Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-111 Short title.
Sec. 7-111. - Short title.
This division shall be known as and may be cited as "The Gulfport Dog Ordinance of 1987."
(Ord. No. 1788, § 1, 12-22-87)
DOGS
Gulfport Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. III, div. 4
in effectGulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-112 Definitions.
Sec. 7-112. - Definitions.
In addition to the words and terms elsewhere defined in this division, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings, unless some other meaning is plainly intended:
Animal officer shall mean any police officer of the city, or any other person appointed by the mayor and city council to carry out the enforcement of any provision of this division.
At large shall mean off the premises of the owner, keeper or harborer of any dog, and not under the control of such owner, keeper or harborer, or of any immediate member of the family of such owner, keeper or harborer of such dog, either by leash, cord, chain or otherwise.
Boarding kennel is a facility other than an animal hospital, city pound or any animal shelter where animals, normally dogs and cats, not owned by the proprietor, are temporarily sheltered, fed, watered and exercised in return for a fee.
Dog shall mean any canine or animal of the canine species, either male or female.
Enclosure means a fence or structure of at least six (6) feet in height, forming a confined area sufficient to prevent the entry of young children, and, in conjunction with tethering or other measures, effective in containing a vicious dog. Such enclosure shall be securely enclosed and locked and equipped with secure sides, top, and bottom, and shall be designed to prevent the animal from escaping from the enclosure.
Extreme cold means ambient or wind chill temperature of thirty-two (32) degrees Fahrenheit and below.
Extreme heat means ambient, or heat index temperature in excess of one hundred (100) degrees Fahrenheit.
Extreme weather means any weather condition associated with a weather advisory, watch or warning issued by the National Weather Service.
Microchip means a rice-sized permanent identification device encoded with a unique and unalterable number. The chip is typically implanted in animals just under the skin in the scruff of the neck or between the shoulder blades and is read by a scanner.
Microchipped means the animal has been injected and implanted with a microchip.
Owner shall mean any person owning, keeping or harboring a dog, or controlling a dog within the corporate limits of the city.
Vicious dog or dog having dangerous or vicious propensities shall mean any dog which:
(1) Is known to have attacked, bitten or injured an individual, other dog or animal, or known to have attempted to attack, bite or injure an individual, other dog or animal; or
(2) Is observed by any person attacking, biting or injuring, or attempting to attack, bite or injure, any individual, other dog or animal; or
(3) Has a propensity, disposition or tendency to do any act which may reasonably be construed to endanger the safety of persons or property of other in any given situation; or
(4) If any dog bites or attempts to bite any person, other dog or animal, while such dog is running at large, then such dog biting or attempting to bite any person, other dog or animal shall be presumed to be a vicious dog or dog having dangerous or vicious propensities. If any dog attacks or attempts to attack any person, other dog or animal, while such dog is running at large, or chases or otherwise attempts to catch any person, other dog or animal, shall be presumed to be a vicious dog or dog having dangerous or vicious propensities.
(Ord. No. 1788, § 2, 12-22-87; Ord. No. 2624, § 6, 4-7-09)
Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-113 Dogs, disturbing the peace.
Sec. 7-113. - Dogs, disturbing the peace.
(a) Upon conviction, it shall be unlawful for any owner or person to possess, own, keep or harbor within the corporate limits of the city, any dog which whines, yells, howls, yelps, barks, or makes any other noise or action habitually and continuously so excessive as to disturb the peace of any family or inhabitant of the city.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any owner or person having the possession, charge, custody, or control of any dog to permit or allow the same to create a disturbance or to become a nuisance in the city by reason of barking, noise, nauseous odor, filthy conditions, the breeding of flies, mosquitoes, insects and other pests, by being on the property of someone other than the owner or person having the possession, charge, custody, or control of the dog, damaging public or private property, upsetting garbage cans, or urinating or defecating on any property that does not belong to such owner or the person having the possession, charge, custody, or control of such dog.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any owner or person having the possession, charge, custody, or control of any dog to keep or maintain on their premises any pen(s) or enclosure(s) for the keeping of said dog(s) such as is a public nuisance to persons residing in the vicinity thereof, nor shall the pen(s) or enclosure(s) be kept or maintained in any manner so as to cause bodily injury to any person.
