GENERALLY

Gulfport Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. III, div. 1

in effect

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-56 Living creatures not to be cruelly treated.

Sec. 7-56. - Living creatures not to be cruelly treated. If any person shall override, overdrive, overload, torture, torment, unjustifiably injure, deprive of necessary sustenance, food, or drink; or cruelly beat or needlessly mutilate; or cause or procure to be overridden, overdriven, overloaded, tortured, unjustifiably injured, tormented, or deprived of necessary sustenance, food, or drink; or to be cruelly beaten or needlessly mutilated or killed; or fail to provide adequate and proper shelter and protection from the weather; or fail to provide adequate and proper veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering, any living creature, every such offender shall, for every offense, be guilty of a misdemeanor. (Code 1963, § 6-1; Ord. No. 2185, § 1, 7-20-99)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-57 Animals injuring trees.

Sec. 7-57. - Animals injuring trees. No person shall fasten any animal to a tree in a public park, place or street in the city nor cause any animal to stand so that such animal can injure such tree. (Code 1963, § 18-3)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-58 Leaving an animal unattended inside a motor vehicle.

Sec. 7-58. - Leaving an animal unattended inside a motor vehicle. It shall be unlawful for any owner or person having the possession, charge, custody, or control of any animal to leave such animal inside a motor vehicle unattended when such action is harmful or potentially harmful to such animal. In the event the owner or person having the possession, charge, custody, or control of such animal left unattended in a motor vehicle cannot be found or refuses to prevent such harm or such potential harm from occurring or continuing, the police officer, animal officer, or other person as may be designated by the city council shall use whatever means necessary to enter the motor vehicle to end any harm or potential harm from occurring or continuing to the animal. Violation of this provision of this division shall be considered a misdemeanor. (Ord. No. 2185, § 2, 7-20-99)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-59 Transporting animal(s) in motor vehicles.

Sec. 7-59. - Transporting animal(s) in motor vehicles. It shall be unlawful for any owner or person having the possession, charge, custody, or control of any animal to transport such animal in the back of, or on top of, a pickup truck or flat bed truck, which would allow the animal to move about unsecured in the back of or on top of such pickup truck or flat bed truck. The owner or person having the possession, charge, custody, or control of any animal shall secure such animal to the pickup truck or flat bed truck so as to prevent the animal from jumping or being thrown from the pickup truck or flat bed truck, or being injured, or causing an accident or injury to any person. (Ord. No. 2185, § 3, 7-20-99)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-60 Allowing free and safe movement of animals in enclosed area.

Sec. 7-60. - Allowing free and safe movement of animals in enclosed area. It shall be unlawful for any owner or person having possession, charge, custody, or control of any animal to have such animal confined or restricted in its movement so as to allow less than two (2) square feet of area for every pound of body weight of the animal, unless the confinement is temporary while the animal is being transported, and such confinement shall not exceed twenty-four (24) hours at one (1) time and the animal shall be allowed to move about and exercise at least every two (2) hours during that twenty-four-hour period. The Humane Society of South Mississippi, Inc., veterinary hospitals, boarding kennels, and pet shops are exempt from complying with the provisions of this section, but must follow all state and federal guidelines for its operation and must be licensed and permitted by the city. (Ord. No. 2185, § 4, 7-20-99; Ord. No. 2624, § 2, 4-7-09)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-61 Interfering with activities of animals owned and used by the police department.

Sec. 7-61. - Interfering with activities of animals owned and used by the police department. It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with activities of or molest any animal owned and used by the police department in any performances, displays, functions, or activities of such police department animal. Violation of this provision of this division is considered a misdemeanor. (Ord. No. 2185, § 5, 7-20-99)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-62 Responsibility of animal under an individual's possession, charge, custody, or control upon the individual's moving from one residence to another.

Sec. 7-62. - Responsibility of animal under an individual's possession, charge, custody, or control upon the individual's moving from one residence to another. It shall be unlawful for any owner or person having possession, charge, custody, or control of an animal(s) to leave such animal(s) at a residence upon the individual's moving therefrom, either temporarily or permanently, without making provisions for the sustenance, food, drink, and care of the animal(s) while the individual is away from the residence, or to intentionally desert the animal(s), or otherwise neglect or refuse to provide the necessary sustenance, food, and drink for the animal(s). A violation of this section shall be considered to be abandonment and is punishable as a misdemeanor. (Ord. No. 2185, § 6, 7-20-99)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-63 Intentional provocation of aggression in an animal.

Sec. 7-63. - Intentional provocation of aggression in an animal. It shall be unlawful for any person other than the owner to intentionally tease or provoke an animal(s) in an attempt to elicit an aggressive response from the animal(s), or to cause injury or emotional distress to the animal(s) or its owner or person having possession, charge, custody, or control. (Ord. No. 2185, § 7, 7-20-99)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-64 Pet shops, aviaries, kennels, and animal shelters; investigation of complaints.

Sec. 7-64. - Pet shops, aviaries, kennels, and animal shelters; investigation of complaints. The animal officer of the city is hereby authorized at any time upon written complaint of any person to inspect the conditions of any business which sells or gives away any living animal(s) to ascertain if such business is in compliance with this division. (Ord. No. 2185, § 8, 7-20-99)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-65 Severely injured or diseased animals.

