SB194 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tammy Irons

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Gerald O. DialClay ScofieldDick BrewbakerVivian Davis FiguresGeorge M. “Marc” KeaheyRoger Bedford, Jr.Hank SandersJ.T. WaggonerWilliam “Bill” M. BeasleyBryan Taylor

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Animals, fighting dogs, procedures for seizing, disposition process expedited, bond required under certain conditions, forfeiture of dog under certain conditions, Sec. 3-1-29 am'd.

Summary

SB194 speeds up seizure and disposition of dogs involved in fighting, and adds bond and forfeiture provisions for the owners.

What This Bill Does

The bill modifies Alabama law to treat dog fighting offenses as Class C felonies, and it directs law enforcement to confiscate dogs used in fighting and give them to humane or welfare agencies for disposal. It allows courts to require the dog’s owner to post a bond or deposit funds to cover seizure and care costs, with 30-day increments and hearings, and it provides for forfeiture if the bond isn’t posted timely. It also creates a civil forfeiture option, with a separate hearing timeline, and outlines when the dog may be destroyed, housed, or returned depending on disease, training, or viciousness.

Who It Affects

• Dog owners/keepers/trainers involved in fighting offenses or related activities, who could face felony charges, confiscation of the dog, bond requirements, and potential forfeiture or civil forfeiture.
• Local law enforcement, humane societies, and animal welfare agencies responsible for confiscating, housing, caring for, disposing of, or returning seized dogs, and for administering bond and forfeiture processes.

Key Provisions

• Makes owning, possessing, keeping, training a dog for fighting, or causing dogs to fight, a Class C felony; also makes it a felony to knowingly be present at fighting preparations or exhibitions or to aid such acts.
• Confiscates dogs used for fighting and transfers them to a humane society or animal welfare agency for disposition; dogs are not returned to the owner.
• Authorizes a court to require the dog owner to post a bond or deposit funds to cover seizure, care, keeping, and possible disposal costs, with payments due in 30-day increments and hearings within short timeframes.
• If the owner fails to post the bond within 72 hours after the hearing, the dog is forfeited by operation of law; indigent owners may be relieved from posting bond.
• Owners may surrender the dog to a local shelter without it implying guilt; if expenses are not covered by the bond after its term, the dog may be forfeited unless a new bond is posted (with limits on filings to adjust the bond).
• Bond funds may be used to cover actual seizure and care costs; remaining bond amounts are refunded after criminal charges are resolved if not expended.
• Provides a civil forfeiture process to seek forfeiture of the dog; includes deadlines for petitions and hearings, and outcomes dependent on meeting or failing the burden of proof.
• Effective date set as the first day of the third month after governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Animals