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(a) The owner or custodian of any dog or cat shall obtain a certificate and tag in accordance with state law. A current rabies license tag shall at all times be attached to a collar or harness worn by the dog or cat for which the rabies certificate and tag have been issued.
(b) Any person who fails to have a current rabies license for their dog or cat shall be subjected to the penalties provided herein.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person owning, keeping or harboring a licensed dog or cat to cause or allow the licensed animal not to wear the issued rabies license tag.
(d) Any person whose dog or cat is impounded for running at large, and who has failed to obtain a rabies license for the animal as provided for in this article, shall pay a $50 fee, in addition to all other fees and charges to release the animal from impoundment.
(e) Any violation shall be deemed a violation of this section and the owner shall be subject to a fine of $50.
(1976 Code, § 4-14) (Ord. 301, § 5; Ord. 731, § 5; Ord. 2130, § 2(a), passed 6-5-1990; Ord. 4099, § 3, passed 4-3-2007)
(a) Picking up stray and vicious dogs or cats. The animal control officer is authorized to seize all stray and/or dangerous animals (including but not limited to, dogs or cats running at large), and to take such animals to a designated place of impoundment. Any person on whose property a stray or dangerous animal is found may seize such animal and deliver it to the designated animal shelter for impoundment, or contact the County Animal Control Division for pickup. The officer, at his discretion, may issue to the known owner of such animal a notice of ordinance violation or an ordinance summons.
(b) Notice to owners. Dogs or cats impounded pursuant to this article shall be kept at a designated animal shelter. Upon impoundment of such an animal, the animal control officer shall exercise due diligence to ascertain the owner of such animal. If such owner is discovered or claims such animal within 5 business days of impoundment, the officer or contract impoundment facility shall notify him of the terms for the animal’s release.
(c) Release of impounded dogs or cats. An original owner may obtain release of his dog or cat impounded pursuant to § 4-15(a) within 5 business days of impoundment, upon payment of a boarding fee per dog or cat, per owner, as listed in the fee schedule below, and an impoundment fee, as hereinafter provided, and upon presentation of a current rabies inoculation certificate.
(d) Schedule of fees. Current cost of boarding fee, plus:
(1) First offense: $85;
(2) Second offense: $90;
(3) Third offense: $100;
(4) Fourth offense: $150; and
(5) Fifth or subsequent offense: $250.
(e) Period of impoundment and disposition of unclaimed dog or cat. An impounded dog or cat which remains unclaimed by an owner after 5 business days shall be deemed abandoned, and shall automatically and irrevocably become the sole property of the county to convey, devise, dispose or otherwise destroy as the county sees fit in accordance with this article. Thereafter, such dog or cat may be disposed of humanely or offered for adoption to a suitable home.
The adoption fee for an animal shall be set by the operator of the animal shelter. No dog or cat shall be adopted unless and until it has been neutered or spayed by a veterinarian licensed by the state.
(f) Disposition of fees. All fees so collected shall be delivered to the county treasurer for deposit in the general fund of the county.
(1976 Code, § 4-15) (Ord. 731, § 6; Ord. 1645, § 2, 3-3-1987; Ord. 1954, §§ 2-6, passed 3-21-1989; Ord. 2130, § 2(a), passed 6-5-1990; Ord. 4066, § 2, passed 11-21-2006; Ord. 4099, § 3, passed 4-3-2007)
If a citizen witnesses a dog or cat attacking a person, he shall notify the rabies control officer in the county health department. Whenever the animal control officer is notified and shown that a dog or cat has bitten or attacked a person, such officer shall promptly notify the county health department of such bite or attack, and shall cooperate with the county health department in impounding and quarantining such animal.
