Resident says Mobile animal shelter refused intake and cited policy she says assigns ownership to feeders

Sabrina Mass addressed the Mobile City Council during public comment on July 1 to raise concerns about the city's animal shelter and its intake procedures.

Mass said she and her husband took in a stray pregnant cat and cared for the kittens but were told by shelter staff they could not surrender the animals. She said shelter staff insisted the kittens were hers and that she was responsible; the exchange prompted her to call police. Mass said Officer Spears "was very nice" and helped, but she urged the council to review shelter policy, noting a sign at the gate reads "we are not accepting animals." She also identified Michael Crabtree as the animal‑control manager and said the shelter's written materials contain language that, in her view, improperly assigns ownership to people who feed or shelter animals.

Why it matters: Mass said the shelter's current intake practice and posted guidance could deter residents from seeking city assistance for stray animals and, in her view, could create confusion about ownership and responsibility.

What the meeting record shows: Mass described a recent episode in which she said she attempted to surrender kittens, was told by shelter staff the animals were hers, and called police to secure the animals. She asked the council to examine the policy language and the shelter's operations.

Next steps: the speaker requested that the council investigate the matter; no council vote or staff response resolving the complaint was recorded during the meeting.