A. No person shall own, keep, or harbor any dog or cat within Colleton County where such dog or cat is older than three months of age unless such animal has been inoculated against rabies as provided herein. A person shall have thirty (30) days from the time they acquire a dog or cat three months of age or older to obtain the necessary rabies inoculation.

B. The owner of a dog or cat must have it inoculated against rabies at a frequency to provide continuous protection of the animal from rabies using a vaccine approved by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) and licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Biology Division.

C. Evidence of rabies inoculation is a certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian. This certificate shall be in a form approved by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) and will be issued by a licensed veterinarian for each animal stating the name and address of the owner; the name, breed, color and markings, age, and sex of animal; the veterinary or pharmaceutical control number of the vaccine; and the name and address of the licensed veterinarian administering the vaccination.

D. Coincident with the issuance of the certificate, the licensed veterinarian shall also furnish a serially numbered metal license tag bearing the same number and year as the certificate and including the name and telephone number of the veterinarian, veterinary practice or hospital. The metal license tag shall at all times be attached to a collar or harness worn by the animal for which the certificate and tag has been issued, except when the animal is confined in an enclosed area.

E. The owner shall have a valid certificate of rabies immunization readily available for inspection by competent authority at all times.

F. In the event that a rabies tag is lost, the owner shall obtain a duplicate tag from the issuing veterinarian within fourteen (14) days from the date of the loss.

G. If there is a change in ownership of a dog or a cat during the valid period of immunization, the new owner must have the current certificate of immunization transferred to his or her name.

H. A certificate of rabies immunization issued by a licensed veterinarian from another state will be accepted as valid evidence provided it is less than one year old or three years old in the case of immunization with the three-year vaccine.

I. It is unlawful in Colleton County for any person or organization, other than a licensed veterinarian or someone under his/her direct control, to sell or administer rabies vaccine; provided, however, the sale of the rabies vaccine to a registered veterinarian is not precluded by this section.

J. Section 47-5-10 et seq., of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, as amended, are incorporated in this section by reference and shall have precedence in any instance of conflict.

K. It shall be the duty of every physician or other health practitioner to report to SCDHEC or Colleton County animal care and control the name and address of persons treated for bites inflicted by animals. Such other information that will be helpful in rabies control shall also be reported.

L. The Colleton County sheriff shall forward immediately to both animal care and control and SCDHEC a copy of each report involving an animal bite.

M. If an animal without verifiable identification and not documented as having been immunized against rabies, bites a person, the animal shall be seized and SCDHEC shall be contacted for necessary forms for processing. The animal will then be taken to a consenting veterinarian who will euthanize that animal and remove the head. Once the head is removed, SCDHEC will pick up, sign for, and ship the head to state authorities for examination.

N. When an animal with identification tags bites a person, the owner will be directed to take the animal to a licensed veterinarian for examination. The owner will then cause the animal to be quarantined for ten days. The quarantine may be at the owner’s residence if the quarantine holding area meets the requirements of SCDHEC or at a veterinary clinic or at the animal care and control facility at the expense of the owner. Subsequent to the ten-day quarantine, the animal shall again be examined by a licensed veterinarian at the owner’s expense, and the results of the examinations furnished by the owner to SCDHEC. If an animal is surrendered, it becomes the property of Colleton County animal care and control and shall be disposed of according to SCDHEC regulations and the policies of animal care and control.

O. When, in the opinion of SCDHEC’s district medical director or county health officer, an animal with or without identification tags and suspected of having rabies, is involved in a human bite incident, such director or officer shall have the prerogative of ordering the animal to be euthanized and its head submitted for examination to determine if the rabies virus has been transmitted to the bite victim.

P. Any animal under ten-day quarantine at Colleton County animal care and control or any approved alternate location shall not be released unless such release is authorized by South Carolina DHEC.

Q. If an owner fails to have an animal inoculated against rabies, the owner is subject to the penalty of Section 47-5-200 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, as amended. Additionally, such owner is subject to penalty pursuant to Section 6.04.070. (Ord. 03-O-01 § 3, 2003)