(a) Seizure provisions in the event of a dog attack of a serious nature. If he has probable cause to believe that a dog has:
(1) Killed or in inflicted severe injury to a person; or
(2) Killed or inflicted severe injury upon a domestic animal, horse or livestock, when not on the offending dogs owner’s property,
the animal control officer shall have the emergency authority to enter the exterior area of private premises to retrieve the dog. The consent of the animal owner or the lawful occupant of the premises is not required under these circumstances, and it shall be unlawful to resist or interfere with the animal control officer in taking such action.
(b) Exceptions. No dog shall be found to be a dangerous animal, if the threat, injury or damage was sustained by a person who was:
(1) Committing, at the time, a crime upon the premises occupied by the dog’s owner or custodian; or
(2) Committing, at the time, a willful trespass or other tort upon the premises occupied by the dog’s owner or custodian; or
(3) Provoking, tormenting or physically abusing the dog.
(4) No dog that was engaged in the performance of law enforcement duties at the time acts complained of shall be found to be a dangerous dog.
(c) Notice of hearing. Upon taking custody of the dog, the animal control officer shall provide to the owner a written notice of the basis for the seizure and impoundment, and shall notify the dog’s owner as soon as feasible of the expected hearing date, which shall be no later than next appointed court date from the date of seizure, unless the magistrate shall determine there are compelling reasons to extend the date. Leaving the written notice reasonably secure at the front or primary entrance to the house or structure on the property where the animal is seized shall be sufficient delivery to the owner, if the owner is not present or if the owner’s location cannot be determined.
(d) Magistrates findings. The magistrate shall determine if the dog is a “dangerous animal” as defined by § 4-11 of this article. If the magistrate determines that the attacking dog is a dangerous animal:
(1) The animal must remain in the custody of and housed by the County Animal Control Division until the owner obtains a license for the dangerous dog from the Animal Control Division. In order to obtain a license, the owner must comply with the following:
a. The owner must demonstrate proof of liability insurance or surety bond of at least $50,000, insuring or securing the owner for personal injuries inflicted by the dangerous animal; and
b. The Animal Control Division must review and approve a proper enclosure for housing the dangerous animal; or
(2) The animal must be destroyed when, in the court’s judgment, the dangerous animal represents a continuing threat of serious harm to human beings or domestic animals
(1976 Code, § 4-16) (Ord. 731, § 7; Ord. 2130, § 2(a), passed 6-5-1990; Ord. 4099, § 3, passed 4-3-2007)
(a) Generally: nuisances within 200 feet of a residence are prohibited. It shall be unlawful and is hereby declared to be a public nuisance to keep, harbor or maintain any domestic pet which howls, barks, whines or cries to such extent as to materially interfere with or affect the health, comfort, peace and quiet of the public, or the reasonable use and enjoyment of the neighboring properties within 200 feet of a residence in Greenville County.
(b) Complaints.
(1) Upon the receipt of 2 detailed, written and signed complaints from separate households in close proximity to the offender, that a person within 200 feet of a residence in Greenville County is violating the provisions of this section, the animal control officer or other appropriate law enforcement officer shall notify the owner or keeper of the domestic pet in question that complaints have been received and shall investigate the complaints. If the investigation determines that the complaints are justified, the animal control officer or other appropriate law enforcement officer shall notify in writing the owner or keeper of the domestic pet to correct the violation within 7 days of receiving the notice. At least 1 of the complainants shall be required to appear and testify in court at the time the case is scheduled for trial. In the event that none of the complainants appear in court at the time the case is scheduled for trial, the county attorney’s office shall dismiss the charges against the owner or keeper of the domestic pet.
(2) In the event that a property is so situated that only 1 complaint is possible within the 200 feet limit, then upon the receipt of 1 detailed, written and signed complaint, a law enforcement officer or animal control officer may witness and validate the complaint. If the complaint is validated by the officer, the animal control department may proceed with the investigation and enforcement of this article as set forth in subsection (1), and the 1 complainant must appear and testify in court at the time the case is scheduled for trial.
