Corinth-Alcorn Animal Shelter does not euthanize for time or space. Every healthy, adoptable pet in our care is given the time and opportunity to find a loving forever home, no matter how long that may take. Therefore, our shelter runs on a managed intake basis. This means that once we meet max capacity, we do not accept new pets until our existing pets are adopted. When we are at capacity, we instate a waiting list for new pets that need to be surrendered and our intake is based on priority. Managed intake is what works best for us and ensures we give our pets the best care possible. We do not have time or space limitations for our adoptable animals. We've had pets in our care for up to 3 years before they are adopted into loving homes.
We do euthanize, but only due to severe health or behavioral issues (aggression). We want to ensure that animals adopted from our shelter are safe for both our staff/volunteers and the community. If an animal has behavioral problems, we try to work on behavior modification. If we do not have the resources or ability to help the animal, we look into rescue groups who might be able to give the animal the one-on-one care he/she needs. Animals with severe or life threatening health problems are humanely euthanized when it is in the best interest of the pet. While we pride ourselves in providing the best medical attention we can (with the help of our Angel Fund), sometimes an animal's injuries or medical issues are too far along and at that point we choose to humanely end their pain and suffering.
"No kill shelter" can be misleading, as there are many different interpretations of what no-kill really means. No kill does not mean no euthanasia. Euthanasia is Greek for “good death.” A good death is when a pet is euthanized to alleviate suffering. It is something that is done out of love for the pet. A good death is also possible if a pet is too dangerous to be adopted and there is not a safe home for the pet.
The process can take as little as a couple of days if the pet is known to be up to date on their shots and spayed/neutered, or it can take as much as a six weeks depending on the animal, their age, condition, and when they are surrendered. All dogs receive a SAFER temperament assessment, heartworm test (over 6 months), de-worming, flea treatment, initial vaccines, rabies vaccine (over 4 months), physical examination from our vet, and they are all spayed/neutered before they are available for adoption. All cats receive a feline leukemia/FIV/Heartworm Combo test, de-worming, flea treatment, initial vaccines, rabies vaccine (over 4 months), physical examination from our veterinarian, and they are all spayed/neutered.
If you think you may be interested in adopting a pet from Corinth-Alcorn Animal Shelter, we invite you to go on our website to view our adoptable pets. If you see a pet you are interested in, it’s best to fill out our online application as soon as possible. Once your application is approved, we will call you to set up a time to meet with one of our volunteers, who will be there to assist you while you spend some time with your selected pet. If you find the selected pet is not a good fit, we will assist you in trying to find a better match. It's very important that all adopters understand that their new pet is a permanent member of their family.
When adopting out our animals we want to ensure that they find a permanent and suitable home. These animals have already been displaced once (some of them several times) and we feel that we owe it to them to find the best possible home for them. A loving forever home. Some pets may have special adoption requirements (such as age restrictions for children, special needs, etc). If you do not meet requirements for a particular animal that does not mean that there may not be another animal that will fit in perfect in your home.
We only deny applications when it is in the best interest for both the animal and the family. Pets are a lifelong commitment and we want to make sure our animals don't wind up back in our shelter.
CAAS asks that all family members or any persons living in the home be present when you are choosing a new pet. We want to ensure that each member of the household is on board with adopting an animal and that they like the animal being considered. We also require a "meet and greet" where your existing dog(s) meet the potential new dog entering the home. It's important that they get along and sometimes this may require multiple visits. Again, this is in the best interest of all involved.
It's very important that all animals are given the proper amount of time to adjust to their new environment. Each animal adjusts differently, so there is no set time for a "transition" period, but we recommend giving the animal at least one month to start to get settled in. Many of our animals have gone through a tough time and living in a shelter environment can be very stressful. Please give your new pet enough time to adjust and make sure you have the resources needed, whether it be training or a separate room for your pet to temporarily live in, in order to make the transition successful and as stress-free as possible.
If you adopted an animal and you feel that the animal is not fitting into your home (after giving the animal the proper time to acclimate), please call or email the shelter and surrender the animal back to us. Since we know the animal and the shelter is somewhat familiar to them, it is best for the animal. We will also be able to find an appropriate home for the animal.
When choosing to add another pet to your household, CAAS recommends that you choose an animal that has already lived with other pets. Our cats and dogs have been tested so we can let you know their experience with other pets. We also encourage dog visits if you have a dog and want to bring another dog into your home. These are done outside of our shelter in an open area so that both dogs are on neutral ground and staff can assess.
