Madison has no ordinance using the word "hoarding," but its animal-cruelty and sanitation rules prohibit keeping animals without proper food, space, shelter, and a sanitary environment, and the kennel rules cap density before overcrowding.
Madison City Code § 6-7 makes it unlawful to treat animals cruelly, defining cruelty as any act or omission causing unjustifiable pain, suffering, or death, including failure to provide proper food, water, air, space, shelter, a safe and sanitary living environment, and veterinary care. Section 6-10 requires owners to keep premises sanitary and free of accumulated animal waste. Keeping five or more dogs or cats triggers the private-kennel space standard (10x25 feet per animal) under § 6-1, which effectively limits overcrowding. Serious hoarding also violates Alabama's state animal-cruelty statutes (Ala. Code § 13A-11-14 and related). Report suspected hoarding to Madison Animal Control or the Police Department.
Animal cruelty carries minimum fines of $250 (1st), $500 (2nd), and 10-day confinement (3rd) under § 6-2, plus possible seizure of the animals and state cruelty charges.
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