Mobile County Animal Shelter, Adoption & Pets 2026
Looking for a dog to adopt, trying to find your missing pet, or needing help with a stray animal? Mobile County Animal Shelter (MCAS) is the county-operated shelter at 7665 Howells Ferry Road, Mobile, AL 36618.
One local distinction matters immediately: Mobile County Animal Shelter is not the City of Mobile Animal Services shelter on Owens Street. The correct Animal Control agency depends on where the animal was found or the incident occurred—not which shelter is closest to your home.
Mobile County Animal Shelter Hours and Address
The official county adoption page publishes weekday and Saturday hours. Field-service officers have a different duty schedule, and after-hours emergency routing is separate from public animal viewing.
| Service | Hours | What visitors should know |
|---|---|---|
| Adoption — Monday to Friday | 10 AM–4 PM | Normal public adoption window. |
| Adoption — Saturday | 10 AM–2 PM | Shorter weekend visiting window. |
| Sunday | Closed | No ordinary public adoption hours published. |
| County/state/federal holidays | Closed | After-hours response is reserved for qualifying emergencies. |
| Animal Control officers | Monday–Friday, 8 AM–4:30 PM | Official FAQ field-duty schedule; dispatch may prioritize incoming incidents. |
Before driving from the western Mobile area, Saraland or another part of the county, call if you want to meet one particular animal or need a time-sensitive reclaim. Online status can change between the time you check and your arrival.
Mobile County Animal Shelter vs. City of Mobile Animal Services
Both organizations help animals, but they operate separate shelters. This is especially important for found pets, roaming dogs, cruelty complaints and stray pickup requests.
Mobile County Animal Shelter
7665 Howells Ferry Road, Mobile, AL 36618
Phone: 251-574-3647.
Mobile County Animal Control investigates issues in unincorporated Mobile County. The shelter may also house animals from certain municipalities under service agreements.
City of Mobile Animal Services
855 Owens Street, Mobile, AL 36604
Direct shelter: 251-208-2800.
The city operates its own shelter and uses the Mobile 311 system for non-emergency animal-service requests within the city limits.
See our existing City of Mobile Animal Shelter guide for city-specific adoption and control guidance.
Where to View Mobile County’s Available Dogs, Puppies, Cats and Kittens
The county has an online animal gallery, and pets can enter the system before they become legally adoptable. If a pet has only recently arrived as a stray, staff may still be trying to reunite it with its family.
How to Adopt From Mobile County Animal Shelter
Adoption is exciting, but it is also a decision that lasts years. A little preparation makes the visit easier for you, the shelter team and the animal you may bring home.
Look through the current pet listings
Open the official County Pet Adoptions page. Use the available animal listings and decide which pet you’d like to meet.
Open the adoption application
Use the adoption application linked on the county page. The county’s July 2026 announcement also links the online adoption application.
Gather your documents
Bring a valid driver’s license. If you rent, the shelter’s official FAQ says you must bring the lease agreement showing that pets are allowed.
Meet the pet during adoption hours
Visit 7665 Howells Ferry Road Monday–Friday between 10 AM and 4 PM or Saturday between 10 AM and 2 PM. Ask whether the animal is available now or still on stray hold.
Ask about behavior and veterinary history
Ask what shelter staff know from observations or prior owner records, and request clarification on medical needs and heartworm-testing results when relevant.
Confirm fee and arrange safe transport
Because current county sources differ on some fees, confirm the amount due with staff. Bring a suitable leash, harness or carrier to take your new companion home safely.
Mobile County Animal Shelter Adoption Fees — 2026
Two official county sources currently present different prices for adult dogs. Rather than silently using the lower figure or labeling an expired promotion as permanent, the table below explains both.
| Animal | Officially published amount | Source and caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Adult dogs and puppies | $80 | Current county Pet Adoptions service page lists this combined category at $80. |
| Cats | $70 | Current county Pet Adoptions service page lists cats at $70. |
| Adult dogs | $40 | July 30, 2026 county announcement states adult dogs $40, before applicable sponsorships. |
| Puppies | $80 | July 30, 2026 announcement lists puppies at $80. |
| Sponsored or promotional adoption | Varies | July 29–August 12, 2026 adult-dog sponsorship was explicitly time-limited and should not be treated as an ongoing offer. |
No multiple-pet adoption discount is listed in the official shelter FAQ, and MCAS says it cannot hold animals for a later visit. Adoption is first come, first served.
What Veterinary Care Is Included When You Adopt?
Part of the value of adopting from MCAS is the preventive care provided while animals are in shelter custody. The county describes the following as part of its adoption and animal-care process.
Spay or neuter
All adopted shelter animals must be sterilized before leaving. The shelter uses contracted local veterinarians, not the adopter’s own surgeon, for this required process.
Microchip
Adopted pets are microchipped so identification can help them return home if lost.
Preventive vaccination
The county describes rabies and species-appropriate preventive vaccines for shelter animals.
