(A) Restraint and confinement. The owner shall confine, within a building or secure enclosure, any dangerous animal and shall not take the animal out of the building or enclosure unless the animal is securely muzzled and under restraint, or under the physical control of its owner. No person owning or harboring or having the care or the custody of a dangerous animal may permit the animal to go unconfined on his or her premises. A dangerous animal is unconfined as used in this section if the animal is not confined securely indoors or confined in a securely enclosed fence or securely enclosed and locked pen or run area upon the person’s premises. The pen or run area must be clearly marked as containing a dangerous animal and must be designed to prevent the entry of the general public, including children, and to prevent the escape or release of the animal. (See S.C. Code § 47-3-720)
(B) Owning or harboring animal for fighting or attacking humans or domestic animals is prohibited. Selling, breeding, buying or attempting to buy, or intent to do same is prohibited. Exceptions:
(1) No person may own or harbor an animal for the purpose of fighting or train, torment, badger, bait, or use an animal for the purpose of causing or encouraging the animal to unprovoked attacks upon human beings or domestic animals.
(2) No person may possess with intent to sell, offer for sale, breed, or buy or attempt to buy a known dangerous animal, however this division does not apply to a person who is licensed to possess and breed an animal under the classifications specified and regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture under the Animal Welfare Act as codified in U.S.C. Title 7.
(C) Seizure and impoundment of dangerous animal.
(1) If a law enforcement agent, animal control officer, or animal control officer under contract with a county or municipal government to provide animal control services has probable cause to believe that a dangerous animal is being harbored or cared for in violation of S.C. Code §§ 47-3-720, 47-3- 740, or 47-3-760(E), the agent or officer may petition the court having jurisdiction to order the seizure and impoundment of the dangerous animal while the trial is pending.
(2) If a law enforcement agent, animal control officer, or animal control officer under contract with a county or municipal government to provide animal control services has probable cause to believe that a dangerous animal is being harbored or housed in violation of S.C. Code § 47-3-730, the agent or officer may seize and impound the dangerous animal while the trial is pending.
(Ord. 1009, passed 2-2-09; Am. Ord. 2412, passed 10-15-12) Penalty, see § 55.99