Every veterinarian duly licensed to practice veterinary medicine and surgery in the state of Alabama who holds a certificate of qualification as provided by chapter 29 of Title 34 shall have a lien on every animal kept, fed, treated or surgically treated or operated on by him while in his custody and under contract with the owner of such animal, for payment of his charges for keeping, feeding, treating or surgically treating or operating on such animal, and he shall have the right to retain such animal until said charges are paid.
(a) Any animal placed in the custody of a licensed veterinarian for the treatment, boarding, or other care which shall be unclaimed by its owner or his or her agent for a period of more than 10 days after written notice by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the owner or his or her agent at his or her last known address shall be deemed to be abandoned and may be turned over to the nearest humane society or dog pound or sold to collect the lien pursuant to Sections 35-11-390 and 35-11-391.
(b) The giving of notice to the owner or the agent of the owner of the animal by the licensed veterinarian as provided in subsection (a) shall relieve the licensed veterinarian and custodian to whom the animal may be given of any further liability for disposal.
(c) For the purpose of this article, the term abandoned shall mean to forsake entirely, to neglect, or refuse to provide or perform the legal obligations for care and support of an animal by its owner or his or her agent. The abandonment shall constitute the relinquishment of all his or her rights and claims by the owner to the animal.
(d) The disposal of an abandoned animal shall not relieve the owner or agent thereof of any financial obligation incurred for treatment, boarding, or care by the veterinarian.