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.