Is It Illegal to Leave Your Pet Chained Outside in Mississippi? Here’s What the Law Says

Posted by Tim Lee March 7, 2025
Is It Illegal to Leave Your Pet Chained Outside in Mississippi? Here's What the Law Says
As of March 2025, Mississippi does not have a statewide law explicitly prohibiting the chaining or tethering of dogs outside. However, some cities within Mississippi have enacted their own ordinances restricting or banning this practice.

City-Specific Ordinances

Natchez In February 2022, Natchez outlawed the tethering of dogs within city limits. This ban was part of a broader update to the city’s animal control ordinance. Vicksburg Vicksburg has implemented a new tethering law that includes fines of up to $300 per day for violations. The law prohibits fastening, chaining, tethering, or tying a dog to a stationary object on the owner’s property, with some exceptions:
  • Restraints must be attached to a swivel or pulley system
  • Tie-outs must allow the dog access to water, food, and shelter
  • Collars used for tethering cannot be choke-type
  • Restraints must be at least 10 feet long
  • Logging or tow chains are not permitted
Gulfport Gulfport allows limited tethering under specific conditions:
  • Dogs may be tethered using a running cable trolley system for no more than 4 hours in a 24-hour period
  • The cable must be at least 10 feet long
  • Choke-type or prong collars are prohibited for tethering

State Law

While Mississippi does not have a specific anti-tethering law, the state does have a general animal cruelty statute. The “Mississippi Dog and Cat Pet Protection Law of 2011” makes it illegal to “confine in a cruel manner” any dog or cat. However, this law does not explicitly address tethering or chaining.

Proposed Legislation

There have been efforts to introduce more specific tethering restrictions at the state level. A petition was started in 2012 to amend the Mississippi Dog and Cat Pet Protection Law to include the following provisions:
  • Restrict tethering/chaining to no more than 4 hours per 24-hour period
  • Require chains to be at least 10 feet long or 5 times the length of the dog
  • Prohibit tethering during extreme weather events
  • Require adequate access to food, water, and a safe environment
However, as of March 2025, these proposed changes have not been enacted into state law. While Mississippi does not have a statewide ban on chaining pets outside, some cities have implemented their own restrictions. Pet owners should check their local ordinances for specific regulations regarding tethering and outdoor confinement of animals. Sources
  1. https://www.animallaw.info/topic/table-state-dog-tether-laws
  2. https://www.magnoliastatelive.com/2022/02/26/mississippi-city-outlaws-keeping-dogs-on-chains-makes-other-changes-to-animal-ordinance/
  3. https://www.change.org/p/mississippi-outlaw-chaining-tethering-of-dogs-for-extended-periods-of-time
  4. https://vicksburgnews.com/vicksburgs-new-tether-law-will-cost-you-300-per-day-heres-what-you-need-to-know/
  5. https://www.animallaw.info/statutes/us/mississippi