S.C. Code Ann. tit. 47, ch. 1

S.C. Code Ann. tit. 47, ch. 1
in effect

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-10 Definitions.

As used in this chapter: (1) "Animal" means a living vertebrate creature except a homo sapien. (2) "Sustenance" means adequate food provided at suitable intervals of quantities of wholesome foodstuff suitable for the species and age, sufficient to maintain a reasonable level of nutrition to allow for proper growth and weight and adequate water provided with constant access to a supply of clean, fresh, and potable water provided in a suitable manner for the species. (3) "Shelter" means shelter that reasonably may be expected to protect the animal from physical suffering or impairment of health due to exposure to the elements or adverse weather.

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-20 Acts of agents imputed to corporations.

The knowledge and acts of agents and persons employed by corporations in regard to animals transported, owned or employed by or in the custody of such corporations shall be held to be the acts and knowledge of such corporations.

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-40 Ill-treatment of animals generally; penalties.

(A) A person who knowingly or intentionally overloads, overdrives, overworks, or ill-treats an animal, deprives an animal of necessary sustenance or shelter, inflicts unnecessary pain or suffering upon an animal, or by omission or commission knowingly or intentionally causes these acts to be done, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished by imprisonment not exceeding ninety days or by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, or both, for a first offense; or by imprisonment not exceeding two years or by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars, or both, for a second or subsequent offense. (B) A person who tortures, torments, needlessly mutilates, cruelly kills, or inflicts excessive or repeated unnecessary pain or suffering upon an animal or by omission or commission causes these acts to be done, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be punished by imprisonment of not less than one hundred eighty days and not to exceed five years and by a fine of five thousand dollars. (C) This section does not apply to fowl, accepted animal husbandry practices of farm operations and the training of animals, the practice of veterinary medicine, agricultural practices, forestry and silvacultural practices, wildlife management practices, or activity authorized by Title 50, including an activity authorized by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources or an exercise designed for training dogs for hunting, if repeated contact with a dog or dogs and another animal does not occur during this training exercise. Editor's Note 2024 Act No. 199, SECTION 4, provides as follows: "SECTION 4. Nothing in this act may be applied in contradiction to the exemptions and protections provided to hunting dogs, sporting dogs, or working dogs under Section 47-1-40, Section 16-27-60, and Section 16-27-80."

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-50 Cruel work; carriage in vehicles; penalties.

(A) An owner, a possessor, or a person having the charge or custody of an animal may not: (1) cruelly drive or work it when unfit for labor; (2) carry it, or cause it to be carried, in or upon a vehicle or otherwise in an unnecessarily cruel or inhumane manner. (B) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished for each offense in the manner prescribed in Section 47-1-40(A).

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-60 Cutting muscles of tails of horses, asses, mules, mares, or geldings prohibited.

Any person who (a) cuts the tissue or muscle of the tail of any horse, ass, mule, mare or gelding, or otherwise operates upon it in any manner for the purpose or with the effect of altering the natural carriage of the tail, except when such cutting or operation is necessary for the health or life of the animal, as certified to in writing by a licensed veterinarian, (b) causes, procures or knowingly permits such cutting or operation to be done or (c) assists in or is voluntarily present at such cutting or operation shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person convicted of violating any of the provisions of this section shall be fined not less than fifty nor more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not less than fifteen nor more than thirty days.

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-70 Abandonment of animals; penalties; hunting dog exception.

(A) A person may not abandon an animal. As used in this section "abandonment" is defined as deserting, forsaking, or intending to give up absolutely an animal without securing another owner or without providing the necessities of life. "Necessities of life" includes: (1) adequate water which means a constant access to a supply of clean, fresh, and potable water provided in a suitable manner for the species; (2) adequate food which means provision at suitable intervals of quantities of wholesome foodstuff suitable for the species and age, sufficient to maintain a reasonable level of nutrition to allow for proper growth and weight; (3) adequate shelter which means shelter that reasonably may be expected to protect the animal from physical suffering or impairment of health due to exposure to the elements or adverse weather. (B) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both. Offenses under this section must be tried in the magistrate's or municipal court. (C) A hunting dog that is positively identifiable in accordance with Section 47-3-510 or Section 47-3-530 is exempt from this section.

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-75 Immunity from civil and criminal liability.

Any person, including a person licensed to practice veterinary medicine, or an animal control officer or agent of the South Carolina Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or any society incorporated for that purpose, who in good faith and without compensation for services provided, acting without malice, recklessness, or gross negligence, renders emergency care or treatment to a domestic animal which is abandoned, ill, injured, or in distress related to an accident or disaster shall not be liable or subject to any civil or criminal liability for any injuries or harm to such animal resulting from the rendering of such care or treatment, or any act or failure to act to provide or arrange for further medical treatment or care for such animal.

