A. Any pet or domestic animal running at large or any animal determined to be abandoned may be picked up or trapped by an animal control officer and transported to Colleton County animal care and control and there confined until redeemed or disposed of as hereinafter provided. In the case of livestock, the director of animal care and control may place such animals with individuals, agencies, veterinary hospitals, or others for the impoundment period.

B. The animal control officer may, at his discretion, issue to the known owner of such animal a notice of ordinance violation in lieu of impoundment of the animal.

C. It shall be the duty of the director of Colleton County animal care and control to keep accurate and detailed records of seizures and dispositions of all animals coming into their custody. Such records must be kept for three years.

D. Within twenty-four (24) hours after impounding any animal, the animal control officer shall exercise due diligence to ascertain the owner of such animal and to inform the owner of the conditions whereby he or she can regain custody of the animal. Animal control officers shall keep a detailed record of their efforts to locate the owner and of their success or lack thereof in locating same, or shall document the reasons why a search was not made for the owner.

E. The director of animal care and control may authorize that a rabies vaccine inoculation be administered to any impounded pet that is not wearing a current and valid rabies identification tag at the time of impoundment.

F. Any pet or animal impounded with a severe, contagious, or life-threatening medical condition may be isolated, treated by a veterinarian, or immediately euthanized at the discretion of the director of animal care and control, and such medical condition shall be clearly and fully documented in the records of animal care and control. In making this decision, the director shall take into consideration such factors as: (1) whether the owner of the animal will likely be identified in the best estimate of the director based on the information available at the time; (2) the quantifiable value of the animal; (3) the apparent age of the animal; and (4) the cost of providing veterinary care and safekeeping for the animal.

G. Pets or animals impounded pursuant to this section shall remain impounded at animal care and control for a period of not less than five days subject to other provisions of this chapter.

H. Identifiable animals or pets, not appearing to be abandoned or feral as determined by the director, shall be held for ten days. Thereafter such animal or pet shall become the property of Colleton County animal care and control and may be placed for adoption or euthanized at the discretion of the director of animal care and control. However animal care and control shall not euthanize any positively identifiable dog, as established by Section 47-3-510 et seq of the South Carolina Code of Laws, 1976, as amended, until compliance with Section 47-3-540 has been achieved. (See Section 6.04.070)

For the purposes of this section, it shall be deemed that, the owner is notified when the animal control officer sends written notice, postage prepaid, to the best known address of the owner, whether or not the owner actually receives the notice, or when the animal control officer makes telephone contact with the owner. Such notification shall at a minimum identify the animal, advise the owner of how and where to redeem the animal, and indicate that if, within the ten-day time period from the date of notification, the owner does not pay all redemption fees and redeem the animal, then the animal shall become the property of animal care and control for disposition. (Ord. 03-O-01 § 6, 2003)