Auburn, AL Animal Ordinances: Breed Restrictions (2026)

Auburn's published animal regulations contain no breed-specific ban, and Alabama law does not allow breed bans to drive dangerous-dog determinations. Under Alabama's dangerous-dog statute, commonly called Emily's Law (Ala. Code Title 3, Chapter 6A), a 'dangerous dog' is defined as a dog, regardless of its breed, that has bitten, attacked, or caused physical injury, serious physical injury, or death to a person without justification (Ala. Code Section 3-6A-3). The law evaluates individual dogs after a reported bite or injury rather than banning specific breeds. The process (Section 3-6A-4) involves a sworn complaint, investigation by an animal control officer, possible impoundment, and a court hearing; a court may order the dog returned under strict conditions (such as microchipping, spay/neuter, registration, secure enclosure, and liability coverage) or order euthanasia in serious cases. Criminal penalties for owners appear in Section 3-6A-5. Separately, Section 3-6-1 makes a dog owner liable for damages when the dog, without provocation, bites or injures a person who is lawfully present. Because these standards apply regardless of breed, no pit bull or other breed is banned by breed alone in Auburn.