Heartworm testing
Dogs six months of age or older are tested. Ask staff for your dog’s individual results and treatment/follow-up needs.
Parasite management
Deworming and flea treatment are among preventive measures described by MCAS.
Follow-up with your veterinarian
Take home any available records and ask your regular veterinarian to review ongoing vaccinations and preventive care.
Emergency & Important Mobile County Animal Contacts
These contacts serve different purposes. In particular, a shelter adoption phone is not automatically an overnight emergency-dispatch service.
Adoption questions, lost pet checks, reclaim information and general shelter assistance.
County FAQ lists this non-emergency dispatch number for stray pickup, officer response and animal-bite reporting during normal operations.
Official county after-hours contact. An alternate is 251-574-8634.
For an immediate threat to human life or another situation requiring emergency response.
Lost Your Dog or Cat? The Seven-Day Hold Matters
If a pet disappears, the uncertainty can be awful. Mobile County’s advice is more urgent than simply filling out an online report: it specifically encourages owners to come to the shelter immediately and return regularly.
Visit the shelter promptly
Go to 7665 Howells Ferry Road during operating hours and ask staff for a lost-dog or lost-cat walk-through. Do not rely solely on a telephone description.
Repeat the search every two to three days
The county recommends this because animals may be brought in after your first visit or may initially be difficult to identify from a photo.
Check the county’s animal listings and social updates
Use the official Animal Services page for its lost/found directions, listings and links to stray-hold posts.
Contact other shelters when needed
Roaming pets can cross municipal boundaries. If the animal disappeared inside the City of Mobile, contact that separate shelter as well.
Prepare identification for reclaim
Bring photographs, microchip information, vaccination records and other proof of ownership. Ask staff about the animal’s intake date and any applicable charges.
Found a Stray? Do Not Automatically Drive It to the Shelter
Mobile County specifically says that ordinary found strays are generally not accepted over the counter. The county wants residents to contact the appropriate dispatch service so Animal Control can assess the incident and arrange pickup where appropriate.
What to do during operating hours
- Determine whether the animal is in unincorporated Mobile County or a city with its own Animal Control agency.
- For county jurisdiction, contact 251-574-7940 and describe the found animal and exact location.
- Tell dispatch whether the animal is injured, aggressive, confined or in traffic.
- Follow the officer’s instructions. Priority incidents can delay non-urgent pickup.
Safety and intake limits
- Do not approach an unfamiliar animal that may bite or have an unknown rabies status.
- Do not presume that containing the animal guarantees immediate pickup.
- Do not leave an animal at a closed shelter or abandon it on the premises.
- Ask Animal Control how an obviously injured animal should be handled.
How to Reclaim an Impounded Animal
If shelter staff identify your animal, ask them to confirm the reclaim process, hold deadline and total charges before you arrive.
Verify ownership
Bring identification plus photos, vet records or microchip information if available.
Ask about all charges
The county states impound, pickup, boarding, medical, rabies-related and other charges may apply depending on the incident.
Act quickly
The ordinary stray holding period is seven days, with possible variations for court or protective holds.
MCAS does not publish one universal reclaim price that covers every situation. Call 251-574-3647 for the charges and release requirements applicable to your pet.
What Mobile County Animal Control Investigates
Mobile County officers enforce county dog-control rules in unincorporated areas and respond to animal-welfare concerns. City governments remain responsible for their own municipal animal-control incidents unless a contract provides otherwise.
Roaming animals
Reports of stray dogs, dog-control violations and animals presenting a hazard.
Abuse or neglect
Officers investigate reported animal cruelty and may work with prosecutors where evidence supports enforcement.
Animal bite investigations
Animal bites, attacks and rabies observation concerns.
Neighborhood complaints
Animal issues involving local ordinances and public safety.
Stray animal traps
The official FAQ describes a trap-loan process requiring a trap agreement and availability confirmation.
Community education
Dog-bite prevention, responsible ownership and outreach to schools and local communities.
Animal Bites, Rabies and Public-Health Reporting
Alabama requires reporting of animal bites, and the county’s shelter FAQ directs residents to Animal Control for investigations and rabies observation.
- Get appropriate medical care promptly. A bite or scratch can need treatment even when the wound appears small.
- Record details. Note the incident address, time, animal description and any known owner information.
- Report the incident. In the county’s jurisdiction, the official FAQ lists Animal Control Dispatch at 251-574-7940.
- Do not handle the animal yourself. Animal Control/public-health officials determine the appropriate observation or investigation steps.
- Ask the treating clinician about rabies and tetanus assessment. Do not independently decide that exposure is harmless.
Need to Surrender a Pet? Call Before Bringing the Animal
Sometimes families face housing, health or financial changes they did not expect. The county says owner surrender is a last-choice option and intake depends on capacity.
Check whether county intake is appropriate
Owner surrender is generally discussed for residents in unincorporated Mobile County. Residents of cities should contact their local animal-services provider.
