Good Shepherd Dog Animal Rescue (GSDAR) is working to educate and inform the public about responsible ownership of dogs and cats. Many people simply are not aware of the fact that in Mississippi there are laws related to dogs, cats and other animals, and that as responsible pet owners, these laws need to be known and obeyed.

It is very important that you and your veterinarian know the law in Mississippi regarding dogs and cats, especially as regards rabies vaccination and running at large. For current regulations please see Mississippi Rabies Laws at the Mississippi Board of Animal Health at http://www.mbah.state.ms.us/disease_programs/rabies/ms_rabies_laws.htm.

Please note that the current rabies law for the State of Mississippi states:

Pre-Exposure Vaccination; Dogs and Cats: All dogs and cats shall be vaccinated against rabies at three months of age, revaccinated one year later and every three years thereafter, using a rabies vaccine approved as providing a 3-year immunity.

Inotherwords, state law requires vaccination for rabies at three months of age, then one year later, followed by vaccination for rabies every THREE YEARS! But some veterinarians are still vaccinating dogs every year with vaccines made for usage every three years. This means dog owners are paying more then they should for annual rabies vaccinations; also, this may be harmful to the immune system of dogs. If you own a dog in Mississippi you should insist that your veterinarian follow the law and give vaccinations for rabies only as frequently as is required by law.

Dogs which are vaccinated for rabies must wear a collar with tag and NOT be allowed to run at large. Did you know that if your dog is found running at large without a collar and tag, that it may be killed! Dogs which run at large can be picked up and killed by any sheriff, conservation officer or peace officer of a county or municipality. Hence, it is very important that dog owners keep there dogs under control and in a fenced yard at all times.

In regards to dogs running at large in Mississippi the law states as follows:

41-53-11. Dogs running at large.

(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 three (3) 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 fifty cents (50¢) before the dog is delivered to the owner.

(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 three (3) months which are running at large and have not been inoculated (vaccinated) as required in this chapter.

Please note that in Mississippi, anyone who has a dog or cat in their possession must have them inoculated against rabies. Because it may be argued that any cats living under a house or upon a persons property would be in their possession, one may interpret the law to mean that said cats must be inoculated for rabies.

In this regard the law in Mississippi states:

41-53-1. Rabies inoculation of dogs and cats required.

Every person in the state of Mississippi who owns, or has in his or her possession, any dog or cat of the age of three (3) months or over shall have said dog or cat inoculated (vaccinated) against rabies as provided herein with the recommended dosage of an anti-rabic virus (vaccine) approved by the State Board of Health, and it shall be unlawful for any person within the state of Mississippi to own or have in his or her possession within the state of Mississippi any dog or cat three (3) months of age or over which has not been inoculated (vaccinated) against rabies with the approved dosage of an approved anti-rabic virus (vaccine). It shall be the duty of every person in this state so owning or having in his or her possession a dog or cat to have said dog or cat inoculated (vaccinated) immediately after said dog or cat has reached the age of three (3) months, and it shall be said person’s further duty to have said dog or cat so inoculated (vaccinated) thereafter as required by the state board of health. For a failure to comply with this section said person shall be subject to the penalties provided in Section 41-53-13.

Everyone who loves dogs and cats needs to be aware of the laws in Mississippi, and take care to have their pets inoculated against rabies. It is also important that dogs wear collars and tags and not be allowed to run at large. In many rural areas and small communities people still let their dogs run at large and if they do not have a collar and tag, it means they risk being picked up and may lawfully be destroyed by authorities. People who have a heart and hate to see stray animals suffer, often feed stray cats and dogs, even allowing them to live and breed under their houses or elsewhere upon their property. The problem with this is that if such strays are not inoculated against rabies it is illegal and unless they are spayed or neutered the feeding of strays contributes to the breeding of more stray dogs or cats.

Hence it is important to provide a more humane solution, through organizing efforts to insure that dogs and cats are adopted by responsible owners who will have them vaccinated against rabies and other diseases, provide love and care and prevent their pets from running at large. If you are an animal lover, please join GSDAR. Membership Application are available on-line at www.byteland.org/gsdar/gsdar_membership_application.html