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State Legislation

SOUTH CAROLINA
For more information please see South Carolina State Legislation

Posted July 2008

Spartanburg - City council will take a look at some of these issues before an animal control ordinance is implemented. -- Rules on tethering -- Dog and cat licenses -- How to handle permits for owners of more than five dogs and/or cats older than 4 months -- Regulations on vicious animals -- Ownership of goats and pot-bellied pigs. Input and concerns from animal activists and owners have prompted changes in an animal control ordinance first proposed nine months ago. A public hearing won't be held during today's meeting, and staff did not notify the parties involved of today's discussion. City Manager Mark Scott and City Attorney Cathy McCabe said in a memo to council that they wanted suggestions from council and direction on how to proceed before it is placed on a meeting's agenda for public hearing and council's consideration. The ordinance that council will review today prohibits tethering for more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period, but it is more flexible than the previous restrictions. The ban on all tethering was deleted. All dog owners now must have a license for their pets, showing proof of rabies vaccination and a $6 payment. The initial proposal added cats to the ordinance, requiring owners to purchase a pet license. Another concern for owners of multiple animals was a provision in the initial draft requiring permits for those who own more than five dogs and/or cats more than 4 months old. A proposal allowed inspections of the premises where the animals reside, either outdoors or inside a resident's home. According to the memo, staff would only inspect premises where the animals are held if a complaint is received or a health or safety issue is observed. Owners of more than five dogs and/or cats must purchase licenses for each animal in addition to the multiple animals/breeder's permit fee.

Posted May 2008

The 2nd Regular Session of the 117th South Carolina General Assembly
January 8, 2008 - June 5, 2008

HB5010 - A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 47-3-710, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF TERMS USED IN THE REGULATION OF DANGEROUS ANIMALS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT DANGEROUS ANIMALS INCLUDE CERTAIN BREEDS AND SPECIES, INCLUDING PIT BULLS, TO AUTHORIZE BUT NOT REQUIRE, COUNTY GOVERNING BODIES TO DESIGNATE OTHER BREEDS OR SPECIES AS DANGEROUS ANIMALS; AND TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT AN ANIMAL IS NOT A DANGEROUS ANIMAL SOLELY BY VIRTUE OF ITS BREED OR SPECIES http://www.scstatehouse.net/cgi-bin/web_bh10.exe?bill1=5010&session=117 Status: 04/10/08 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary

S833 - TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 47-1-45 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE TETHERING, FASTENING, CHAINING, TYING, OR RESTRAINING A DOG TO A STATIONARY OBJECT FOR MORE THAN THREE HOURS A DAY OR FOR MORE THAN SIX HOURS A DAY ON A TROLLEY SYSTEM; TO PROVIDE CLASS I MISDEMEANOR CRIMINAL PENALTIES; AND TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BY ORDINANCE TO VARY THESE REGULATIONS. 'Confine an animal in a cruel manner' or cruel confinement of an animal' means confining an animal by means of a cage, crate, pen, or similar confinement under circumstances in which the person intends to endanger the animal's health or safety, or the person reasonably should have known would endanger the animal's health or safety http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess117_2007-2008/bills/833.htm PASSED 3/27/2008 UPDATE: 04/01/08 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary

Anderson - City Council member Tony Stewart is proposing a ban on new pit bulls and tighter restrictions on existing pit bulls some owners have in the city. The proposed ordinance says existing pit bulls present an unacceptable risk of harm and fear to residents. Under the proposed ordinance existing pit bulls must have a fenced yard, you must be at least 18 year old to walk the dog, and it must have a muzzle on it's mouth. Also, owners must have a $1,000.00 dollar insurance policy. Also, pit bulls must have their tags and shots. http://www.wspa.com/midatlantic/spa/news.apx.-content-articles-SPA-2008-04-10-0021.html UPDATE: City Council continued its investigation into vicious dogs Monday night (4/28/08), appointing a seven-member committee to continue to look at the issue. Jose Fernandez, a doctor at Magnolia Veterinary Hospital, Duff Leuder of K-9 Pet Dog Training, Herbert Ervin, the city's animal control officer, Angela Wallace, vice president of the Anderson County Humane Society, and City Councilman Tony Stewart will serve on the committee. A second council member and a member to be elected by the committee also will be appointed to serve. City officials have been bombarded with information since the issue of banning pit bulls came up last month. Mayor Terence Roberts said he's received magazine articles and information packets about breed-specific legislation.