Consider rehoming first
The county recommends exploring alternatives and links to a rehoming service on its official Animal Services page.
Call about space and eligibility
Ask 251-574-3647 whether the shelter can accept your animal and whether a scheduled intake is required.
Bring ownership and veterinary records
Prepare proof of ownership, vaccination and medical information, and a candid description of the animal’s behavior.
Confirm surrender and pickup charges
MCAS says surrender fees apply, with an additional transport fee if Animal Control must collect the animal from a residence.
Help by Fostering, Volunteering or Supporting Shelter Pets
On July 30, 2026, Mobile County published an urgent capacity appeal saying it had 300 animals in care at that time. That was a dated snapshot, not a permanent shelter population count. The practical point remains: foster households can create space and give anxious animals a quieter place to recover.
Short-term foster care
Complete the application linked from the official County Foster a Pet page. Ask what supplies, time commitment and medical support apply to a specific placement.
Donate your time
Check the county’s animal-control resources for volunteer application details and suitable roles in shelter support, handling or administrative work.
Placement partners
MCAS works with established rescues. Organizations interested in a particular animal should contact shelter staff as early as possible, especially during a stray hold or capacity emergency.
Veterinary Services, Appointment Fees and Doctor Information
The shelter uses contracted veterinarians and provides basic preventive care to animals entering and leaving its adoption program. However, the official pages reviewed here do not establish a named public-clinic veterinarian, a routine public appointment calendar or a universal veterinary exam fee at 7665 Howells Ferry Road.
Verified care at the shelter
- Spay/neuter before adoption.
- Rabies vaccination and other routine vaccines.
- Microchips for adopted animals.
- Heartworm testing for qualifying dogs.
- Deworming and other preventive treatments.
- Health and behavior assessments for adoption decisions.
Not verified as public services
- Walk-in veterinary examination hours.
- Bookable public doctor appointments.
- Public surgery pricing unrelated to shelter adoption.
- Emergency veterinary hospital hours.
- A named veterinarian roster for general-public consultations.
Mobile County Pet Rules Worth Knowing
Physical restraint
The county FAQ says pets must be physically restrained off private property, such as by a leash. An electronic/shock collar is not considered sufficient physical restraint.
Vaccination
Dogs, cats and ferrets older than three months require current rabies vaccination under Alabama law.
County registration
The county FAQ states there is no separate county pet registration requirement, but rabies tags must be current and displayed.
Directions to Mobile County Animal Shelter
7665 Howells Ferry Road, Mobile, AL 36618. This is the county shelter, not the City of Mobile animal facility on Owens Street.
Official Mobile County Animal Shelter Links
Use these sources when you need live animal listings, actual forms or same-day operational changes. The main instructions and rules are explained in this guide so you do not have to research the basics from scratch.
Mobile County Animal Shelter FAQ — 2026
1. Where is Mobile County Animal Shelter located?
Mobile County Animal Shelter is located at 7665 Howells Ferry Road, Mobile, Alabama 36618. It is not the City of Mobile shelter on Owens Street.
2. What is the Mobile County Animal Shelter telephone number?
The main shelter number is 251-574-3647, also advertised as 251-574-DOGS.
3. What are Mobile County Animal Shelter adoption hours?
Monday through Friday, 10 AM–4 PM, and Saturday, 10 AM–2 PM. The shelter is closed Sundays and designated county, state and federal holidays.
4. How much does it cost to adopt a dog or cat?
The active county adoption page lists dogs/puppies at $80 and cats at $70, while a July 30, 2026 county announcement lists adult dogs at $40 and puppies at $80. Fees can change with promotions and sponsorships; confirm the current amount for your chosen pet before payment.
5. What identification do I need to adopt?
The official shelter FAQ says to bring a valid driver’s license. Renters must bring their lease agreement showing pets are allowed.
6. Can the shelter hold an animal for me?
No. The shelter’s official FAQ states that MCAS does not hold animals and follows a first-come, first-served adoption approach.
7. How long are stray animals held?
MCAS normally holds stray animals for seven days to give owners an opportunity to reclaim them. Court orders or other legal circumstances may require a different hold.
8. Can I bring a found stray directly to the county shelter?
Ordinarily, no. Mobile County directs residents to contact Animal Control Dispatch at 251-574-7940 for found-animal pickup assistance. The shelter warns against dropping animals at the facility without staff acknowledgement.
9. Who do I call for an animal emergency after hours?
Mobile County lists the Sheriff’s Office numbers 251-574-8633 and 251-574-8634 for qualifying after-hours animal emergencies. For an immediate threat to human life, call 911.
10. Does Mobile County Animal Shelter offer a public veterinary clinic?
The shelter uses contracted veterinarians and provides required adoption-related medical care, including sterilization, vaccination and microchipping. Current official sources do not establish regular public veterinary appointments, a named general-public veterinarian or a standard public examination fee at the shelter.
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.