(d) It shall be unlawful for any owner or person having the possession, charge, custody, or control of any dog to keep such dog in a manner as to constitute a public nuisance to the person(s) residing within the vicinity thereof by reason of odor or unsanitary conditions.
(Ord. No. 1788, § 3, 12-22-87; Ord. No. 2185, § 19, 7-20-99)
Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-114 Vicious dogs.
Sec. 7-114. - Vicious dogs.
(a) Ownership. It shall be unlawful for any owner or person to possess, own, keep or harbor within the corporate limits of the city, any vicious dog having dangerous or vicious propensities, unless the same be securely restrained and fenced or enclosed within and upon the premises or land of such owner or person.
(b) At large. It shall be unlawful for any owner or person possessing, owning, keeping or harboring within the corporate limits of the city any vicious dog or dog having dangerous or vicious propensities to allow or permit the same to be or remain at large, unless such dog shall be and is maintained under the secure control of such owner or person, either by leash, cord, chain, or otherwise, or further, unless the dog is securely and properly muzzled so as to prevent such dog from biting or injuring any other person or property.
(c) Interpretation. Subsections (a) and (b) above are necessary controls on unrestrained activity of vicious animals which threaten the safety and pleasantness of streets, parks, sidewalks, yards and all areas of the city; and lack of knowledge or lack of intent is not a defense to a violation thereof.
(Ord. No. 1788, § 4, 12-22-87)
Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-115 Vaccination.
Sec. 7-115. - Vaccination.
It shall be the duty of every owner or person possessing, owning, keeping or harboring any dog within the corporate limits of the city, three (3) months of age or older, to have such dog inoculated against rabies with an approved dosage of antirabies vaccine properly administered by one legally authorized to administer the same, and to see that such dog, when so vaccinated, shall be provided with a metal tag approved by the state board of health with the serial number of the vaccination and the year in which the dog was so inoculated stamped thereon, such metal tag to be securely bradded or attached to a collar to be provided for and worn about the neck of such dog at all times; and such inoculation against rabies is required as provided by applicable state law. The neglect or failure of any owner, or person having the possession, owning, keeping or harboring of any dog within the corporate limits of the city, to provide for such vaccination against rabies and providing collar and identification tag of serial number of inoculation as herein required shall constitute a violation of the provisions of this section.
(Ord. No. 1788, § 5, 12-22-87)
Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-116 Running at large.
Sec. 7-116. - Running at large.
It shall be unlawful for any owner or person having the possession, charge, custody or control of, or harboring any dog to cause, permit or allow the same to run at large within the corporate limits of the city, unless the same is located within the fenced confines of a dog park owned and operated by the city and accompanied by such owner or person. The running at large of any dog shall be prima facie evidence of the violation of this section by such owner or person aforesaid. When not in the control of the owner, keeper or harborer, or of any immediate member of the family of such owner, keeper or harborer, of any such dog, either by leash, cord, chain or otherwise, the same shall be kept and maintained securely by such owner, keeper or harborer upon has own land or premises in a secure and sanitary manner.
(Ord. No. 1788, § 6, 12-22-87; Ord. No. 2928, § 2, 12-19-17)
Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-117 Enforcement.
Sec. 7-117. - Enforcement.
(a) It shall be the duty of the chief of police to provide for the enforcement of the provisions of this division; and all police officers, animal officers, or other persons designated by the mayor and city council shall have the power and authority, under the supervision of the chief of police, to enforce any and all provisions hereof.
(b) Any animal officer of the city may utilize any equipment reasonable and necessary to enforce the provisions of this division, including, without limitation, humane wire box traps or chemical means whether by baited food or by dart gun. The animal officer of the city may lend humane wire box traps to private persons for the purpose of preventing nuisance from animals running at large.
