For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONMENT or MALTREATMENT. A situation in which an owner or person charged with the responsibility of an animal does not provide or arrange for adequate food, water, shelter and care, transfer ownership to a responsible person or does not provide for humane disposal of the animal.
ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. Any person employed by the city as the enforcement officer of the provisions of this chapter.
ANIMAL SHELTER. Any premises designated by the city for the purpose of impounding, care or destruction of animals found in violation of this chapter.
ANIMALS. Any live, vertebrate creature, domestic or wild, which shall be held to include all brute creatures.
APIARY. The assembly of one or more colonies of bees at a single location.
AT-LARGE. An animal not under the restraint and control of its owner, as required by the provisions of this chapter, and off of the owner's real or personal property limits.
BEEKEEPER. A person who owns or has charge of one or more colonies of bees.
CHICKEN. A domesticated bird (of the species Gallus domesticus) that serves as a source of eggs and/or meat.
COLONY. An aggregate of bees consisting principally of workers, but having, when perfect one queen and at times drones, brood, combs, and honey.
COOP. The structure for the keeping or housing of chickens permitted by this chapter.
HEN. A female chicken.
HIVE. The receptacle inhabited by a colony that is manufactured for that purpose.
HONEY BEE. All life stages of the common domestic honey bee, apis mellifera species.
INOCULATION AGAINST RABIES. The injection, subcutaneously, intramuscularly or otherwise, of antirabic vaccine as approved by the State Department of Health and Environmental Control and by the United States Department of Agriculture-Veterinary Biologics Division.
OWNER. Any person who:
(1) Has a right of property in an animal;
(2) Keeps or harbors an animal or who has it in the person's care or acts as its custodian; and
(3) Permits an animal to remain on or about any premises occupied by the person.
PEN. A fully enclosed and covered area attached to a coop where the hen(s) can roam.
PET. Any animal or fowl kept for pleasure rather than utility or commercial purposes.
PUBLIC NUISANCE. Any animal found at-large, making loud or objectionable sounds, chasing vehicles or pedestrians, behaving in any manner which is deemed to be doing damage to property or to public health and well-being, is known to have bitten one or more persons, has been determined by the Animal Control Officer to be detriment to public health, welfare or safety or that constitutes a physical threat to human beings or to other animals by virtue of its specific training or demonstrated behavior.
RESTRAINT. Any animal secured by a leash or lead under the control of a responsible person and obedient to that person's commands, or within the real or personal property limits of its owner.
ROOSTER. A male chicken.
SPAYED FEMALES. Any female dog or cat which has been operated on to prevent conception.
VICIOUS ANIMAL. Any animal:
(1) With a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack unprovoked, to cause injury or to otherwise endanger the safety of human beings or domestic animals;
(2) That attacks a human being or domestic animal without provocation; or
(3) That is owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of fighting, or that is trained for fighting.
(1985 Code, § 4-1) (Ord. 94-005, passed 9-13-1994; Am. Ord. 17-021, passed 10-10-2017; Am. Ord. 2023-008, passed 3-14-2023)
Statutory reference:
Definitions, see S.C. Code §§ 47-1-10, 47-3-10, 47-3-410 and 47-5-20