Gulfport, MS Animal Ordinances: Microchipping (2026)

Section 7-101 governs cats and Section 7-118 governs dogs, and both use nearly identical language. When police or the animal officer impound a cat or dog, they must scan it for the presence of a microchip and make reasonable efforts to notify the owner of any animal carrying one. An impounded animal that is tagged or microchipped is held up to five days for the owner to make corrections; an animal that is not properly tagged or microchipped is instead released directly to the local animal shelter.

To reclaim an impounded pet within the five-day window, the owner must pay the costs of confinement, the cost of inserting a microchip, and where applicable the cost of spaying or neutering, plus show proof of current rabies vaccination. Both sections state flatly that all cats and dogs shall be microchipped prior to being returned to an owner or released for adoption, making chipping mandatory at the point of release rather than merely an option. Animals impounded a second or subsequent time must additionally be spayed or neutered before release.

The cost of the microchip and of spay/neuter cannot exceed the actual reasonable cost charged by the Humane Society of South Mississippi or another authorized agency performing the procedure. These provisions were added by Ordinance No. 2624, Section 5 and Section 8, in 2009, and amended again by Ordinance No. 2801 in 2014.