(c) Failure to correct. Should the owner of keeper of any domestic pet found to be in violation of this section fail to correct said violation after 7 days, the owner of said domestic pet shall be subject to the penalties for violations provided herein, with each day in violation constituting a separate offense.
(d) Exception. This section is not applicable to commercial animal boarding facilities in existence prior to March 20, 2001. The exception shall not apply to facilities where the use has been discontinued for a continuous period exceeding 6 months.
(1976 Code, § 4-16.1) (Ord. 2130, § 5, passed 6-5-1990; Ord. 2325, §§ 2, 3, passed 12-3-1991; Ord. 2766, §§ 1, 2, passed 10-3-1995; Ord. 3434, § 1, passed 11-21-2000; Ord. 3457, § 1, passed 3-20-2001; Ord. 3535, § 1, passed 11-6-2001; Ord. 4099, § 3, passed 4-3-2007)
It shall be unlawful in the county for any animal owner or other keeper of an animal to:
(1) Allow his animal to run at large off property owned, rented or controlled by him;
(2) Keep a dangerous or vicious animal, unless it is in the proper enclosure for keeping dangerous or vicious animals, and properly licensed and registered with the County Animal Control Division;
(3) Release or take an animal out of impoundment without proper authority;
(4) Resist animal shelter personnel engaging in the capture and impoundment of an animal;
(5) Remove the rabies tag from the dog or cat for which the tag was issued;
(6) Possess or use apparatus or training equipment to train or condition animals to be aggressive, or to use animals to train other animals to be aggressive;
(7) Sponsor or participate in animal fighting or baiting, or to be present at a facility where animal fighting or baiting is taking place;
(8) Keep an animal so confined as to be forced to stand, sit or lie in its own excrement;
(9) Fail to provide an animal with an exercise area that is a minimum of 24 square feet in area;
(10) (a) Tether a dog or dogs except when:
1. Tethered pursuant to requirements of park, camping or recreational areas; or
2. Tethered while engaged in lawful hunting activities; or
3. Tethered to a running line, pulley or trolley system elevated no higher than 7 feet off the ground, in a manner that allows the tether to move freely along the length of the running line which must be at least 20 feet in length between the 2 stop points.
(b) The tether must be connected to the dog by a buckle-type collar or body harness made of nylon, leather or other durable and non-metallic material and must be properly fitted so as to not cause injury to the dog or embed in the dog's neck. Only one dog may be attached to each running line, pulley or trolley system so as to prevent injury, strangulation or entanglement. Dogs under 3 months of age shall not be connected to a tether or trolley system.
(11) Contain a female domestic animal in heat in such a fashion that stray animals have access to her, or that permits her to escape;
(12) (a) Allow domestic animal feces to accumulate on any property owned, occupied or controlled by such person, if such accumulation creates an unsanitary, offensive or unhealthy condition. This provision shall not apply to horses, cattle, sheep and goats and other grazing animals confined in pastures.
(b) Fail to remove fecal matter deposited by an animal under his or her ownership or control on public or private property of another before leaving the immediate area where the fecal matter was deposited.
(c) Fail to have in his or her immediate possession an appropriately sized bag to be used for removal of the animal feces when accompanying an animal on public property or private property of another.
(d) Deposit animal feces in sewers or drains, whether storm or sanitary. Animal feces must be bagged and placed in a proper garbage receptacle established for public use or belonging to the owner of the animal.
(e) Exceptions. Section 4-18(12) shall not apply to a guide, hearing, or service dog or other dog that has been trained to accompany a person with a disability while being accompanied by a disabled person or to any dog or horse in the custody or control of a Law Enforcement Officer during the performance of official duties. The provisions of § 4-18(12) shall not apply in the unzoned areas of the county.
(f) Penalty. A violation of § 4-18(12) is subject to a fine of not less than $75 and not exceeding $500. Each violation is a separate offense.
