§ 7-118. Impoundment; registry and notice to owner.

(a)

It shall be the duty of every police officer and animal officer of the city, or other person designated by the city council, to apprehend any dog found running at large contrary to the provisions of the division, and to impound any such dog in the local animal shelter, or other suitable place. In the event no such suitable place is available, such dog may be removed to any private animal hospital or veterinary clinic or animal shelter that will take possession of such dog under such agreement as may be made with the city. Notwithstanding the above provisions in this section, any dog found running at large and not having any identification that such dog has been vaccinated for rabies, and any dog noticeably infected with rabies or other dangerous disease, and any dog displaying any dangerous or vicious propensities as defined in this division, which cannot reasonably and safely be apprehended and impounded, may be slain by any police officer or animal officer as provided in this division.

(b)

The police officer, animal officer, or other person as may be designated by the city council, upon receiving any dog apprehended under this section and impounded shall make a complete registry, entering the date, time, and place of taking, the breed, color, marking, and sex of such dog, and, if known, or if it can be determined from any metal tag attached to any collared dog, the serial number of the vaccination for rabies and the year in which such dog was vaccinated, and, if known, the name and address of the owner, keeper, or harborer of such dog. Vaccinated dogs shall be separated from unvaccinated Additionally, the police officer, animal control officer, or any other person designated by the city to enforce these provisions shall scan impounded dogs for the presence of a microchip and shall make reasonable efforts to notify the owner of any dog with a microchip or with any other form of identification that the dog has been impounded and inform such owner of the procedure and conditions for redeeming the dog.

(c)

The police officer, animal officer, or other person as may be designated by the city council may seize or caused to be seized any dog whose owner, keeper, or harborer is found to be in violation of any part of this division, and shall impound or cause to be impounded such dog in a designated shelter. An impounded dog is a dog which is three (3) months of age or older or a dog which is tagged or microchipped and shall be held for a period not to exceed five (5) days, and if reasonable corrections are not made by the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog so that the owner, keeper, or harborer is no longer in violation of this division, then the dog shall be released to the local animal shelter. Dogs which are under three (3) months of age or are not properly tagged or microchipped shall be released to the local animal shelter upon delivery to the shelter. The animal officer shall designate to the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog what corrective action is required to be in compliance with this division. Thereupon, the impounded dog may be reclaimed within five (5) days of impoundment upon payment of the costs incurred in confining and keeping of such dog during impoundment, payment of the cost of inserting a microchip in the dog and where applicable, payment of the cost of spaying or neutering the dog and upon showing proof of current rabies vaccination. All dogs shall be microchipped prior to being returned to an owner or released for adoption. Dogs impounded for a second or subsequent time shall be spayed or neutered prior 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.

(d)

A police dog commissioned by a recognized law enforcement agency with a current rabies vaccination who bites in the line of duty shall be exempt from confinement under this section and shall be allowed to continue in a working capacity.

(Ord. No. 1788, § 8, 12-22-87; Ord. No. 2185, § 21, 7-20-99; Ord. No. 2624, § 8, 4-7-09; Ord. No. 2801 , § 3, 11-4-14)

State law reference

Redemption of impounded dogs running at large, Miss. Code Ann. 1972, § 41-53-11.