As stated above, it's very important to give your new pet the proper time to adjust to his/her new environment. It is also extremely beneficial to slowly introduce your new pet to your existing pet(s). We recommend giving your new cat or dog access to a private area in your home (a spare bedroom for example) and let them stay in there for a few days (or longer, if needed). This will help them get used to the new noises and smells. It will also help your pets gets used to the scent of your new pet.
I want a certain breed, but shelters don't always have them. Should I buy a pet? We might not have specific animals/breeds someone is looking for. Please suggest that these potential adopters check out Petfinder.com if they aren't finding what they are looking for with us. Adoption is the best option!
If you are looking to surrender a pet, please carefully read the following information below as to understand our intake protocol and capacity to help.
We have a serious pet overpopulation problem in the North Mississippi and West Tennessee area, and there are many, many dogs and cats in need. The shelter focuses on critically injured and abused dogs and cats, and we never euthanize for time or space. Due to facility constraints and funding issues, the Corinth-Alcorn Animal Shelter is a limited-intake facility. The shelter is almost always overburdened and usually full. Corinth-Alcorn Animal Shelter is the only animal shelter in a six county area of North Mississippi and West Tennessee. Therefore, we can’t take every animal, and we can’t even accept every injured animal because the need in our area is so great and our resources are limited.
Because of limited funding, inadequate housing and contracts, the shelter must receive all animals captured by City of Corinth animal control, Alcorn County Board of Supervisors, and the City of Farmington animal control. The shelter can not intake all animals from the public due to space and contractual agreements.
We only accept surrendered animals from the public by appointment to allow our staff to collect as much information as possible about the incoming pet. All animal surrenders to Corinth-Alcorn Animal Rescue from the public require completing a Dog/Cat Owner Surrender Form. This document contains questions that will help us determine if your pet is eligible for our adoption program. You can complete and submit the form here or request one by email. Pets adopted from CAAS are always welcomed back to the shelter, though they must still go through the surrender process.
PLEASE NOTE: Even if your pet is eligible, there may be a wait. When we are at max capacity we do not have room for additional pets until our existing pets are adopted out. We will need to make sure that we have a kennel available for the animal and set up an appointment time for you to bring the animal in. During the spring and summer months, we become inundated with homeless animals in need which causes our waiting list to grow and grow.
During the surrender intake process we’ll assess your pet for medical and behavioral issues. Many are considered treatable and will not exclude the animal from participation in our adoption program. We do not euthanize for space or length of stay, but we’re not a sanctuary. There may be behavioral and medical issues that we cannot address.
Please plan for enough time to properly surrender your pet. The process may take several days or even weeks. Every member of your family should also be included in the decision to surrender a pet. We also ask that all current veterinary health or vaccination records be brought in with the animal. The owner surrendering the pet must be at least 18 years of age and provide photo identification. An Owner Surrender Agreement must be completed when the surrender process has concluded. As a private, nonprofit organization dependent on community contributions, we charge surrender fees to help defray the costs of providing for your pet.
Our facility is small and our resources are limited, so we cannot help everyone. Many callers get frustrated with us when the wait to surrender becomes very long, but CAAS is not the only resource available. Please also look into reputable rescue groups and other shelters in the area.
Many unwanted animal behaviors can be corrected, enabling pets to successfully remain in the family. If you would like more information about training or other solutions for keeping your pet, please email us.
Your surrender fee covers only a small portion of the cost that we ensue while preparing each animal for adoption. Corinth-Alcorn Animal Shelter is a private, non-profit organization. We are minimally funded by Corinth and Alcorn county nor are we funding by any national humane organizations (HSUS, ASPCA, etc.). We are funded solely by donations and the little we receive from the county.
Corinth-Alcorn Animal Shelter Surrender Fees:
Cat: $15
Dog: $15
At this time, we do not currently have a youth volunteer program in place; therefore, volunteers are required to be 16 years old or older. In order to work with our adoptable dogs, volunteers must be 18 years old.
A minimum of 4 hours per month is required to be considered an active volunteer at Corinth-Alcorn Animal Shelter. Once a volunteer is considered inactive, they will need to go through orientation and training again to become active.
