DOTHAN, Ala. — As the community continues to tackle the growing challenge of homeless pets, local shelters are working together to clarify their roles and share updates on upcoming changes in the area.
Currently, Dothan is home to two operational animal shelters: the Wiregrass Humane Society and the Dothan Animal Shelter. While the two are located next door to one another, they operate as entirely separate entities. The Wiregrass Humane Society is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) rescue organization that does not operate under the City of Dothan, nor does it handle animal control or stray pickups. Those services fall under the jurisdiction of the city-run Dothan Animal Shelter.
Animals picked up by city animal control or found as strays are taken to the Dothan Animal Shelter, where they are held for a mandatory seven-day period to allow owners a chance to reclaim their pets. Citizens missing a pet are strongly encouraged to contact the Dothan Animal Shelter at (334) 615-4620 as their first step. While the Wiregrass Humane Society also welcomes inquiries, most stray pets will initially be housed at the city facility.
In a significant development for the area, a new shelter—Wiregrass Pets Rescue and Adoption—is currently under construction on Highway 52 West. Scheduled to open in August, this modern facility will take over operations from the Dothan Animal Shelter upon completion. The city will contract with the new shelter for intake of strays and animals brought in by animal control, and the existing Dothan Animal Shelter will close.
The Wiregrass Humane Society clarified that it is not affiliated with the new shelter and is not relocating. “We will continue to operate independently at our current location, just as we have for over 30 years,” a representative stated on Facebook. “There is a real need for multiple shelters in our area, and we believe our mission continues to fill an essential role.”
Though the organization is not involved in the construction of the new shelter, they expressed support and enthusiasm for its launch, “It’s a beautiful and much-needed addition to our community, and we look forward to collaborating in the future. Managing the homeless pet population is a team effort—it truly takes a village.”
The Wiregrass Humane Society also reiterated the critical importance of spaying and neutering pets, calling it the “first and most important step” in controlling the area’s homeless animal crisis.
Looking ahead, the nonprofit dreams of eventually building a new shelter of its own and relocating to a more accessible site closer to the city center. “If anyone is interested in donating land to support our cause, we’d love to hear from you,” the shelter shared in good humor.
The organization thanked the community for its continued support, emphasizing that their work would not be possible without local involvement.
For updates on the new facility, residents can follow Wiregrass Pets Rescue and Adoption on their website or Facebook page. You may also stay tuned with Wiregrass Daily News for future updates.