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-80 Destruction of abandoned infirm animal.

Any agent or officer of the Department of Health and Environmental Control or police officer or officer of the South Carolina Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or of any society duly incorporated for that purpose may lawfully destroy, or cause to be destroyed, any animal found abandoned and not properly cared for, appearing to be glandered, injured or diseased past recovery for any useful purpose.

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-90 Overloading and length of confinement of animals in railroad cars.

No railroad company in the carrying or transportation of animals shall overload the cars nor permit the animals to be confined in cars for a longer period than thirty-six consecutive hours without unloading them for rest, water and feeding for a period of at least five consecutive hours, unless prevented from so unloading by storm or other accidental causes beyond the control of such railroad company; provided, however, that when animals shall be carried in cars in which they can and do have proper food, water and space and opportunity for rest, the foregoing provisions in regard to their being unloaded shall not apply. In estimating such confinement the time during which the animals have been confined without such rest on connecting roads from which they are received shall be included, it being the intent of this section to prohibit their continuous confinement beyond the period of thirty-six hours, except upon the contingencies hereinbefore stated.

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-100 Care of animals unloaded during transit.

Animals unloaded as required by Section 47-1-90 shall be properly fed, watered and sheltered during such rest by the owner or person having the custody thereof or, in case of his default in so doing, then by the railroad company transporting such animals at the expense of the owner or person in custody thereof; and the company shall, in such case, have a lien upon such animals for food, care and custody furnished and shall not be liable for any detention of such animals.

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-110 Violations of Sections 47-1-90 and 47-1-100.

Any company or the owner or custodian of such animals who shall fail to comply with the provisions of Sections 47-1-90 and 47-1-100 shall, for each and every such offense, if found guilty, be fined not less than fifty nor more than five hundred dollars, in any court of competent jurisdiction.

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-120 Custody of animals in charge of arrested persons.

When a person arrested is, at the time of the arrest, in charge of an animal, an agent of the South Carolina Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or of any society incorporated for that purpose, may take charge of the animal and deposit the animal in a safe place of custody or deliver the animal into the possession of the police or sheriff of the county or place where the arrest was made, who shall assume the custody of the animal; and all necessary expenses incurred in taking charge of the animal shall be a lien thereon.

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-125 Coloring or dying animals prohibited; sale or distribution of certain young animals prohibited; penalty.

(1) It is unlawful for any person to dye or color artificially any animal or fowl, including but not limited to rabbits, baby chickens, and ducklings, or to bring any dyed or colored animal or fowl into this State. (2) It is unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale or give away as merchandising premiums, baby chickens, ducklings or other fowl under four weeks of age or rabbits under two months of age to be used as pets, toys or retail premiums. (3) This section shall not be construed to apply to any animal or fowl, including but not limited to rabbits, baby chickens and ducklings to be used or raised for agricultural purposes by persons with proper facilities to care for them or for poultry or livestock exhibitions. (4) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days.

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-130 Arrest by law enforcement officers for violation of laws prohibiting cruelty to animals.

(A) Any person violating the laws in relation to cruelty to animals may be arrested by a law enforcement officer and held, without warrant, in the same manner as in the case of persons found breaking the peace. (B) The South Carolina Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or other organizations organized for the same purpose, may not make an arrest for a violation of the laws in relation to cruelty to animals.

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-140 Notice to owners; care of animals after arrest of person in charge.

The law enforcement officer making the arrest, with or without warrant, shall use reasonable diligence to give notice to the owner of the animals found in the charge or custody of the person arrested, if the person is not the owner, and shall care and provide properly for the animals. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an animal may be seized preceding an arrest and pursuant to Section 47-1-150. Effect of Amendment 2024 Act No. 199, SECTION 1, deleted the second and third sentences, which provided for liens on seized animals.

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-145 Custody and care of animal after arrest; custodial costs.