Corinth-Alcorn Animal Shelter provides our foster families with all of the needed supplies (food, litter, medication, blankets, bowls, crates, etc.). Fosters will provide care for their new foster pet until we are able to place them up for adoption. Foster families may be required to bring their foster pet(s) back to the shelter for regular check ups. Fostering takes time and commitment, but it is such a rewarding experience. We need fosters to help with: orphaned kittens, orphaned puppies, mom cats and kittens, pets recovering from surgery, pets in need of "cage break", etc.
If you lose your dog or cat, we recommend that you email us and file a lost report. This is the best way to ensure that if a stray comes into our shelter we can find its owner promptly. We also recommend contacting other area shelters, your local police department, area veterinary clinics, pet stores, and local businesses. Placing an ad in the newspaper is also a good idea. Making a flyer and hanging it around the area your pet was last seen is also very helpful.
It is important to make sure that your animal has proper identification tags on him/her at all times. Microchipping is the best way to ensure that your animal will be returned to you. CAAS offers microchipping for a small fee. An appointment is required. To schedule an appointment email CAAS.
If you would like for CAAS to share a lost flyer on Facebook, please like our page and then post it to our Facebook wall and include your phone number, a brief description of the dog, where the dog was last seen (street names) and any other helpful information. We share these posts as a courtesy – it is still required to contact the shelter and file a separate lost report. Facebook has helped to reunite families with countless pets.
Download and save our Lost Pet flyer for more information and to always be in the know: Download Flyer
If you find a stray dog, you will want to contact:
To report animal cruelty, please contact one of the following:
The Corinth-Alcorn Animal Shelter can advise on Corinth and Alcorn County animal cruelty cases. To address a local animal cruelty issue, contact the shelter at (662) 284-5800.
Sec. 6-8. – Same—Abuse, abandonment prohibited.
(a)No person shall beat, cruelly ill-treat, torment, overload, overwork, or otherwise abuse an animal, or cause, instigate, or permit any dogfight, cockfight, bullfight, or other combat between animals or between animals and humans.
(b)No owner of an animal shall abandon such animal.
(Ord. of 5-3-93, § 8(b), (c))
Sec. 6-7. – Care and treatment of animals—Generally.
No owner shall fail to provide his animals with sufficient wholesome and nutritious food, water in sufficient quantities, proper air, shelter space and protection from the weather, veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering, and humane care and treatment.
(Ord. of 5-3-93, § 8(a))
Mississippi Code – Animal Cruelty
Mississippi Code
TITLE 97 – CRIMES
Chapter 41 – Cruelty to Animals.
§ 97-41-1. Living creatures not to be cruelly treated.
If any person shall override, overdrive, overload, torture, torment, unjustifiably injure, deprive of necessary sustenance, food, or drink; or cruelly beat or needlessly mutilate; or cause or procure to be overridden, overdriven, overloaded, tortured, unjustifiably injured, tormented, or deprived of necessary sustenance, food or drink; or to be cruelly beaten or needlessly mutilated or killed, any living creature, every such offender shall, for every offense, be guilty of a misdemeanor.
§ 97-41-2. Authority to seize maltreated, neglected, or abandoned animals.
(1) All courts in the State of Mississippi may order the seizure of an animal by a law enforcement agency, for its care and protection upon a finding of probable cause to believe said animal is being cruelly treated, neglected or abandoned. Such probable cause may be established upon sworn testimony of any person who has witnessed the condition of said animal. The court may appoint an animal control agency, agent of an animal shelter organization, veterinarian or other person as temporary custodian for the said animal, pending final disposition of the animal pursuant to this section. Such temporary custodian shall directly contract and be responsible for any care rendered to such animal, and may make arrangements for such care as may be necessary. Upon seizure of an animal, the law enforcement agency responsible for removal of the animal shall serve notice upon the owner of the animal, if possible, and shall also post prominently a notice to the owner or custodian to inform such person that the animal has been seized. Such process and notice shall contain a description of the animal seized, the date seized, the name of the law enforcement agency seizing the animal, the name of the temporary custodian, if known at the time, and shall include a copy of the order of the court authorizing the seizure.
