Long Beach, Mississippi

Sec. 6-7. – Control of animals.

(g) All penalties for animals other than dangerous dogs found to be running at large and which have not been neutered shall be suspended if the owner chooses to have the animal neutered at a reduced charge at the animal shelter. There shall be no such suspension of fine for any animal found to be running at large which is neutered at the time of seizure, or for any animal determined to be a dangerous dog prior to its seizure.

(h) Sale of animals; prohibitions, exemptions and enforcement. It shall be unlawful to sell, trade, barter, lease, auction, give away or display a live animal on a roadside, public right-or-way, sidewalk, street, parkway or any other public property or any property dedicated to public use, a commercial parking lot, or at an outdoor special sale, swap meet, flea market, parking lot sale or similar event. This section shall not apply to the Humane Society of South Mississippi, animal welfare organizations designated as a 501(c)(3) by the Internal Revenue Service, established businesses whose sole purpose is related to the care and maintenance of pets or entities who have both a valid business license issued by the city, provided that prior to release of the animal it has been administered all necessary vaccinations as required by law and has been spayed or neutered. A violation of this section shall be considered a misdemeanor. Any person or entity authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter shall have the authority to impound any animal found in violation of this section. The impounded animal may be reclaimed within five days of impoundment upon payment of the costs incurred in confining and keeping of such animal during impoundment.

Sec. 6-9. – Impoundment and recovery of animals.

(a) Any dog, cat, other animal or fowl caught, picked up or impounded while running at large by an animal control officer shall be forthwith turned over to a designated animal shelter. Notice shall be posted and served upon the owner as provided in section 6-7(b), and the owner shall be entitled to request and be granted a hearing as provided in said section 6-7(b). Any impounded animal may be reclaimed by its owner within five days of impoundment upon the payment of the costs incurred in its seizure, impoundment, keeping and medical treatment during impoundment, the payment of any fine, and upon showing proof of current rabies vaccination. Additionally, the police officer, animal control officer, or any other person designated by the city to enforce these provisions shall scan impounded animals for presence of a microchip and shall make reasonable efforts to notify the owner of any animal with a microchip or with any other form of identification that the animal has been impounded and inform such owner of the procedure and condition for redeeming the animal. The police officer, animal control officer, or other person, as may be designated by the city council, may seize or cause to be seized any animal whose owner, keeper, or harborer is found to be in violation of any part of this chapter, and shall impound or cause to be impounded such animal in a designated shelter. Such animal shall be held for a period not to exceed five days, and if reasonable corrections are not made by the owner, keeper, or harborer of the animal so that the owner, keeper, or harborer is no longer in violation of this chapter, then the animal shall be released to the local animal shelter. The animal officer shall designate to the owner, keeper, or harborer of the animal what corrective action is required to be in compliance with this chapter. Thereupon, the impounded animal may be reclaimed within five days of impoundment, upon payment of the cost of inserting a microchip in the animal and where applicable; payment of the cost of spaying or neutering the animal; payment of a $120.00 fine for restitution and recovery in caring for the animal; and upon showing proof of current rabies vaccination. All animals shall be microchipped prior to being returned to an owner or released for adoption. Animals impounded for a second or subsequent time shall be spayed or neutered prior to being returned to an owner or released for adoption. The cost of inserting a microchip and the cost of spaying or neutering shall not exceed the actual reasonable cost incurred by the Humane Society of South Mississippi, its authorized agents, or any other agency authorized by law to perform these procedures.