Dillon - Dillon City Council will soon try to pass an ordinance that would require all pit bulls to be registered with the city. The proposed ordinance, which is three pages long, also would restrict where the owners could take their dogs. If the ordinance is passed, those who fail to follow it would face fines. Councilman Randolph Gurley is spearheading the campaign to restrict pit bulls within the city limits. "We had an ordinance to ban pit pulls from the city limits, but we got so much controversy from that,” he said. “We have decided to go back and re-do the ordinance and take it and restrict them to the premises.” The council will address the ordinance at its next regular meeting May 12.
http://www.morningnewsonline.com/midatlantic/scp/news.apx.-content-articles-BTW-2008-04-17-0016.html
UPDATE: 5/12/08 - Dillon City Council approved an ordinance that defines the pit-bull as a dangerous animal, and gives owners stricter guidelines. The council’s decision was unanimous. Pit-bull owners must register their dog with Dillon Police. If the dog is walked within the city limits it must be on a four to five foot leash. A fence is also required and any owner that violates the new ordinance could face fines, legal charges up to a misfeasor and the dog could even be put to sleep. This ordinance also includes dogs that look like bull terriers, or American Staffordshire Terriers.
http://www.scnow.com/midatlantic/scp/news.apx.-content-articles-FMN-2008-05-12-0009.html

Florence - Students at one Florence middle school hope to go before county council next Thursday (05/07/08) to talk about Breed Specific Legislation. That's legislation that would prohibit residents from owning, breeding, or raising particular types of dogs, like pit bulls. The seventh grade class from Southside Middle, however, is proposing to block such legislation from ever passing in Florence County. http://www.morningnewsonline.com/midatlantic/scp/news.apx.-content-articles-BTW-2008-05-05-0021.html UPDATE: Presentation to council 5/14/08 - The students’ proposal contains several suggestions, including implementing canine safety education programs in schools and responsible canine ownership classes offered to pet owners. The students say city and county governments should adopt stronger laws instead of banning certain breeds or animals.

Lancaster County - Round two for a proposed vicious dog ordinance. Last month, a citizens' committee was tweaking a proposed law that would've automatically labeled certain dog breeds vicious. The ordinance labeled pit bulls, American bulldogs, and canary dogs as vicious animals and required that they be registered with the county, kept inside a steel cage, and wear special bright-colored collars. The citizens' committee stripped all the breed-specific language from the newest version of the ordinance. At the very least, county leaders say a leash law will come out of all these talks. That's something the county has never had. The last vote on the ordinance will likely be taken next month. http://www.wsoctv.com/news/15478057/detail.html UPDATE: Lancaster County Animal Control Director Joel Hinson said there may be some confusion about the new animal control laws County Council finalized last week. What do the county's new animal control laws require? http://www.thelancasternews.com/cgi-bin/storyviewnew.cgi?151+NewsLocal.2008510-318-151-151028.Full+NewsLocal0-318-151-151028.Full+NewsLocal_


Lyman - ordinance limiting how long a dog can be tethered and prohibiting dangerous dogs from being in the town was approved by the town council Thursday (3/20). A special meeting was called to have the second and final reading on the ordinance. The first reading was on March 13. The 11-page ordinance specifies numerous aspects of animal control and makes Lyman a rarity in Spartanburg County: a town that bans the existence of dangerous animals in the community. A dangerous dog was defined as any dog that: Attacks a person, domestic animal or domesticated dog or cat and causes physical injury or death when unprovoked. Bites or attempts to bite any person while at large. Attacks or attempts to attack any other dog or animal or chases or catches a person while at large. Poses a threat of harm or endangers the safety of persons, domesticated animals while at large or not at large. Is owned or harbored for dog fighting. Is trained for the purpose of dog fighting or has engaged in dog fighting. Is tormented, badgered, baited, trained or encouraged to engage in unprovoked attacks upon people or domesticated animals. http://www.goupstate.com/article/20080321/NEWS/803210323/1051/NEWS01

Richland County - current ordinance offers few restrictions on vicious dogs, except how they should be confined on property. Lexington and Kershaw counties have vicious-dog ordinances but no dog limits per household or breed restrictions. Still, Councilman Norman Jackson, chairman of council’s development and services committee, said getting County Council to approve specific measures, like household limits or breed restrictions, “shouldn’t be a problem.” http://www.thestate.com/local/story/379419.html

Posted April 2008

HB5010 - A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 47-3-710, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF TERMS USED IN THE REGULATION OF DANGEROUS ANIMALS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT DANGEROUS ANIMALS INCLUDE CERTAIN BREEDS AND SPECIES, INCLUDING PIT BULLS, TO AUTHORIZE BUT NOT REQUIRE, COUNTY GOVERNING BODIES TO DESIGNATE OTHER BREEDS OR SPECIES AS DANGEROUS ANIMALS; AND TO DELETE THE PROVISION THAT AN ANIMAL IS NOT A DANGEROUS ANIMAL SOLELY BY VIRTUE OF ITS BREED OR SPECIES

