A. Section 47-3-510 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, 1976, as amended, provides that the owner of any hunting dog or kennel may, upon payment of a fee to be determined by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, DNR, (such fee not to exceed five dollars per dog or twenty dollars ($20.00) per kennel) have his dog(s) registered by DNR. DNR will assign a registration number, which the owner is responsible to have tattooed in either of the dog’s ears or on any other clearly visible part of the body that would be considered most suitable for the respective species of dog. DNR shall maintain records of the name and address of the owner.

B. In the event a tattooed animal is impounded by Colleton County animal care and control, the animal control officer shall contact the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to obtain owner name and address information. Section 47-3-540 requires that the animal control officer notify the owner at his last known address (address of record with DNR) by registered mail that the dog is in the possession of animal care and control. The owner must notify the animal control officer within two weeks that he will pick up his dog. If the owner does not pick up his animal within two weeks of notification to the animal control officer, the dog becomes the property of animal care and control and may be placed for adoption or destroyed.

Reasonable costs associated with the above extended holding period, including cost of mailing the required notice, in addition to any other established costs, fines, fees, or other charges approved by county council, must be paid before the dog is returned to its owner. Failure to pay all such costs and charges at the end of the extended holding period shall be determined to mean that the animal has been abandoned, and is subject to appropriate disposition by the director in accordance with this chapter.

C. Colleton County animal care and control shall provide, to the extent funded, an additional or alternate registration service for the owners of hunting dogs or kennels and to hunt clubs as follows:

1. The owner of any hunting dogs or kennel or hunt clubs may register said dogs with Colleton County animal care and control. A registration number or identification will be issued by the animal care and control, and the owner will be responsible for affixing this registration number or identification to the animal by tattoo, microchip, metal collar tag, or some other reliable, easily visible method. Animal care and control shall maintain records of the name, address and phone number of the owners.

2. In the event a hunting dog with such registration number is impounded by animal care and control, the animal control officer will notify the owner by telephone if possible or by certified mail at the address on record. The owner must retrieve the dog within three weeks of the telephone notification or the mailing of the notification. If the owner does not pick up the dog within two weeks of the telephone call or the mailing of the notification, the dog will be destroyed or placed for adoption.

3. Reasonable costs associated with the above extended holding period, including cost of mailing the required notice, in addition to any other established costs, fines, fees, or other charges, must be paid before the dog is returned to its owner. Failure to pay all such costs and charges at the end of the extended holding period shall be determined to mean that the animal has been abandoned, and is subject to appropriate disposition by the director in accordance with this chapter.

D. If a hunting dog, whether registered or not, has been actively sought by its owner and is reclaimed by its owner or designee within one business day of impoundment, all fines, fees, or other charges, with the exception of any emergency veterinary charges incurred by the animal care and control department, will be waived. (Ord. 03-O-01 § 7, 2003)