Breeders in Alabama
148 USDA-licensed facilities
Alabama is home to 148 USDA-licensed animal facilities, including commercial breeders, dealers, exhibitors, and research institutions operating under federal Animal Welfare Act oversight. Each facility listed below has been inspected by USDA APHIS veterinary medical officers, and their complete inspection histories are available for public review.
The compliance grades shown range from A+ (excellent — few or no violations) to F (failing — extensive or critical violations). These grades are calculated by BreederCheck based on the number, severity, and recency of documented violations. A high violation count does not always indicate current problems — some facilities have improved significantly after being cited — but it does tell you where to look more carefully and what questions to ask before purchasing an animal.
| Grade | Facility | City | Inspections | Violations | Last Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | MARIA SKINNER | RAGLAND | 6 | 0 | Feb 20, 2020 |
| A+ | Marley Acres Petting Zoo | Elba | 3 | 0 | Dec 1, 2025 |
| A+ | MC WANE CENTER | BIRMINGHAM | 2 | 0 | Dec 9, 2019 |
| A+ | MICHAEL BEATTY | SARALAND | 1 | 0 | Feb 12, 2014 |
| F | MIKE MC CLELLAND | BANKS | 12 | 59 | Jan 24, 2017 |
| F | Montgomery Zoo | Montgomery | 31 | 60 | Nov 24, 2025 |
| A+ | NOAHS ARK EXOTIC ANIMAL AUCTION | HANCEVILLE | 4 | 0 | Jun 12, 2017 |
| A+ | PAT STARR | AUBURN | 3 | 1 | Feb 2, 2017 |
| A | PAT STARR | AUBURN | 2 | 2 | Dec 10, 2015 |
| A+ | PATRICK STARR JR | AUBURN | 5 | 2 | Jun 19, 2019 |
| A+ | Perks Bulldogge Kennel | Florence | 1 | 0 | Jan 19, 2021 |
| A+ | Raptor Ridge Wildlife Education | Eclectic | 2 | 0 | Jan 28, 2026 |
| A+ | Redbird Willow Farm LLC | Anniston | 2 | 0 | Jun 24, 2024 |
| A+ | ROADSIDE PLUS LLC | HUNTSVILLE | 1 | 0 | Mar 8, 2021 |
| A+ | Robert Waterwall | Huntsville | 1 | 1 | Sep 20, 2023 |
| D | RON VAN HERWYN | MONTGOMERY | 11 | 7 | Aug 13, 2024 |
| A+ | RUFFNER MOUNTAIN NATURE CENTER | BIRMINGHAM | 8 | 0 | Apr 22, 2021 |
| A+ | SHANE DABBS | ROGERSVILLE | 6 | 0 | Dec 5, 2019 |
| A+ | SHAY SCOFIELD | MUSCLE SHOALS | 1 | 0 | Jul 30, 2014 |
| A+ | SHEILA HUFF | HOLLY POND | 1 | 2 | Jun 19, 2014 |
| F | SHELBY & AMY RAINEY | COKER | 7 | 9 | Oct 10, 2017 |
| A+ | SHELIA DUNNAM | ROBERTSDALE | 3 | 2 | Nov 23, 2015 |
| A+ | SHELLEY MOODY | BANKSTON | 1 | 2 | Aug 21, 2019 |
| A+ | Keri Durant | Northport | 4 | 0 | Mar 6, 2026 |
| F | SOUTHERN BIOTECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATES INC | LEEDS | 20 | 25 | Feb 2, 2026 |
| F | SOUTHERN BIOTECHNOLOGY ASSOC. | BIRMINGHAM | 17 | 28 | Mar 6, 2025 |
| A+ | Southern Grace Kennels LLC | Prattville | 2 | 1 | May 16, 2022 |
| A+ | Southern Research Institute | Birmingham | 2 | 0 | Feb 20, 2026 |
| F | SOUTHERN RESEARCH INSTITUTE | BIRMINGHAM | 27 | 11 | Feb 20, 2026 |
| C+ | Starco Group LLC | Auburn | 8 | 5 | Sep 4, 2025 |
Understanding Breeder Licensing in Alabama
Federal licensing through the USDA is required for any breeder who sells animals wholesale, maintains more than a threshold number of breeding females, or sells animals sight-unseen over the internet or by mail. Breeders who sell directly to buyers from their own premises, and who maintain four or fewer breeding females, are generally exempt from federal licensing under the retail pet store exemption — although this exemption was narrowed significantly in 2013.
In addition to federal requirements, Alabama may impose its own state-level breeder regulations. These can include state licensing requirements, limits on the number of intact breeding animals, mandatory spay/neuter provisions for sold animals, lemon laws that guarantee buyer recourse for undisclosed health problems, and required veterinary health certificates at the time of sale. State laws vary enormously — some states have comprehensive breeder protection statutes while others have virtually no state-level oversight beyond what the USDA provides.
The facilities shown on this page are those with active or recently expired federal USDA licenses in Alabama. Breeders operating below the federal threshold or selling only within the state may not appear in this database. If you are buying a pet from any breeder in Alabama, we recommend checking both federal records here and any applicable state licensing databases.
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