Greenville, Mississippi

Sec. 8-93. – Impoundment—Unrestrained or unlicensed dogs; or nuisance animal; redemption, adoption, euthanization.

(c) Any animal not reclaimed by its owner within seventy-two (72) hours shall be deemed abandoned and shall be placed for adoption in a suitable home for a fee of sixty-five dollars ($65.00) or humanely euthanized; provided that, if an unclaimed animal is adopted, the adoptive owner must pay a fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) to the animal control officer or his designee for vaccination of said animal. Any animal so adopted must be spayed or neutered, and a cost of fifteen dollars ($15.00) is allocated for that procedure, which sum shall be paid from the aforementioned adoption fee and/or impound fees. The seventy-two-hour waiting period is waived for any wild or feral animal, or for any animal suffering from an incurable disease, and any injured or neglected animal may be humanely euthanized without any waiting period pursuant to Section 97-41-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended.

Sec. 8-121. – Definitions.

The following words and phrases have the following definitions for the purpose of this article:

[…]

Kennel means any person who engages in the business of boarding, breeding, buying grooming, letting for hire, training for a fee, or selling animals.

Sec. 8-122. – Permit required for animal establishments.

(a) No person shall operate an animal establishment within the city without first obtaining a permit from the permit office, nor may any person operate an animal establishment in a manner in violation of any provision of this article.

(b) The permit period shall begin with the first day of the calendar year and shall run for one (1) year. Renewal application for permits shall be made thirty (30) days prior to and up to sixty (60) days after January 1st of each year. Application for a new establishment under the provisions of this code shall be made within sixty (60) days of the start of business or operation.

(c) Every facility regulated by this article shall be considered a separate enterprise, requiring an individual permit (e.g. two (2) kennels at different locations but owned by the same person, shall be considered as two (2) animal establishments).

(d) Permits obtained in accordance with this article shall be displayed in a prominent location on the premises of the animal establishment.

Sec. 8-123. – Application procedure.

(a) Each animal establishment shall annually file an application for permit within the time periods provided, that all preexisting establishments shall have ninety (90) days from the effective date of this Code to file such application.

(b) The permit application shall be made on a form provided by the permit office of city.

(c) Upon receipt of a completed application, the housing or building inspector, in conjunction with the Washington County Humane Society, shall make an inspection of the facility to insure that all animals are provided for in a humane manner, and that the establishment is in compliance with the provisions of this article. Such inspection may be made at any reasonable time during normal business hours.

(d) In the event a permit is not granted, the permit office shall notify the applicant in writing of the specific reasons for denial of the permit.

(e) Any animal establishment denied a permit may not reapply for a period of at least thirty (30) days. Each reapplication shall describe any previous denial or revocation.

(f) If an applicant is shown to have withheld or falsified any material information on the application, the animal control authority may refuse to issue or may revoke a permit.

Sec. 8-124. – Revocation of permits.

(a) The permit office may revoke any permit if the person holding the permit refuses or fails to comply with this article or any other law or regulation governing the protection and keeping of animals, including refusal to allow inspection of the animal establishment as provided in this article.

(b) Whenever a permit is revoked for cause, or pending any proceedings to contest such action, the housing, or building inspector, acting in conjunction with the Washington County Humane Society, shall have power of entry to inspect all premises where the animals are being kept and shall notify the owner in writing as to the period of time that reasonably shall be allowed for removal of animals from such premises and shall state the specific reasons for revocation. In the event any such owner shall fail to remove such animals as directed, the same may be impounded and disposed of in the same manner as set forth in section 4-38 of the Code of Ordinances.

Sec. 8-125. – Compliance.

(a) An animal establishment shall not sell, trade, or give away any dog or cat, over three (3) months of age, unless the dog or cat has been licensed and/or vaccinated as required by this code.

(b) The building or housing inspector, in conjunction with the Washington County Humane Society, shall be permitted to inspect any animal establishment and all animals and the premises where such animals are kept at any reasonable time during normal business hours to ensure compliance with all provisions of this article and the animal control code.

Sec. 8-127. – Private kennels.

All private kennels shall, in addition to the other requirements of this article, comply with the minimum standards of this section. Standards for private kennels are as follows:

(1) No person shall operate a private kennel without first obtaining an annual permit from the permit office. Permits shall be based upon calendar years. Application for renewal of a permit shall be made between thirty (30) days prior to and sixty (60) days following January 1st of each year.

(2) Upon receipt of a completed application, the building or housing inspector, in conjunction with the Washington County Humane Society, shall make an inspection of the facility to ensure that all animals are provided for in a humane manner and that the private kennel is in compliance with all provisions of this code.

(3) Upon receiving a complaint concerning a private kennel, the building or housing inspector, in conjunction with the Washington County Humane Society, may make an inspection of the facility to ensure that the facility, is in compliance with all provisions of this code.

(4) All animals shall have adequate space for proper shelter against weather extremes, and for property exercise.

(5) All kennel areas shall be maintained in such manner as not to constitute either a private nuisance to adjoining property owners or a nuisance to the public generally. Kennel areas in which animals are confined or maintained shall be cleaned regularly so that they are kept free from offensive odors, which would disturb any person residing within a reasonable distance of said premises; and the animals themselves shall be restrained in such a fashion so that noise emanating therefrom shall not be disturbing to such persons.

(6) Proper food of sufficient quantity and nutritive value to meet the normal daily requirements for condition and size of animals shall be provided.

(7) Fresh water shall be available at all times.