Southaven, MS Animal Ordinances: Pet Store Rules (2026)

Sec. 3-1 defines a pet store as any place of business which sells birds, fish, reptiles or mammals intended for use as pets, and it carves out commercial and hobby breeders. Sec. 3-19 then makes every pet store subject to inspection on demand by the supervisor of animal control. The inspection examines, among other things, whether the animals are kept under sanitary and humane conditions, are in a reasonable state of health, and are provided with sufficient amounts of fresh, clean and wholesome food and water. The section sets no inspection calendar, no permit and no fee: the supervisor can inspect whenever the supervisor demands.

Sec. 3-19 regulates how a pet store keeps its animals. It does not itself prohibit selling dogs or cats, and this page does not read a sales ban into it. Other Title III sections do put limits around pet stores. Sec. 3-13(a) says no person shall keep any wild animal for display or exhibition in any roadside zoo or pet store. Sec. 3-18 bars giving away a live mammal, reptile or bird as a prize or as an inducement to enter a contest, place of amusement or business agreement, but it excepts pet stores working in conjunction with the animal control division, the humane society or other organizations seeking to adopt out animals that do not have owners, and fish are excluded. Sec. 3-9(c)(2) limits a person to three (3) mobile pets other than dogs or cats, and that limit does not apply to pet stores or other legal enterprises where such animals are properly housed.

Sec. 3-23 governs sales outside the store. It is unlawful to attempt to sell, exchange, trade, barter, donate or display any household animal, meaning dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and rodents, on any roadside, public right-of-way, parkway, median, park, playground, other recreational area or private parking lot accessible by the public, whether or not that access is authorized. City animal shelters are excluded, and nonprofit humane sanctuaries can use interior parking areas of commercial and retail stores with written permission from both the store and the City of Southaven. Animal control is the primary enforcer, with code enforcement and the police department as secondary enforcers.