(2) Within five (5) days of seizure of an animal, the owner of the animal may request a hearing in the court ordering the animal to be seized to determine whether the owner is able to provide adequately for the animal and is fit to have custody of the animal. The court shall hold such hearing within fourteen (14) days of receiving such request. The hearing shall be concluded and the court order entered thereon within twenty-one (21) days after the hearing is commenced. Upon requesting a hearing, the owner shall have three (3) business days to post a bond or security with the court clerk in an amount determined by the court to be sufficient to repay all reasonable costs sufficient to provide for the animal’s care. Failure to post such bond within three (3) days shall result in forfeiture of the animal to the court. If the temporary custodian has custody of the animal upon the expiration of the bond or security, the animal shall be forfeited to the court unless the court orders otherwise.
(3) In determining the owner’s fitness to have custody of an animal, the court may consider, among other matters:
(a) Testimony from law enforcement officers, animal control officers, animal protection officials, and other witnesses as to the condition the animal was kept in by its owner or custodian.
(b) Testimony and evidence as to the type and amount of care provided to the animal by its owner or custodian.
(c) Expert testimony as to the proper and reasonable care of the same type of animal.
(d) Testimony from any witnesses as to prior treatment or condition of this or other animals in the same custody.
(e) Violations of laws relating to animal cruelty that the owner or custodian has been convicted of prior to the hearing.
(f) Any other evidence the court considers to be material or relevant.
(4) Upon proof of costs incurred as a result of the animal’s seizure, including, but not limited to, animal medical and boarding, the court may order that the animal’s owner reimburse the temporary custodian for such costs. A lien for authorized expenses is hereby created upon all animals seized under this section, and shall have priority to any other lien on such animal.
(5) If the court finds the owner of the animal is unable or unfit to adequately provide for the animal, or that the animal is severely injured, diseased, or suffering, and, therefore, not likely to recover, the court may order that the animal be permanently forfeited and released to an animal control agency, animal protection organization or to the appropriate entity to be euthanized or the court may order that such animal be sold at public sale in the manner now provided for judicial sales; any proceeds from such sale shall go first toward the payment of expenses and costs relating to the care and treatment of such animal, and any excess amount shall be paid to the owner of the animal.
(6) Upon notice and hearing as provided in this section, or as a part of any preceding conducted under the terms of this section, the court may order that other animals in the custody of the owner that were not seized be surrendered and further enjoin the owner from having custody of other animals in the future.
(7) If the court determines the owner is able to provide adequately for, and have custody of, the animal, the court shall order the animal be claimed and removed by the owner within seven (7) days after the date of the order.
(8) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent or otherwise interfere with a law enforcement officer’s authority to seize an animal as evidence or require court action for the taking into custody and making proper disposition of animals as authorized in Sections 21-19-9 and 41-53-11.
(9) For the purposes of this section the term “animal” or “animals” means any feline, exotic animal, canine, horse, mule, jack or jennet.
§ 97-41-3. Authority to kill injured, neglected, etc. animal.
Any sheriff, constable, policeman, or agent of a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals may kill, or cause to be killed, any animal found neglected or abandoned, if in the opinion of three respectable citizens it is injured or diseased past recovery, or by age has become useless.
§ 97-41-5. Carrying creature in a cruel manner.
If any person shall carry, or cause to be carried by hand or in or upon any vehicle or other conveyance, any creature in a cruel or inhuman manner, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
§ 97-41-7. Confining creatures without food or water.
If any person shall confine, or cause to be confined, in any stable, lot, or other place, any living creature, without supplying the same during such confinement with a sufficient quantity of good and wholesome food and water, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
§ 97-41-9. Failure of owner or custodian to provide sustenance.
If any person be the owner or have the custody of any living creature and unjustifiably neglect or refuse to furnish it necessary sustenance, food, or drink, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
§ 97-41-11. Fighting animals or cocks.
Any person who shall keep or use, or in any way be connected with or interested in the management of, or shall receive money for the admission of any person to, any place kept or used for the purpose of fighting any bear, cock or other creature, except a dog, or of tormenting or torturing the same, and every person who shall encourage, aid, or assist therein, or who shall permit or suffer any place to be so kept or used, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. It shall be the duty of any policeman or other officer of the law, county or municipal, to enter into any such place kept for such purpose, and to arrest each and every person concerned or participating therein.
§ 97-41-13. Penalty for violating certain sections.
Any person who shall violate any of Sections 97-41-3 to 97-41-11, or Section 97-27-7 on the subject of cruelty to animals shall, on conviction, be fined not less than ten dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, or shall be imprisoned in the county jail not less than ten days nor more than one hundred days or both.