Sec. 7-65. - Severely injured or diseased animals. It shall be the duty of any police officer or animal control officer of the city to provide for the euthanasia of any animal suffering from a severe injury or disease. (1) Euthanasia of animals pursuant to this section shall be accomplished solely by means of injection of sodium pentobarbital or sodium pentobarbital solution administered by a licensed veterinarian, a licensed veterinary technician, or animal control officer to include shelter staff who are certified in euthanasia by injection. When intravenous administration is considered impractical or impossible, intraperitoneal administration is acceptable as an alternate and accepted form of euthanasia. (2) Any method of euthanasia other than that provided for in this section is prohibited except that euthanasia by gunshot, with supervisory approval, is permissible as an emergency measure for an animal that is posing an imminent threat of serious physical injury to a person or to another animal and where the use of a humane and accepted methods of euthanasia as prescribed in this section is impossible or where the severely injured or diseased animal cannot otherwise be aided. (3) No animal shall be left unattended between the time that the euthanasia begins and the time when death is confirmed. The body of a euthanized animal shall not be disposed of in any manner until death is confirmed by a licensed veterinarian, a certified euthanasia technician or a licensed veterinary technician. (Ord. No. 2185, § 9, 7-20-99; Ord. No. 2624, § 3, 4-7-09)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-66 Conditional permits for domesticated animals (dogs and/or cats).

Sec. 7-66. - Conditional permits for domesticated animals (dogs and/or cats). (a) The chief of police shall have the authority to issue permits, renewable annually, to persons within the city to house and maintain domesticated animals (dogs and/or cats) in excess of six (6) at their residence. (b) Any person receiving a permit under this provision of this division may be allowed to keep domesticated animals (dogs and/or cats) in excess of six (6) at their residence subject to the following conditions: (1) No more than the permitted number of domesticated animals (dogs and/or cats) over the age of six (6) months shall be allowed in the yard or premises of the residence of the owner of such animals at one time, and such animals shall, at any and all times, be leashed or enclosed in a fenced area, which fenced area may include an area enclosed by electronic fencing, and not allowed to run at large. (2) The animal officer of the city shall have the right to request to inspect, at all reasonable times, the premises of any animal owner issued a permit for housing and maintaining domesticated animals (dogs and/or cats) in excess of six (6) as allowed hereunder. (3) Any person seeking a permit for this purpose shall, as a part of the application therefor, submit written verification from all neighboring property owners of such applicant that such neighboring property owners do not object to the issuance of such permit within one hundred (100) feet of any property line adjoining the applicant's property. If there are any objections from neighboring property owners of the applicant, a hearing will be conducted by the chief of police and the animal officer of the city, and a decision made whether to issue the permit. If the permit application is denied, the applicant may then appeal the decision to the city council. (4) Each permit shall be issued only after an application is made through the animal officer of the city and then approved by the chief of police. (5) No person(s) shall be allowed to breed such domesticated animals (dogs and/or cats) for profit and sale purposes without this permit. Any such person(s) found in violation of this provision of the division shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, in addition to having any future permit denied, shall be subject to the general penalty provision of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Gulfport, Mississippi. (6) The application fee for the permit for the first year shall be twenty-five ($25.00) dollars. The yearly renewal fee shall be twenty-five ($25.00) dollars. All such fees shall be put into a special fund of the city to be used for public education, equipment, and additional employees in connection with the animal control division of the police department and its enforcement of this division. (7) Any permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this division may be revoked if it is determined by the chief of police and animal officer of the city that any provision of this division is being violated, other than those conditional exceptions allowed by this provision. In such case, the animal officer of the city shall notify such person(s) of such violations, and such person(s) shall be allowed fourteen (14) days from such notification to correct the violations. At the expiration of the fourteen (14) day correction period, the animal officer of the city shall reinspect the premises. If violations are still found at the premises, the animal officer of the city shall report such findings to the chief of police for revocation of the permit. The owner of the permit shall have the right to request in writing a hearing before the chief of police to appeal the decision revoking the permit. (8) Under the provisions of this division, a residential property owner owning residential property containing at least two (2) acres may own, keep, or harbor more than six (6) domesticated animals (dogs and/or cats) on such property without a permit, provided the animals are properly confined, which may include electronic fencing, and not allowed to run at large at any time. Residential properties of less than two (2) acres and apartment properties are not included in this provision due to the close proximity to other residential dwellings. (Ord. No. 2185, § 10, 7-20-99)

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-67 Sale of animals; prohibitions, exemptions and enforcement.

Sec. 7-67. - 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-of-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, Inc., 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 and a valid conditional permit as required in subsection 7-66(b)(5) 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 (5) days of impoundment upon payment of the costs incurred in confining and keeping of such animal during impoundment. (Ord. No. 2624, § 4, 4-7-09)

Source: City of Gulfport, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/gulfport/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH7OFMIPR_ARTIIIAN_DIV1GEFetched: 11/1/2026