(1976 Code, § 4-17) (Ord. 731, § 8; Ord. 2130, § 2(a), passed 6-5-1990; Ord. 4099, § 3, passed 4-3-2007; Ord. 4717, § 2, passed 6-16-2015; Ord. 5022, § 1, passed 10-2-2018)
(a) Any person who abuses an animal, aids another person in abusing an animal, or causes or permits an animal to abuse another animal, by acting or failing to act, shall be in violation of this section. Cruelty to an animal includes, but is not limited to, the following:
(1) Failing to provide adequate humane care;
(2) Mistreating animals. No person shall beat, cruelly ill treat, overload, overwork or otherwise abuse an animal, or cause, instigate or permit any dogfight or other combat between animals, or between animals and humans;
(3) Abandoning animals;
(4) Failing to provide adequate shelter, sustenance, space, exercise, bedding, and sanitary conditions for the animal;
(i) Adequate shelter for an animal other than a dog 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.
(ii) Adequate shelter for a dog means a moisture proof and windproof structure of suitable size to accommodate a dog and allow retention of body heat. The structure must be provided with a sufficient quantity of hay, straw, cedar shavings, blankets, or the equivalent, to provide insulation and protection against cold and dampness and promote retention of body heat.
(5) Hoarding or collecting animals;
(6) Owning, managing, obtaining, confining or caring for any number of animals in an animal mill;
(7) Giving away animals for commercial purpose. No person shall give away any live animal as a prize for, or as inducement to enter, any contest, game or other competition, or as an inducement to enter a place of amusement;
(8) Intentionally striking an animal with a motor vehicle. Any person operating a motor vehicle who strikes a domesticated animal, shall report such injury or death to County Animal Control or appropriate law enforcement authority. However, due to the possibility of injury from aiding an injured animal, this provision shall in no way be construed to require or encourage the physical touching of an injured animal by a non-qualified person who strikes a domesticated animal;
(9) Poisoning animals. No person shall expose any known poisonous substance, whether mixed with food or not, so that the same shall be liable to be eaten by any animal; provided that it shall not be unlawful for a person to expose on his own property common rat or vermin poison for the express purpose of rat or vermin control.
(10) Confinement in motor vehicle. No owner or person shall confine any animal in a motor vehicle in such a manner that places it in a life- or health-threatening situation by exposure to a prolonged period of extreme heat or cold, without proper ventilation or other protection from such heat or cold. In order to protect the health and safety of an animal, an animal control officer, law enforcement officer or agent of the county who has probable cause to believe that this section is being violated shall have authority to enter such motor vehicle by any reasonable means under the circumstances, after making a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other person responsible. If the vehicle is damaged during such removal, the animal control officer, law enforcement officer or agent of the county shall not be liable for any damage to the vehicle.
(b) An animal control officer may move before a magistrate to take custody of any animal being cruelly treated, or the animal control officer, at his option, may elect to direct the owner of the animal to seek immediate veterinary care for the animal, and further may place time conditions upon such actions.
(c) The owner or person having ownership, charge or custody of an animal cruelly abused, treated or used, etc., as enumerated in this section, who is convicted of any violation of this section of the article, forfeits ownership, charge, or custody of the animal, and at the discretion of the court, the person who is convicted of a violation of this section may be ordered to pay costs incurred to care for the animal and related expenses.
(1976 Code, § 4-18) (Ord. 2130, § 6, passed 6-5-1990; Ord. 4099, § 3, passed 4-3-2007; Ord. 4396, § 3, passed 11-16-2010; Ord. 4404, § 3, passed 3-15-2011; Ord. 4969, § 1, passed 3-20-2018)
(a) Prohibition. No person shall keep or permit to be kept on his premises any wild, dangerous or vicious animal as a pet, for display or exhibition purposes, without first obtaining a permit therefor.