§ 97-41-16. Malicious or mischievous injury to dog or cat; penalty; restitution.
(1) Any person who shall maliciously, either out of a spirit of revenge or wanton cruelty, or who shall mischievously kill, maim or wound, or injure any dog or cat, or cause any person to do the same, shall be fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or be imprisoned not exceeding six (6) months.
(2) In addition to such fine or imprisonment which may be imposed, the court shall order that restitution be made to the owner of such dog or cat. The measure for restitution in money shall be the current replacement value of such loss and the actual veterinarian fees, special supplies, loss of income and other cost incurred as a result of actions in violation of subsection (1) of this section.
§ 97-41-17. Poisons; administering to animals.
Every person who shall wilfully and unlawfully administer any poison to any horse, mare, colt, mule, jack, jennet, cattle, deer, dog, hog, sheep, chicken, duck, goose, turkey, pea-fowl, guinea-fowl, or partridge, or shall maliciously expose any poison substance with intent that the same should be taken or swallowed by any horse, mare, colt, mule, jack, jennet, cattle, dog, hog, sheep, chicken, duck, goose, turkey, pea-fowl, guinea-fowl, or partridge, shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in the penitentiary not exceeding three years, or in the county jail not exceeding one year, and by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars.
§ 97-41-19. Dog fights.
(1) If any person (a) shall sponsor, promote, stage or conduct a fight or fighting match between dogs, or (b) shall wager or bet, promote or encourage the wagering or betting of any money or other valuable thing upon any such fight or upon the result thereof, or (c) shall own a dog with the intent to wilfully enter it or to participate in any such fight, or (d) shall train or transport a dog for the purposes of participation in any such fight, he shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for a term of not less than one (1) nor more than three (3) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.
(2) If any person shall be present, as a spectator, at any location where preparations are being made for an exhibition of a fight between dogs with the intent to be present at such preparations, or if any person shall be present at an exhibition of a fight between dogs with the intent to be present at such exhibition, he shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for a term of not more than one (1) year, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.
(3) Any law enforcement officer making an arrest under subsection (1) of this section may lawfully take possession of all dogs and all paraphernalia, implements, equipment or other property used in violation of subsection (1) of this section. Such officer shall file with the circuit court of the county within which the alleged violation occurred an affidavit stating therein (a) the name of the person charged, (b) a description of the property taken, (c) the time and place of the taking, (d) the name of the person who claims to own such property, if known, and (e) that the affiant has reason to believe, stating the ground of such belief, that the property taken was used in such violation. He shall thereupon deliver the property to such court which shall, by order in writing, place such dogs, paraphernalia, implements, equipment, or other property in the custody of a licensed veterinarian, the local humane society or other animal welfare agency, or other suitable custodian, to be kept by such custodian until the conviction or final discharge of the accused, and shall send a copy of such order without delay to the district attorney of the county. The custodian named and designated in such order shall immediately assume the custody of such property and shall retain same, subject to order of the court.
Upon the certification of a licensed veterinarian or officer of the humane society or animal welfare agency that, in his professional judgment, a dog which has been seized is not likely to survive the final disposition of the charges or that, by reason of the physical condition of the dog, it should be humanely euthanized before such time, the court may order the dog humanely euthanized. The court shall make its finding of whether to issue such an order within seven (7) days from the certification by the veterinarian or officer of the humane society or animal welfare agency. The owner of a dog which is euthanized without an order of the court with such certification of a licensed veterinarian or officer of the humane society or other animal welfare agency shall have a right of action for damages against the department or agency by which the arresting or seizing officer is employed. Upon conviction of the person charged with a violation of subsection (1) of this section, all dogs seized shall be adjudged by the court to be forfeited and the court shall order a humane disposition of the same. In no event shall the court order the dog to be euthanized without the certification of a licensed veterinarian or officer of the humane society or other animal welfare agency that, in his judgment, the dog is not likely to survive or that, by reason of its physical condition, the dog should be humanely euthanized. In the event of the acquittal or final discharge without conviction of the accused, the court shall direct the delivery of the property so held in custody to the owner thereof. All reasonable expenses incurred by the custodian of seized dogs and property shall be charged as costs of court, to be taxed against the owner or county in the discretion of the court.
(4) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall prohibit any of the following:
(a) The use of dogs in the management of livestock, by the owner of such livestock or other persons in lawful custody thereof;
(b) The use of dogs in lawful hunting; and
(c) The training of dogs for any purpose not prohibited by law.
