(A) An animal is considered abandoned when the animal has been placed in the custody of a licensed veterinarian for boarding, treatment, or other care and is unclaimed by its owner or the owner's agent and the owner or the owner's agent has not paid the charges for the boarding, treatment, or other care within ten days of notice of these charges being provided to the owner or the owner's agent in accordance with this section and no other payment agreement with the owner or the owner's agent has been reached.
(B) The notice required in subsection (A) must be given to the owner of the animal or the owner's agent at his last known address by registered mail or by certified mail, return receipt requested, and must contain a statement that if the animal is not claimed and if the charges are not paid within ten days after receipt of the notice, the animal may be sold, donated, turned over to the nearest humane society or animal shelter or otherwise disposed of as the person having custody of the animal considers proper.
(C) The owner of an abandoned animal is deemed to have relinquished all rights and claims to the animal by virtue of the abandonment.
(D) Providing notice to the owner or the owner's agent pursuant to this section relieves the custodian of the animal of any liability for the sale, donation, euthanasia, or other disposal of the animal.
HISTORY: 2006 Act No. 294, Section 1.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 40 - Professions and Occupations
Section 40-69-5. Application of Chapter 1; conflicts.
Section 40-69-20. Definitions.
Section 40-69-40. Board officers and meetings; quorum.
Section 40-69-50. Administration as revenue funded board.
Section 40-69-60. Rules and regulations.
Section 40-69-70. Powers and duties.
Section 40-69-80. Powers incident to conducting investigations.
Section 40-69-90. Procedures for handling complaints.
Section 40-69-115. Board jurisdiction.
Section 40-69-130. Denial of licensure.
Section 40-69-140. Prior criminal record.
Section 40-69-150. Voluntary surrender of license.
Section 40-69-170. Assessment of costs.
Section 40-69-180. Collection and enforcement of costs.
Section 40-69-200. Filing false information to obtain license; penalty.
Section 40-69-215. Exception as to "floating" teeth in equine; administration of anesthesia.
Section 40-69-240. Temporary veterinary and veterinary technology licenses.
Section 40-69-255. Veterinarians continuing education; prescribing controlled substances.
Section 40-69-260. Licensing of persons licensed to practice in another state.
Section 40-69-270. Licensing requirement; exceptions.
Section 40-69-280. Abandoned animals; notice to owner.
Section 40-69-285. Liens for payment of fees.
Section 40-69-290. Emergency clinics.
Section 40-69-300. Regulation of animal shelters that provide veterinary services; definitions.