Before proceeding, please consider the following information: Hoof or Paw is volunteer ran by people with full time jobs and families that runs solely on donations, we can only do what’s within our physical, space, and financial capacity (which changes daily for us) at the time of need. We only have about 10-12 kennels total. We are not veterinarians and don’t have an on-site veterinarian for any animals who are sick or injured. We have to seek out veterinarians and take them to appointments just like pet owner would.

Think we might have your pet?

We do work with Law Enforcement throughout the county and with the Hamilton City Ordinance Officer, but we do not pick up animals. If you think they may have brought your dog to us, check our Facebook page, link to our Facebook page is at the very bottom in the footer. All incoming animals that we do NOT know who the owner is are posted on our Facebook page the same day they arrive to us. Proof of ownership and a $25 redemption fee per animal will be required, and the animal must be picked up from us within 24 hours from the date of us receiving it. If it is not picked up within 24 hrs there will be an additional $15 per day boarding fee per kennel that we have to use to house the pet(s). For example: if we have to use two kennels it'll be $30 per day, not per pet. If the pet(s) is not claimed and picked up within 7 days of us receiving it and arrangements have not been made and agreed to by us to hold it for you longer, we will consider it abandoned and property of Hoof or Paw. We do scan all pets for a microchip at intake, if none is found we give them one. For puppies appearing under the age of 6 months old, we also provide a distemper/parvo vaccine at intake. We also provide any other treatments/care we see necessary to ensure the health and safety of all animals in our care and our volunteer staff.

IF AN ANIMAL IS SEVERLY INJURED OR HAS A LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY THERE IS A LIST OF EMERGENCY CLINICS IN OUR AREA AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE. IF AN ANIMAL CONTAINS A NON-LIFE THREATENING INJURY, PLEASE CONTACT A GENERAL VET'S OFFICE, A LIST OF NEARBY VETERINARIANS IS BELOW. WE ARE NOT EQUIPPED, TRAINED OR LICENSED TO HANDLE THOSE, NOR DO WE HAVE AN ONSITE VETERINARIAN OR STAFF. 

Stray or Abandoned Animals

We do NOT pick up animals, investigate cases of abuse or provide any sort of veterinary services. You will need to contact the funded Marion/Winston Animal Shelter (MWAS) at (205) 487-2581 as they are contracted and paid by Marion County and its' cities to handle stray pick ups. If there are any issues, comments, concerns or recommendations of the service you receive from MWAS, please county the Marion County Commission at (205) 921-3172 as they handle the contract for MWAS. Our goal is to be able to take overflow from the county funded shelter, not to provide as the primary shelter because we do not receive enough financial backing nor have enough space to do so.

ALL REPORTS OF ABUSE/NEGLECT or any animal on someone's private property must go to the local authorities, for Hamilton City limits report to the Ordinance Officer at the City Hall by calling (205) 921-2121; for other city limits you'll have to contact the local police department's non-emergency number; for outside city limits call the Marion County Sheriff Dept's non-emergency number at (205) 921-7433. Only call 9-1-1 for human emergencies. 

Report a stray animal by filling out the Stray Animal Form but if you need assistance and we are not available reach out to the following:

• Marion County Humane Society by email at mchsteammember@gmail.com. Volunteer organization assisting with spay neuter assistance and can sometimes help to rehome.

• Win-Mar Humane Society by email at winmarhumanesociety@gmail.com, they are a group of volunteers who foster in their homes when able, offer spay neuter assistance for low income, and can sometimes help to rehome.

• Free State Four Paws, Inc. is another foster based rescue, they do not have a brick and mortar shelter. Freestatefourpaws@yahoo.com

• Rescue the Perishing in Tupelo, MS, who does mainly cats but also dogs by email at rescuetheperishing22@gmail.com

• The contracted county shelter, Marion/Winston Animal Shelter at 205-487-2581 located at 1892 Co Hwy 160, Guin, AL 35563 (kill shelter but PAID BY YOUR TAX DOLLARS and also by City of Hamilton. They are contractually obligated to provide animal control for Marion County residents)

OWNER SURRENDERS - Due to capacity and financial constraints, WE ARE NOT accepting owner turn-ins, but some options are for you to list the pet you need to re-home here ➡️ https://rehome.adoptapet.com/r/186653 (use coupon code RCXHAQTL2U8AD8Z to reduce the listing fee to $1) and here https://www.facebook.com/groups/871082879711596. You can also reach out to Marion County Humane Society and Win-Mar Humane Society (see above for contact information) - they may be able to assist you to rehome your animal(s).

CATS🐱🐱Due to the cost to upkeep cats and USDA requirements on the space and accommodations they need being outside our financial ability, we do not have the capability of taking cats. We can help to spay/neuter, see our Spay/Neuter Assistance page. You can reach out to Win-Mar Humane Society by email at winmarhumanesociety@gmail.com or Rescue the Perishing in Tupelo, MS, who does mainly cats, by email at rescuetheperishing22@gmail.com, or the contracted county shelter, Marion/Winston Animal Shelter at 205-487-2581 (kill shelter but paid and contractually obligated to provide animal control for Marion County residents) or Lamar County Humane Society at info@lchspaws-al.org for possible help or assistance. 

EQUINE AND FARM ANIMALS  Because these type animals are not held at our main facility and have multiple farms who assist us in fostering them and their cost of care, we are able to currently still do these, fill out form below for owner surrender. If you are reporting on an animal other than your own, we cannot be involved without Law Enforcement or the owner(s) inviting us in. https://www.shelterluv.com/matchme/owner-surrender/HOP/Equine 

List of Veterinarian Contacts