Mississippi County Passes Vicious Dog Ordinance

December 19, 2013

Lafayette County has passed its first vicious dog ordinance

The Mississippi county residents who own a dog that’s known to be vicious will be required to carry insurance and keep the dog inside their home or on a leash.

The law goes into effect 30 days after its Monday approval by the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors, according to The Oxford Eagle reports.

Supervisor Chad McClarty said the county began discussing the ordinance about two months ago. He noted three dog attacks that have been reported in the county, two involving children.

“One girl was attacked getting off a school bus,” he said.

McClarty said the new law was written with the help of attorney David O’Donnell, the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society, the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department and other county officials.

According to the law, all dogs deemed vicious must be secured indoors or in a secure enclosure unless on a leash. All owners of vicious dogs must display signs indicating a vicious dog is on the property. The owner will also be responsible for having liability insurance of no less than $100,000 that provides coverage for injuries or death caused by the animal. All vicious dogs must have a microchip and be registered with the county.