(c) Any animal officer of the city shall be vested with powers to issue animal control related citations, summons, or other process in the same manner as other police officers of the city. Within two (2) years of his employment as an animal officer, he shall complete the training courses of the National Animal Control Association or those of any other credible organization or association that is found by the chief of police to provide similar training.
(Ord. No. 1788, § 7, 12-22-87; Ord. No. 2185, § 20, 7-20-99; Ord. No. 4624, § 7, 4-7-09; Ord. No. 2888, § 3, 1-17-17)
Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-118 Impoundment; registry and notice to owner.
Sec. 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)
Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-119 Summary destruction of dogs without notice.
Sec. 7-119. - Summary destruction of dogs without notice.
(a) Any other provision of this division to the contrary notwithstanding, every police officer, animal officer, or any other person designated by the city council, is hereby authorized and empowered to summarily kill or destroy, without notice to the owner, keeper, harborer, or any other person, any dog which:
(1) Is a dangerous or vicious dog or a dog having dangerous or vicious propensities and found running at large after the owner, keeper, or harborer of such dog has or had previous knowledge or notice that such dog is a dangerous or vicious dog or a dog having dangerous or vicious propensities; or
(2) Is noticeably infected, or appears to be suffering with rabies, or other infectious or dangerous disease, and is found running at large; or
(3) If observed by any police officer, animal officer, or other person designated by the city council to enforce the provisions of this division, in the act of attacking, biting, injuring, chasing, or attempting to attack, bite, or injure any person, other dog, or animal; or
(4) As provided by MCA 1972, § 21-19-9, as now or hereafter amended, is running at large uncollared and without metal tag or proper identification indicating that such dog has been vaccinated for rabies.
(b) Any dog(s) that have escaped from captivity and are no longer domesticated may be destroyed by any means necessary as to prevent them from becoming a public threat and to control disease and over population by feral animals.
(c) When a dog is determined to be vicious and/or diseased by the animal officer of the city, or if the dog is determined to be feral and beyond domestication, may be destroyed by the animal officer of the city or by his/her designee, providing each of the following requirements have been met:
(1) The dog is running at large; and
(2) There is no visual rabies tag present; and
(3) Chemical capture proved unsuccessful; and
(4) Attempts to peaceful capture have been attempted and proved unsuccessful.
In any instance, supervisory approval is to be obtained by the animal officer or his/her designee prior to the destruction of any dog(s) under this provision of this ordinance.
(Ord. No. 1788, § 9, 12-22-87; Ord. No. 2185, § 22, 7-20-99)
Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-120 Muzzling.
Sec. 7-120. - Muzzling.
Whenever it becomes necessary to safeguard the public from the dangers of hydrophobia or rabies, the mayor, if he deems it necessary, shall issue a proclamation ordering every owner, or person owning, having, keeping or harboring any dog within the corporate limits of the city, to confine it securely upon his own land or premises, unless such dog shall have a muzzle of sufficient strength to prevent its biting or injuring any person. Any unmuzzled dog found running at large during the time of the time of the proclamation shall be apprehended and impounded in accord with the provisions of sections 7-118 and 7-119, unless such unmuzzled dog is noticeably infected with rabies or other dangerous disease, or is displaying dangerous or vicious propensities, in which either of such events such unmuzzled dog shall be summarily destroyed or killed.
(Ord. No. 1788, § 10, 12-22-87)
Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-121 Rabies control.
Sec. 7-121. - Rabies control.