(A)(1) Notwithstanding another provision of law, any sheriff, deputy sheriff, deputy state constable, constable, law enforcement officer, or other entity that is awarded custody of an animal under the provisions of Section 47-1-150 or who has seized an animal because of a violation of any provision of Chapter 1, Title 47 or Chapter 27, Title 16 may file a petition with a court of competent jurisdiction to hear civil cases requesting the court to require the owner of the animal or animals to deposit funds at specified intervals in an amount sufficient to secure payment of all anticipated costs of the seizure and care of the animals pending the disposition of the litigation. (2) If the defendant is found guilty, then the custodian of the animal may then determine if the animal is suitable for adoption or rescue and if adoption or rescue can be arranged for the animal. The animal may not be adopted by the defendant or by any person residing in the defendant's household if the defendant was found guilty. If no adoption or rescue can be arranged after the forfeiture or if the animal is unsuitable for adoption or rescue, then the custodian shall humanely euthanize the animal. (3) At any time prior to final adjudication, the owner has the right to forfeit ownership of the animal and avoid all future custodial costs related to the animal's care but not costs already accrued, beginning with the date of the seizure. (4) In the event that an owner is adjudicated not guilty of all charges related to the animal seizure or all charges are dismissed not pursuant to plea negotiations or an intervention program, the owner shall receive from the filing agency a refund of all costs paid by the owner pursuant to the petition. The court may award interest on the amount refunded to an owner under this subsection. (B)(1) Every petition filed pursuant to subsection (A) shall contain a description of the time, place, and circumstances of the seizure, the legal authority for the seizure, and the name and address of the owner of the animal seized. (2) Any sheriff, deputy sheriff, deputy state constable, constable, or other law enforcement officer shall personally serve written process of the petition on the owner of the animal. If the officer is unable to personally serve written process of the petition on the owner of the animal within thirty days of the filing of the petition, the officers shall, within ten days thereafter, post a copy of the petition on the door of the residence of the owner or in another conspicuous place at the location where the animal was seized. (C)(1)(a) Upon the court's receipt of return of process of the petition on the owner, the court shall set a hearing on the petition to determine the need to care for and provide for the animal pending the final disposition of the animal. The hearing shall be conducted no less than ten days and no more than fifteen business days after the court's receipt of return of service of process of the petition on the owner. Any sheriff, deputy sheriff, deputy state constable, constable, or other law enforcement officer is authorized to serve written notice on the owner of the date, time, and location of the hearing. If no name and address for the owner are set forth in the petition, then such notice shall be posted in a conspicuous place at the location where the animal or animals were seized. (b) If the owner is financially unable to retain counsel, then counsel shall be provided upon order of the appropriate judge pursuant to Chapter 3, Title 17, unless the owner voluntarily and intelligently waives court-appointed counsel. (c) The court may reduce the amount the owner is required to pay under this section if the owner is indigent. (2) The scope of the hearing is limited to whether probable cause existed to seize the animal. Upon such a showing, the court shall require payment to the clerk of court of an amount sufficient to cover reasonable costs of seizure and care, as determined by the court, for a period beginning as of the date of seizure and ending thirty days after the date of the order. Neither the result of a hearing provided for under this section nor a statement of an owner made at any such hearing shall be admissible in any criminal prosecution related to the seizure of the animal. (3) The owner shall be ordered to deposit an amount equal to the portion of the original deposit amount attributable to the first thirty days after the date of the initial order and every thirty days thereafter until the owner relinquishes the animal or until the final disposition of the animal. If the required funds are not deposited within five days of the original order setting the amount of funds, or within five days after the expiration of each applicable subsequent thirty-day period, then the animal shall be forfeited to the petitioning agency by operation of law and may be disposed of via transfer to another person or entity capable of providing care or other humane disposition. (4) The court may correct, alter, or otherwise adjust the owner's thirty-day obligation of payment upon a motion made by the owner or the petitioning agency at least five days before the expiration date of the then current thirty-day payment period. The hearing shall be held within ten days of service of the motion on the opposing party, and any adjustment to the thirty-day payment amount shall become effective five days after the court orders, or refuses to order, an adjustment. (D)(1) Upon the deposit of funds with the court in accordance with this section, the entity incurring the costs of care may immediately begin to draw from those funds for payment of the actual costs incurred by the petitioning agency in keeping and caring for the animal from the date of seizure to the date of the final disposition of the underlying criminal action regarding the owner and the animal. (2) Upon final disposition of the animal, remaining funds deposited with the court shall be refunded to the owner. (E) The remedy provided for in this section is in addition to any other remedy provided by law. 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 2024 Act No. 199, SECTION 2, rewrote the section.

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-150 Issuance of search warrant; purpose of section; motions regarding custody of animal; notice; care, disposal of, or return of animal.

