House Bill 832

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 41-53-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE PROVISIONS REGARDING DOGS RUNNING AT LARGE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 41-53-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

41-53-11. (1) It shall be lawful and it shall be their duty for any sheriff, conservation officer or peace officer of a county or municipality to kill any dog above the age of six (6) months found running at large on whose neck there is no such collar and tag. No action shall be maintained by the owner for such killing. However, it shall be the duty of said officer who finds a dog or dogs running at large to first keep said dog or dogs for a period of five (5) days and notify the sheriff of said county that he has said dog or dogs, giving the sheriff a description of same. If anyone proves himself to be the owner of same, he shall pay said officer the sum of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) before the dog is delivered to the owner. Within five (5) days of return of the dog to the owner, the owner shall provide proof of inoculation or vaccination to the sheriff or chief of police. If the same dog is found running at large again without a collar and tag, the dog shall be euthanized at the expense of the owner five (5) days after capture.

(2) It shall be the duty of any sheriff, conservation officer or peace officer of a county or municipality to kill or otherwise destroy any and all dogs above the age of six (6) months which are running at large and have not been inoculated (vaccinated) as required in this chapter.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2004.