Data published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that as many as 4.5 million individuals suffer dog bites annually in the United States. Those same NIH statistics reveal that at least 750,000 incidents are severe enough to warrant a victim seeking medical attention.

If your dog bit someone or you were bitten here in Jackson, would you know if you needed to report that incident?

Mississippi is unique from many other states in that it follows what essentially amounts to a “one free-bite rule.” It supports dog owners in their assumption that their dog is harmless unless it does something to prove it is aggressive or otherwise harmful to others. However, our state’s laws also empower local governments, including counties and municipalities, to decide which codes or ordinances they’ll have for dealing with dangerous dogs.

A dog offers unconditional love to its owner. All it asks in return is food, water, shelter, and affection. Being a responsible dog owner goes beyond basic care. You also have to keep the dog safe by having control over it when you take it for walks. That is why it is important to follow the leash laws of your community to protect your dog and your neighbors.

Unlike other states, Mississippi does not have a statewide leash law. Instead, each county and city creates ordinances pertaining to leash laws. For instance, Jackson County has the following leash law in place: “It is unlawful for any dog, cat, domesticated livestock, or any other owned animal to run at large upon the streets, alleys, or other public or private property not your own unless restrained by a leash or lead.”