(A) When complaint is made on oath or affirmation to any magistrate authorized to issue warrants in criminal cases that the complainant believes and has reasonable cause to believe that the laws in relation to cruelty to animals have been or are being violated in any particular building or place, such magistrate, if satisfied that there is reasonable cause for such belief, shall issue a search warrant authorizing any sheriff, deputy sheriff, deputy state constable, constable or police officer to search such building or place; but no search shall be made after sunset, unless specially authorized by the magistrate upon satisfactory cause shown. If an animal is seized pursuant to this section and the South Carolina Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals, or other society incorporated for that purpose is involved with the seizure, the animal may be held pending criminal disposition of the case at a facility maintained or contracted by that agency. (B) The purpose of this section is to provide a means by which a neglected or mistreated animal can be: (1) removed from its present custody; or (2) made the subject of an order to provide care, issued to its owner by the magistrate or municipal judge, any law enforcement officer, or any agent of the county and given protection and an appropriate and humane disposition made. (C) Any law enforcement officer or any agent of any county or of the South Carolina Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or any society incorporated for that purpose may move before a magistrate for an order to: (1) lawfully take custody of any animal found neglected or cruelly treated by removing the animal from its present location if deemed by the court that removal is necessary to prevent further suffering or ill-treatment, or (2) order the owner of any animal found neglected or cruelly treated to provide certain care to the animal at the owner's expense without removal of the animal from its present location, and shall forthwith petition the magistrate or municipal judge of the county or municipality wherein the animal is found for a hearing, to be set within twenty-four hours after the date of seizure of the animal or issuance of the order to provide care and held not more than two days after the setting of such date, to determine whether the owner, if known, is able to provide adequately for the animal and is fit to have custody of the animal. The hearing shall be concluded, and the court order entered the date the hearing is commenced. No fee shall be charged for the filing of the petition. Nothing herein is intended to require court action for the taking into custody and making proper disposition of stray or abandoned animals as lawfully performed by animal control agents. (D) The officer or agent of any county or of the South Carolina Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or of any society incorporated for that purpose, taking charge of any animal pursuant to the provisions of this section shall have written notice served prior to the hearing set forth in subsection (C)(2), upon the owner of the animal, if he is known and is residing in the county where the animal was taken. The sheriff of the county shall not charge a fee for service of such notice. If the owner of the animal is known but is residing outside of the county wherein the animal was taken, notice of the hearing shall be by publication. (E) If any seized animal held by court order at the owner's premises is removed without notification to the investigating agency, or if an animal becomes sick or dies, and the owner or custodian fails to immediately notify the investigating agency, the owner must be held in contempt of court and fined up to the penalties provided by law. (F) The officer or agent of any county or of the South Carolina Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or of any society incorporated for that purpose, taking charge of an animal as provided for in this section shall provide for the animal until either: (1) The owner is adjudged by the court to be able to provide adequately for, and have custody of, the animal, in which case the animal shall be returned to the owner upon payment for the care and provision of the animal while in the agent's or officer's custody; or (2) The animal is turned over to the officer or agent as provided in Section 47-1-170 and a humane disposition of the animal is made. (G) If the court determines that the owner is able to provide adequately for, and have custody of the animal, the order shall provide that the animal in possession of the officer or agent be claimed and removed by the owner within seven days after the date of the order.

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-170 Penalties for violations of chapter.

The owner or person having charge or custody of an animal cruelly used who is convicted of any violation of this chapter forfeits ownership, charge, or custody of the animal, and at the discretion of the court, the person who is charged with or convicted of a violation of this chapter may be ordered, if not previously ordered, to pay costs incurred to care for the animal and related expenses. Effect of Amendment 2024 Act No. 199, SECTION 3, substituted "may be ordered, if not previously ordered," for "must be ordered" and made a nonsubstantive change.

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-200 Requirements for transfer of animals and importation or exportation of dog or cat; penalties for violations.

(A) During transportation, an animal must not be confined in one area for more than twenty-four consecutive hours without being adequately exercised, rested, fed, and watered. The time may be extended reasonably when an act of God causes a delay. The animal must be provided adequate space and ventilation. (B) A dog or cat under eight weeks of age must not be imported or exported without being accompanied by its dam. (C) A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two hundred nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days, or both.

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-210 Live animals as prizes; exceptions; penalties.

(A) It is unlawful to give away a live animal including, but not limited to, a fish, bird, fowl, or reptile, as a prize for, or as an inducement to enter, any contest, game, or other competition, or as an inducement to enter a place of amusement, or for these species to be used as an incentive to enter into any business agreement if the offer made was for the purpose of attracting trade. (B) Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit an auction or raffle of a live animal including, but not limited to, a fish, bird, fowl, or reptile. Further, the giving away or the testing of game or fowl for breeding purposes only is lawful and is not prohibited by this section as an incentive to enter into a business agreement if the person giving away or testing game or fowl is engaged in that trade. (C) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished for each separate offense by a fine not to exceed three hundred dollars or imprisonment not to exceed thirty days, or both. (D) This section does not apply when a live animal is given away as follows: (1) by individuals or organizations operating in conjunction with a cooperative extension education program or agricultural vocational program sanctioned by the State Department of Education or local school districts; (2) by individuals or organizations operating in conjunction with field trials approved by the Department of Natural Resources; or (3) by kennels that advertise in national publications in regard to dogs that are registered with the United Kennel Club or the American Kennel Club.

S.C. Code Ann. § 47-1-225 Animal cruelty instruction for certain judges.

Every four years, at their mandatory continuing legal education programs, magistrates and municipal court judges must receive at least two hours of instruction on issues concerning animal cruelty. The content of the continuing legal education must be determined by the South Carolina Court Administration at the direction of the Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court. 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."
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t47c001.phpFetched: 10/17/2026

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