S833 - TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 47-1-45 SO AS TO PROHIBIT THE TETHERING, FASTENING, CHAINING, TYING, OR RESTRAINING A DOG TO A STATIONARY OBJECT FOR MORE THAN THREE HOURS A DAY OR FOR MORE THAN SIX HOURS A DAY ON A TROLLEY SYSTEM; TO PROVIDE CLASS I MISDEMEANOR CRIMINAL PENALTIES; AND TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BY ORDINANCE TO VARY THESE REGULATIONS. 'Confine an animal in a cruel manner' or cruel confinement of an animal' means confining an animal by means of a cage, crate, pen, or similar confinement under circumstances in which the person intends to endanger the animal's health or safety, or the person reasonably should have known would endanger the animal's health or safety PASSED 3/27/2008 UPDATE: Sent to House Judiciary Committee - expected to die in committee

Anderson - City Council member Tony Stewart is proposing a ban on new pit bulls and tighter restrictions on existing pit bulls some owners have in the city. The proposed ordinance says existing pit bulls present an unacceptable risk of harm and fear to residents. Under the proposed ordinance existing pit bulls must have a fenced yard, you must be at least 18 year old to walk the dog, and it must have a muzzle on it's mouth. Also, owners must have a $1,000.00 dollar insurance policy. Also, pit bulls must have their tags and shots.

Lancaster County - round two for a proposed vicious dog ordinance. Last month, a citizens' committee was tweaking a proposed law that would've automatically labeled certain dog breeds vicious. The ordinance labeled pit bulls, American bulldogs, and canary dogs as vicious animals and required that they be registered with the county, kept inside a steel cage, and wear special bright-colored collars. The citizens' committee stripped all the breed-specific language from the newest version of the ordinance. At the very least, county leaders say a leash law will come out of all these talks. That's something the county has never had. The last vote on the ordinance will likely be taken next month.

Lyman - ordinance limiting how long a dog can be tethered and prohibiting dangerous dogs from being in the town was approved by the town council Thursday (3/20). A special meeting was called to have the second and final reading on the ordinance. The first reading was on March 13. The 11-page ordinance specifies numerous aspects of animal control and makes Lyman a rarity in Spartanburg County: a town that bans the existence of dangerous animals in the community. A dangerous dog was defined as any dog that: Attacks a person, domestic animal or domesticated dog or cat and causes physical injury or death when unprovoked. Bites or attempts to bite any person while at large. Attacks or attempts to attack any other dog or animal or chases or catches a person while at large. Poses a threat of harm or endangers the safety of persons, domesticated animals while at large or not at large. Is owned or harbored for dog fighting. Is trained for the purpose of dog fighting or has engaged in dog fighting. Is tormented, badgered, baited, trained or encouraged to engage in unprovoked attacks upon people or domesticated animals.

Posted March 2008

Columbia - Rewrite removes time restrictions from tethering bill. Dog owners would not face time limits on how long they can tie their pets with chains or ropes under a bill heading to the Senate floor. The bill does make it illegal to restrain a dog for any unreasonable time that endangers the pet’s health, safety or well-being. An earlier version did­ restrict dog owners from tethering dogs for longer than three hours.

Lancaster County - proposed ordinance would automatically label APBTs ("pit bulls"), American bulldogs & Presa Canarios ("canary dogs") as "dangerous", and they, as well as other dogs established as "dangerous" will be required to wear a bright orange or yellow collar, be penned in an 8' high pen or one with a secure top with a concrete base, and the owners will be required to register them yearly with animal control and must notify officials if they move or sell the dog. They must also have liability insurance.

S0234 - A BILL to amend the code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding section 38-75-795 so as to prohibit the denial, cancellation, or nonrenewal of homeowners insurance based soley on the presence of one or more domesticated dogs on the homeowners' premises, unless a specific dog on the premises has a documented history of causing significant damage to real or personal property or serious bodily injury to a person.

S0833 - A BILL to amend the code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding section 47-1-45 so as to prohibit the tethering, fastening, chaining, tying, or restraining a dog to a stationary object.

Florence County - County Council is considering an amended animal control ordinance that would raise fines and add animal cruelty regulations.Other pripised changes imclude time at large animals are held at shelter, dangerous dog regulations, nuisance animals, agencies would be required to provide written proof that a sexually mature animal has been spayed or neutered and received a rabies vaccination before being adopted by an individual and all animals also must have an identifying microchip implanted before an individual adopts them.