Olive Branch, Mississippi

Sec. 10-41. – Permitting to run at large.

(d) If an unvaccinated dog or cat is claimed by a rightful owner, or adopted from the Olive Branch Animal Shelter, such dog or cat shall not be released until vaccinated and tagged as required by section 10-40. If a dog or cat is adopted by someone other than the rightful owner, and such dog or cat has not been spayed or neutered, such dog or cat shall not be released until it has been spayed or neutered by a local veterinary hospital.

(e) The mayor and director of administrative services are hereby authorized, in their discretion, to negotiate a contract with a local veterinary hospital to perform rabies vaccinations, voluntary spay and neuter services for dogs or cats claimed by rightful owners, and mandatory spay and neuter services for animals adopted by citizens from the Olive Branch Animal Shelter. Any such contract shall be submitted to the board of aldermen for approval. The mayor and board of aldermen find as fact that costs to the city for vaccinations, spay, and neuter services in excess of the impounding, maintenance, and adoption fees set forth herein, are costs appropriately borne by the city in order to promote the general health, welfare, and safety of the community. The city is authorized to bear this expense, and to offset the expense with the charges set forth herein, pursuant to MCA § 21-19-9.