 2638 Hartford Hwy, Dothan, AL 36305. This is the location to use for normal 2026 adoption visits.
Official Dothan Animal Shelter & Control Resources
The article above gives the practical details. Use these official pages when you need live pet availability, current operational changes or to complete an online action.
Dothan Animal Shelter FAQ — 2026
1. Where is the Dothan animal shelter for adoptions in 2026?
Public shelter care and adoption are now handled at Wiregrass Pet Rescue & Adoption Center, 2638 Hartford Hwy, Dothan, AL 36305. Older listings may still show the former City shelter on Jerry Drive.
2. What are Dothan animal shelter adoption hours?
Wiregrass Pets currently lists Monday through Saturday from 12 PM to 6 PM and Sunday from 12 PM to 4 PM.
3. Do I need an appointment to adopt a pet in Dothan?
No normal appointment is required to meet pets housed at the Wiregrass Pets facility. If the pet is in foster, email adopt@wiregrasspets.org to arrange a meet-and-greet.
4. How much does it cost to adopt a dog or cat?
Current Wiregrass Pets information lists dog adoption at $160 and cat adoption at $90. The fees help cover age-appropriate vaccines, microchipping and spay/neuter services.
5. How old do I have to be to adopt?
Wiregrass Pets currently requires adopters to be at least 19 years old and to bring valid identification.
6. Can I place an adoptable pet on hold?
No. The current shelter FAQ says adoptions are first come, first served and pets cannot be placed on hold.
7. What number do I call for Dothan Animal Control?
The current City FAQ lists Dothan Police Animal Services at 334-615-4620 for stray-animal issues. Dothan Police lists 334-793-0215 as its 24-hour non-emergency number, and Wiregrass Pets also lists that number for stray/lost/found calls.
8. What should I do after an animal bite or possible rabies exposure?
Wash the exposed area with soap and running water, obtain appropriate medical advice, report the animal situation and contact Houston County Environmental Health at 334-678-2815 for local rabies-control guidance. Call 911 for an immediate life-threatening emergency.
9. Can I surrender an owned pet to the Dothan shelter the same day?
Do not assume same-day intake. Wiregrass Pets uses managed owner-surrender intake and currently states that it cannot accept every owned pet immediately. The published owner-surrender fee is $30 per pet. Call 334-761-2440 before transporting the animal.
10. Does the Dothan shelter have a public veterinary clinic?
Wiregrass Pets provides medical care for animals in its shelter and adoption program, but its current public pages do not advertise a general owned-pet veterinary hospital with public exam appointments or a published veterinarian schedule. For low-cost spay/neuter help, the shelter points local owners toward Wiregrass Spay/Neuter Alliance.
Animal Shelter Action Planner: Lost Pet, Found Pet, Adoption, Reclaim & Surrender Helper
Use this free tool to create a practical next-step plan before visiting or contacting an animal shelter, humane society, rescue, or animal control agency. It does not search a live shelter database, but it helps you prepare the right documents, questions, safety steps, and official-source searches.
Build a USA-wide shelter action plan
Select your situation and location. The tool will create a general action plan, search links, call questions, and a copyable checklist.
Lost pet recovery checklist
Check the steps you have completed. This helps you stay organized during the first urgent hours and days.
Found pet safety decision helper
Use this when you find a stray or loose pet and need a safe next step.
Adoption readiness checker
This helps adopters prepare before visiting a shelter or rescue. It is not a guarantee of approval.
Pet reclaim document checklist
If your pet may be at a shelter, prepare proof before visiting. Exact requirements and fees vary by agency.
Owner surrender preparation helper
Surrender rules vary. Many shelters require appointments, proof of residence, behavior/medical information, and may offer alternatives.
Animal control contact decision helper
Choose the situation and get a general USA-wide contact path. Local rules may differ.
Adoption and first-month budget planner
This is a planning guide, not a shelter fee database. Always confirm adoption fees and included services with the shelter.
Your generated shelter plan
Your action plan, search links, call script, checklist, or budget guide will appear here.
Start with the Planner tab
Select your state, city/county/ZIP, pet type, and goal. The tool will create a practical USA-wide shelter action plan.
Privacy note: this tool runs in your browser. It does not send your entries to animal-shelter.org.