Bill 3474

                    Current Status

Bill Number:               3474
Ratification Number:       524
Act Number:                446
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Provide that any kennel or dog owner may
                           register his dog or kennel with the South
                           Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources
                           Department

(A446, R524, H3474)

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT ANY KENNEL OR DOG OWNER MAY REGISTER HIS DOG OR KENNEL WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA WILDLIFE AND MARINE RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND HAVE THE REGISTRATION NUMBER OR LETTER TATTOOED IN THE EAR OF ANY REGISTERED DOG, TO REQUIRE INFORMATION TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ANIMAL CONTROL AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE COSTS INVOLVED IN ADMINISTERING THE PROGRAM, TO PROVIDE FOR THE NOTIFICATION OF THE OWNER BY ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS BEFORE DESTROYING THE ANIMAL, TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROMULGATION OF REGULATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Owner may register dog

SECTION 1. The owner of any dog or kennel may, upon payment of a fee to be determined by the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department (department), not to exceed five dollars a dog or twenty dollars a kennel, have his dog registered by the department and the registration number tattooed in the dog's left ear. The department shall maintain records of the names and addresses of the owners of registered kennels.

File to be made available

SECTION 2. The department shall have this file available for county, city, or subdivision animal control agencies or departments and individuals. The entire cost must be assessed upon dog owners in registration fees.

Penalty

SECTION 3. Any person stealing any positively identifiable dog is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction must be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not less than thirty days nor more than six months, or both.

Any person killing any dog when owner may be identified by means of a collar bearing sufficient information or some other form of positive identification is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction must be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not less than thirty days nor more than six months, or both. This paragraph does not apply to the killing of a dog, threatening to cause, or causing personal injury or property damage.

Animal Control officers not to destroy dog

SECTION 4. Animal control officers must not destroy any positively identifiable dog until they have notified the owner at their last known address by registered mail that they have the dog in their possession. The owner must notify the animal control officer within two weeks that he will pick up his dog. If the owner does not pick up his dog within two weeks of notification to the animal control officer, the dog may be destroyed. Reasonable costs associated with the above extended holding period, including cost of mailing the required notice, must be paid before the dog is returned to its owner, or the owner's designee, in addition to any other established costs, fines, fees, or other charges.

Department may promulgate regulations

SECTION 5. The South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department may promulgate regulations to carry out the provisions of this act.

Time effective

SECTION 6. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.