Bill Text: SC S0900 | 2019-2020 | 123rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Animal cruelty

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-14 - Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources [S0900 Detail]

Download: South_Carolina-2019-S0900-Introduced.html

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A BILL

TO AMEND CHAPTER 1, TITLE 47 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, BY ADDING ARTICLE 3, TO PROVIDE THAT TETHERING A DOG IS UNLAWFUL UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AND TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO UNLAWFULLY TETHERS A DOG IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR; AND TO AMEND SECTION 56-7-10(A) OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO THE UNIFORM TRAFFIC TICKET, BY ADDING THE OFFENSE OF THE UNLAWFUL TETHERING OF A DOG.

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

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

"ARTICLE 3

Unlawful Tethering of Dogs

    Section 47-1-300.    As used in this article:

        (1)    'Dog' has the same meaning as provided in Section 47-3-10.

        (2)    'Tether' means to confine a dog by attaching it to a stationary object by means of a rope, cable, trolley, running line, or similar restraining device.

    Section 47-1-310.    (A)    It is unlawful to tether a dog in a manner that causes injury or illness to the dog.

    (B)    It is unlawful to tether a dog by means of a tow chain, logging chain, or collar that could cause injury to the dog, including, but not limited to, a choke collar, pinch collar, or prong collar.

    (C)    A dog that is in the immediate vicinity of its owner, handler, or caretaker must not be tethered for more than sixty minutes, unless the dog has continuous access to shelter and sustenance, as the terms are defined in Section 47-1-10.

    (D)    A dog that is not in the immediate vicinity of its owner, handler, or caretaker must not be tethered for longer than fifteen minutes, unless the dog:

        (1)    is at least six months old;

        (2)    has continuous access to shelter and sustenance, as the terms are defined in Section 47-1-10; and

        (3)    has continuous access to at least one hundred square feet of free space.

    Section 47-1-320.    A person who violates the provisions of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be:

        (1)    for a first offense, fined not less than one hundred dollars and not more than one thousand dollars, imprisoned not more than ninety days, or both; or

        (2)    for a second or subsequent offense, fined not more than one thousand dollars, imprisoned not more than one year, or both."

SECTION    2.    Section 56-7-10(A) is amended by adding an appropriately numbered new item to read:

    "(    )    Unlawful Tethering of Dogs Section 47-1-310."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect six months after approval by the Governor.