(b) Permit applications. Permit applications must be submitted annually to the animal control office, or its designee(s), on a form approved by the animal control office, which shall state the name, address and telephone number of the applicant; and the breed, sex, color and age of the animals. The applications must be accompanied by a $50 application fee and a $10 fee for each animal. The fee will be paid annually each by July 1. No permit shall be granted unless the applicant provides satisfactory assurances that said animal(s) is not capable of being returned to its natural environment (in the case of wild animals); and will be provided with sufficient good and wholesome food and water, proper shelter and protection from the weather, veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering, and humane care and treatment; and that the animal(s) will not be cruelly ill treated, tormented, overloaded, overworked or otherwise abused; and that adequate protective devices are provided to prevent it from escaping or injuring the public. The applicant shall further specify the duration, method, location and dimensions of any cages, pens or confinement area. Public or traveling exhibitions of wild or vicious animals shall be subject to random inspection of the premises and the animal(s) possessed, displayed or exhibited. The applicant shall further comply with S.C. Code § 47-3-760(E) prior to the issuance of the permit by the county. No permit shall be issued unless the applicant has complied with all state and federal regulations concerning the possession, display or exhibition of wild or vicious animals. All applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
(c) Denial or revocation of permit. The animal control office may decline to grant a permit or may revoke a permit if the annual fees are not paid by July 1, and in the opinion of the animal control officer, said animal(s) is capable of being returned to its natural environment (in the case of wild animals); or has not or will not be provided with sufficient good and wholesome food and water, proper shelter and protection from the weather, veterinary care when needed to prevent suffering, and humane care and treatment; or that the animal(s) have been or will be cruelly ill treated, tormented, overloaded, overworked or otherwise abused; or that adequate protective devices are not provided to prevent it from escaping or injuring the public. Upon a determination that a permit should not be granted, all fees shall be returned and a written explanation for the denial shall be thereupon provided. Upon a determination that a permit shall be revoked, no fees shall be returned, but a written explanation for the revocation shall be provided. Any person aggrieved by this section may appeal to the County Administrator who, after due investigation, may modify, overturn or amend the determination of the animal control office. The County Administrator, with the consent of county council, may delegate this appeals review authority to such individuals, entities or organizations, other than the animal control office, which possesses the ability and willingness to handle such reviews. The determination of the Administrator or delegate shall be final.
(d) Temporary permits. The animal control office may issue a temporary permit, when appropriate, without a fee, for the keeping, care and protection of an infant animal native to this area, which has been deemed to be orphaned or displaced from its natural environment and is unsuitable for return to the wild, due to its age. An applicant may obtain said permit through verbal or telephonic communication, provided that a written application is submitted and physical examination of the animal by an animal control officer is conducted within 15 days. No permit shall be issued unless state and federal regulations have been fully complied with.
(e) Release of wild animals held under permit. The animal control office shall have the power to release or order the release of any infant wild animal kept under temporary permit and deemed capable of survival, and may take custody of any infant wild animal when the applicant is unable to properly care for and protect the animal.
(f) Euthanasia. No wild animal will be subject to euthanasia unless, through consultation and cooperation with state wildlife officials, it is determined to be the only humane alternative for said animal. The animal control office and shelter, in cooperation with state wildlife officials, shall exercise due diligence to return a wild animal to its natural environment or, if the animal is not suitable for return, then alternative and humane placement shall be diligently sought.
(g) Exclusions. An animal shelter, a publicly owned zoological park, veterinary hospital, public laboratory, publicly owned facility for education, a facility operated for scientific purposes, and all governmental entities shall be exempt from the requirements of this section. This section shall not apply to the possession of wild animals for motion picture filming where otherwise permitted by law, if reasonable precautions are taken for the safety of the public and welfare of the animal. This section shall not apply to persons raising members of Mustelidae species as a business for pelts.
(1976 Code, § 4-19) (Ord. 2130, § 7, passed 6-5-1990; Ord. 4099, § 3, passed 4-3-2007)
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