As used in this article:
(1) "Animal Shelter" means:
(a) a facility operated by or under contract for the State or a county, a municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the State for the purpose of impounding or harboring seized, stray, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted dogs, cats, and other animals;
(b) a veterinary hospital or clinic operated by a veterinarian or veterinarians which operates for the purpose set forth in subitem (a) in addition to its customary purposes;
(c) a facility operated, owned, or maintained by an incorporated humane society, animal welfare society, or other nonprofit organization for the purpose of providing for and promoting the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of animals.
(2) "Humane society" means an unincorporated nonprofit organization existing for the purpose of prevention of cruelty to animals.
(3) "Public or private rescue organization" means harborers of unwanted animals of any breed, including crossbreeds, who provide food, shelter, and confinement for a group of dogs, a group of cats, or a combination of dogs and cats.
(4) "Sexually mature animal" means a dog or cat that has reached the age of one hundred eighty days or six months or more.
(5) "Sterilization" means the surgical removal of the reproductive organs of a dog or cat in order to render the animal unable to reproduce.
HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 271, Section 1, eff upon approval (became law without the Governor's signature on April 8, 1998); 2019 Act No. 43 (S.105), Section 7, eff May 16, 2019.
Editor's Note
2019 Act No. 43, Section 10, provides as follows:
"SECTION 10. The General Assembly finds it is the best practice for a shelter, public or private, to prepare and maintain records documenting the number of animals admitted to the facility and the method by which those animals exit the facility, whether by adoption, fostering, natural death, euthanasia, transfer to another state, or other means of discharge."
Effect of Amendment
2019 Act No. 43, Section 7, in (3), substituted "Public or private rescue organization" for "Public or private animal refuge".
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 47 - Animals, Livestock and Poultry
Chapter 3 - Dogs And Other Domestic Pets
Section 47-3-20. Local animal care and control ordinances authorized.
Section 47-3-30. Establishment of animal shelters; funding.
Section 47-3-40. Impoundment or quarantine of cat or dog running at large; release to owner.
Section 47-3-50. Allowing dogs or cats to run at large; penalty.
Section 47-3-60. Disposition of quarantined or impounded animals.
Section 47-3-70. County and municipal powers not limited by article.
Section 47-3-110. Liability for attacks by dogs, provoked attacks, trained law enforcement dogs.
Section 47-3-210. Buying, selling, receiving, or keeping sheep-killing dog prohibited.
Section 47-3-220. Dog found in act of worrying or destroying sheep may be killed.
Section 47-3-310. Disposal or removal of feral dogs from certain property.
Section 47-3-320. Training of conservation officers to remove dogs; liability of officers.
Section 47-3-410. Animal shelter defined.
Section 47-3-420. Methods of euthanasia.
Section 47-3-430. Provision governing shelters.
Section 47-3-440. Penalties; injunction.
Section 47-3-470. Definitions.
Section 47-3-490. Failure to comply; remedies.
Section 47-3-500. Adoption of additional policies by other entities.
Section 47-3-510. Owner may register dog; fee.
Section 47-3-520. Availability of registration file.
Section 47-3-530. Penalties for stealing or killing identifiable dog.
Section 47-3-550. Promulgation of regulations.
Section 47-3-710. Definitions.
Section 47-3-730. Dangerous animal not permitted beyond premises unless safely restrained.
Section 47-3-750. Seizure and impoundment of dangerous animal.
Section 47-3-760. Penalties; registration of dangerous animals.
Section 47-3-910. Short title.
Section 47-3-920. Definitions.
Section 47-3-930. Interference with use of a guide dog or service animal; misdemeanor.
Section 47-3-940. Injury, disability, or death; reckless disregard; penalties.
Section 47-3-950. Unauthorized control over guide dog or service animal; penalties.
Section 47-3-960. Intentional injury, disability, or death; penalties.
Section 47-3-970. Restitution.
Section 47-3-980. Intentional misrepresentation of animal as service animal; penalties.