(a) If any dog has bitten any person, or is suspected of having bitten any person, or has been bitten by a dog suspected of having rabies, or is suspected of having rabies, such dog shall be securely confined by the owner, keeper or harborer of such dog, either by leash, cord, chain or otherwise, to prevent its being loose or running at large, and shall be placed under the observation of a licensed veterinarian at the cost and expense of such owner, keeper, or harborer thereof, for a period of at least ten (10) days. Each such owner, keeper or harborer of any such dog shall immediately notify the chief of police or any animal officer of the city of the fact that his dog is suspected of having, or has been exposed to, rabies; and, at his discretion, the chief of police or animal officer of the city is authorized and empowered to remove from the land or premises of such owner, keeper or harborer of such dog, or from any place where such dog may be found, to a veterinary hospital or clinic and there placed under observation for a period of at least ten (10) days at the cost of such owner, keeper or harborer so such dog. If, after sufficient observation, the dog in the opinion of the veterinarian, or of the county health officer, is not infected with rabies, such dog shall be returned to its owner, keeper or harborer. If not claimed, such dog shall be disposed of as provided in section 7-120. If in the opinion of the county health officer or veterinarian symptoms have developed justifying a microscopic examination, then such dog shall be killed and examination made by the state board of health.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any owner, keeper, harborer of any dog knowing or suspecting that such dog has rabies, or any other person knowing or suspecting that any dog has rabies, or is suspected of having rabies is herein in subsection (a) set forth, to remove, or permit or allow to be removed from or taken off his premises any such dog without the written permission of the chief of police, except as therein set forth. Every owner, keeper or harborer of any dog, and any other person, ascertaining that a dog is rabid shall immediately notify the animal officer or any police officer of the city of such fact, who shall either remove the dog to the city pound or other suitable place, or kill or destroy such dog as is provided in this division.
(c) Any dog desired for observation by the chief of police or the county health officer shall be surrendered and be delivered to the chief of police or any police officer or animal officer upon demand by any of them, and shall not be withheld, hidden or harbored.
(d) It shall be unlawful for any owner, or any person, to refuse to surrender or withhold or hide from any police officer or the animal officer of the city any dog desired for observation for rabies as herein set forth; and any person violating the provisions of this section shall be subject to arrest. When any person refuses to surrender or deliver to any police officer or the animal officer of the city any dog suspected of having rabies for observation as herein set forth, or withholds or hides the same from any police officer or animal officer of the city, a warrant for the arrest of such person shall issue, which warrant for arrest of such person so refusing to surrender and deliver such dog, or withholding or hiding such dog so demanded for observation, shall also provide for the apprehending and forcible taking of such dog for such observation. If, in the opinion of the county health officer, symptoms develop justifying a microscopic examination, then such dog so taken for observation shall be killed and such examination be made by the state board of health.
(Ord. No. 1788, § 11, 12-22-87)
Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-122 Unlawful cruel and inhumane treatment of dogs.
Sec. 7-122. - Unlawful cruel and inhumane treatment of dogs.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to maliciously, either out of a spirit of revenge or wanton cruelty, or mischievously, or negligently, kill, torture, torment, maim, wound, or injure any dog, or deprive any dog of necessary sustenance, food, or drink, or to cause or permit the same to be done, within the corporate limits of the city.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly permit or allow more than six (6) dogs over the age of six (6) months to reside in any one (1) yard or open premises of any property owned and/or controlled by that person at any one time.
(Ord. No. 1788, § 12, 12-22-87; Ord. No. 2185, § 23, 7-20-99; Ord. No. 2521, § 2, 3-6-07)
Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-123 Condition of premises where dogs kept or confined; penalties.
Sec. 7-123. - Condition of premises where dogs kept or confined; penalties.
(a) Dogs within the city limits and while on the property of their owner, custodian or temporary caretaker, shall be restrained and confined only in the manners authorized in this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit walking a dog with the use of a hand-held leash.
(1) Any person who owns or has custody or control of a dog shall not restrain such dog by means of a tethering device attached to a fixed point. Dogs may be tethered using a running cable trolley system for periods of no more than four (4) hours in any twenty-four-hour period provided that the running cable trolley system is a suspended cable of at least ten (10) feet in length which is attached to the tether by means of a pulley, loop or other moveable device. All tethering devices shall be attached to the dog in such a manner as to prevent injury or strangulation to the dog and entanglement with other objects and shall not be attached to the dog by means of a choke-type collar or a prong collar, or by means other than a properly fitted collar, harness or other device made expressly for such purpose.
