Condition of premises where dogs kept or confined; penalties.

Gulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-123

in effect

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)

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_DIV4DO_S7-123COPRWHDOKECOPEFetched: 11/1/2026