South Carolina General Assembly
107th Session, 1987-1988

Bill 3752


                    Current Status

Bill Number:               3752
Ratification Number:       577
Act Number                 512
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Teasing, maltreating, injuring police
                           dogs prohibited
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A512, R577, H3752)

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 3, TITLE 47, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF DOGS AND OTHER DOMESTIC PETS, BY ADDING ARTICLE 11 SO AS TO MAKE IT UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO WILLFULLY AND MALICIOUSLY TAUNT, TEASE, PHYSICALLY ABUSE, INTERFERE OR MEDDLE WITH, OR TO INJURE OR KILL A DOG USED BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FUNCTIONS OR DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY OR WHEN PLACED IN A KENNEL OFF DUTY, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.

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

Teasing, maltreating, injuring police dogs prohibited

SECTION 1. Chapter 3, Title 47 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Article 11

Teasing, Maltreating, and Injuring Police Dogs Prohibited

Section 47-3-610. It is unlawful for a person to wilfully and maliciously taunt, torment, tease, beat, strike, or administer or subject any desensitizing drug, chemical, or substance to a dog used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or agency or when placed in a kennel off duty; or to interfere or meddle with a dog used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or agency.

Section 47-3-620. It is unlawful for a person to wilfully or maliciously torture, mutilate, injure, disable, poison, or kill a dog used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or when placed in a kennel off duty. However, a police officer or veterinarian may perform euthanasia in emergency situations when delay would cause the dog undue suffering and pain.

Section 47-3-630. A person who violates any of the provisions of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined no less than five hundred dollars and no more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for no less than thirty days or no more than six months, or both."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.