(2) A dog may be confined within a fenced yard or enclosure as long as such yard or enclosure provides at least two (2) square feet per pound of the animal's weight to afford the dog adequate space for exercise. Such enclosure shall be constructed of chain link or similar materials with all four (4) sides securely enclosed. The enclosure shall be of sufficient height to prevent the dog from escaping.
(3) A dog may be confined within an enclosed kennel as long as such enclosed kennel provides at least two (2) square feet per pound of the animal's weight to afford the dog adequate space for exercise. Such enclosure shall be constructed of chain link or similar materials with all four (4) sides and top securely enclosed and with the bottom being constructed of a material that prevents the animal from escaping or injuring itself while attempting to escape by digging under the enclosure. The enclosure shall be of sufficient height to prevent the dog from escaping.
(b) Dogs tethered or confined under the provisions of this section must be allowed access to fresh water and food sufficient for the good health of such dog. Adequate ventilation must be provided as well as shelter and shade (artificial or natural) when prevailing weather conditions, including but not limited to, extreme heat and sunlight, extreme cold, rain or other extreme weather so require and if tethered must be tethered such that the dog does not extend beyond the property of the owner, custodian or caretaker onto either public property or property owned by another. No dog shall be tethered, confined or kept in such place or condition as to become a nuisance, either because of noise, odor, filth, or contagion of disease.
(c) Any person who knowingly violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a violation, punishable by a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) for a first offense, and a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) each second or subsequent offenses. Beginning seventy-two (72) hours after a charge of violating this section, each day that a defendant fails to correct the deficiencies in the method used to restrain or confine a dog that he or she owns or that is in his or her custody or control, so as to bring it into compliance with the provisions of this section, shall constitute a separate offense.
(d) The court may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of any fine imposed for a violation of this section by the amount which the defendant proves he or she has spent in order to correct violations to be in compliance and meet the requirements of this section.
(e) Nothing in this section shall prevent the seizure and impoundment of a dog for a violation of this section or be construed to affect any protections afforded to dogs or other animals found elsewhere in city ordinances.
(Ord. No. 1788, § 13, 12-22-87; Ord. No. 2185, § 24, 7-20-99; Ord. No. 2624, § 9, 4-7-09)
Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-124 Keeping, maintaining for breeding purposes, prohibited.
Sec. 7-124. - Keeping, maintaining for breeding purposes, prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person to keep and maintain dogs on their premises for breeding purposes within the city, except as allowed and provided by Chapter 7, Article III, Division 1, section 7-66 of this chapter.
(Ord. No. 1788, § 14, 12-22-87; Ord. No. 2185, § 25, 7-20-99)
Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-125 [Feral cats].
Sec. 7-125. - [Feral cats].
Notwithstanding any provision in this article to the contrary, in order to reduce the population of feral cats within the city limits of the City of Gulfport, feral cats shall be permitted to be released into the city under the following conditions:
(a) All locations considered for a feral cat to roam freely will be permitted by the City of Gulfport so long as no property owner or renter that could be affected by such activity is in disagreement with the release of such cat in the immediate vicinity of the property owned or occupied by said owner or renter. Owners/renters with standing to object are those who own/occupy property adjacent to the parcel of property where the cat is released or those who own or occupy property that the cat is known to traverse.
(b) Feral cats that are subject to release into the city under this section shall be released only after they have been trapped, neutered/spayed by the Humane Society of South Mississippi (HSSM) and released by and at the expense of the HSSM.
(c) Upon receipt of a complaint from an owner/renter, as specified herein, concerning a feral cat that has been properly trapped, neutered/spayed and released, that cat will be collected by either the HSSM or the Gulfport Police Department and removed from the area.
(d) The HSSM shall insure that feral cats that are handled through this program will be maintained as stated in Gulfport City Ordinance sec. 7-56. - Living creatures not to be cruelly treated.
(Ord. No. 2802, § 2, 11-4-14)
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_DIV4DOFetched: 11/1/2026