§ 97-41-21. Harassment of guide or leader dogs, penalties.
(1) An individual shall not do either of the following:
(a) Willfully and maliciously assault, beat, harass, injure, or attempt to assault, beat, harass or injure, a dog that he or she knows or has reason to believe is a guide or leader dog for a blind individual, a hearing dog for a deaf or audibly impaired individual, or a service dog for a physically limited individual.
(b) Willfully and maliciously impede or interfere with, or attempt to impede or interfere with, duties performed by a dog that he or she knows or has reason to believe is a guide or leader dog for a blind individual, a hearing dog for a deaf or audibly impaired individual, or a service dog for a physically limited individual.
(2) An individual who violates subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than ninety (90) days or a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or both.
(3) In a prosecution for a violation of subsection (1), evidence that the defendant initiated or continued conduct directed toward a dog described in subsection (1) after being requested to avoid or discontinue that conduct or similar conduct by a blind, deaf, audibly impaired or physically limited individual being served or assisted by the dog shall give rise to a rebuttable presumption that the conduct was initiated or continued maliciously.
(4) A conviction and imposition of a sentence under this section does not prevent a conviction and imposition of a sentence under any other applicable provision of law.
(5) As used in this section:
(a) “Audibly impaired” means the inability to hear air conduction thresholds at an average of forty (40) decibels or greater in the individual’s better ear.
(b) “Blind” means having a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the individual’s better eye with correction, or having a limitation of the individual’s field of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angular distance not greater than twenty (20) degrees.
(c) “Deaf” means the individual’s hearing is totally impaired or the individual’s hearing, with or without amplification, is so seriously impaired that the primary means of receiving spoken language is through other sensory input, including, but not limited to, lip reading, sign language, finger spelling or reading.
(d) “Harass” means to engage in any conduct directed toward a guide, leader, hearing or service dog that is likely to impede or interfere with the dog’s performance of its duties or that places the blind, deaf, audibly impaired or physically limited individual being served or assisted by the dog in danger of injury.
(e) “Injure” means to cause any physical injury to a dog described in subsection (1).
(f) “Maliciously” means any of the following:
(i) With intent to assault, beat, harass or injure a dog described in subsection (1).
(ii) With intent to impede or interfere with duties performed by a dog described in subsection (1).
(iii) With intent to disturb, endanger or cause emotional distress to a blind, deaf, audibly impaired or physically limited individual being served or assisted by a dog described in subsection (1).
(iv) With knowledge that the individual’s conduct will, or is likely to, harass or injure a dog described in subsection (1).
(v) With knowledge that the individual’s conduct will, or is likely to, impede or interfere with duties performed by a dog described in subsection (1).
(vi) With knowledge that the individual’s conduct will, or is likely to, disturb, endanger or cause emotional distress to a blind, deaf, audibly impaired or physically limited individual being served or assisted by a dog described in subsection (1).
(g) “Physically limited” means having limited ambulatory abilities and includes, but is not limited to, having a temporary or permanent impairment or condition that does one or more of the following:
(i) Causes the individual to use a wheelchair or walk with difficulty or insecurity.
(ii) Affects sight or hearing to the extent that an individual is insecure or exposed to danger.
(iii) Causes faulty coordination.
(iv) Reduces mobility, flexibility, coordination or perceptiveness.
§ 97-41-23. Injury and killing of public service animals; penalties.
(1) It is unlawful for any person to willfully and maliciously taunt, torment, tease, beat, strike, or to administer, expose or inject any desensitizing drugs, chemicals or substance to any public service animal. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) and be imprisoned not more than five (5) days, or both.
(2) Any person who, without just cause, purposely kills or injures any public service animal is guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be fined not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) and be imprisoned not more than five (5) years, or both.
(3) For purposes of this section, the term “public service animal” means any animal trained and used to assist a law enforcement agency, public safety entity or search and rescue agency.
(4) Any person guilty of violating subsection (2) of this section shall also be required to make restitution to the law enforcement agency or owner aggrieved thereby.
(5) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the lawful practice of veterinary medicine.
Corinth Alcorn Animal Shelter
2407 Norman Road. Corinth, MS, United States
Copyright © 2024 Corinth Alcorn Animal Shelter - All Rights Reserved.
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