S.C. Code § 47-5-10
Short title
This chapter may be referred to as the "Rabies Control Act".
South Carolina Code Title 47, Chapter 5 — Rabies Control
South Carolina · statute · S.C. Code tit. 47, ch. 5 · 16 active provisions
S.C. Code § 47-5-20
Definitions
As used in this chapter: (1) "Carnivore" means a flesh-eating animal and includes those animals known to be reservoirs of rabies including, but not limited to, raccoons, foxes, skunks, and bobcats and related species including, but not limited to, coyotes, wolves, wolf dogs, weasels, civet cats, spotted skunks, and lyn…
S.C. Code § 47-5-30
Public health veterinarian; duties
The department may employ a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine to serve as public health veterinarian of the department. In addition to the duties as public health veterinarian, this person shall aid administratively in the prevention and control of all diseases communicable from animal to man in this State and in…
S.C. Code § 47-5-40
Interference with authorized representative carrying out duties
The enforcement of the provisions of this chapter must be carried out under the direct supervision of the department. It is unlawful for anyone to obstruct or interfere with the authorized representative of the department as he carries out the provisions of this chapter.
S.C. Code § 47-5-50
Prohibition on sale of wild carnivores as pets; sale of domesticated ferrets
(A) No carnivores, which normally are not domesticated, may be sold as pets in this State. A carnivore kept by an individual must not be allowed to run at large and then returned to confinement. A normally wild animal indigenous to this State, if held captive for a period of time, may be released to the wild. This sect…
S.C. Code § 47-5-60
Inoculation of pets; certificates and tags
A pet owner must have his pet inoculated against rabies at a frequency to provide continuous protection of the pet from rabies using a vaccine approved by the department and licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture. The rabies inoculation for pets must be administered by a licensed veterinarian or someon…
S.C. Code § 47-5-80
Notice to health department of animal affected or suspected of being affected by rabies
A pet owner or any other person shall notify the county health department if: (1) a pet or other animal is affected by rabies; (2) a pet or other animal is suspected of having rabies; or (3) a pet has been attacked or bitten by a domesticated or wild animal known or suspected of being affected by rabies. This notice mu…
S.C. Code § 47-5-90
Reports of animal bites to health department
Every physician after his first professional attendance upon a person bitten by a pet or other animal, by the end of the next working day, shall report the bite to the county health department and the name, age, sex, weight, address, and telephone number of the person bitten. If no physician attends to the bite, it is…
S.C. Code § 47-5-100
Quarantine, examination, and destruction of biting or attacking dog, cat, or ferret
The county health department shall serve notice upon the owner of a dog, cat, or ferret which has attacked or bitten a person to quarantine the animal at the expense of the owner upon his premises or at an animal shelter or other place designated in the notice for at least ten days after the animal has attacked or bitt…
S.C. Code § 47-5-110
Pets bitten or otherwise exposed to animal suspected of having rabies
The county health department shall serve a written notice to the owner of a pet that has been bitten by or otherwise exposed to any animal affected or suspected of being affected by rabies. The notice must require the owner to have a currently inoculated pet revaccinated immediately and to quarantine the pet for a peri…
S.C. Code § 47-5-120
Danger of rabies spread; quarantine and inoculation of pets; reduction of stray and feral animal population
When there is a danger of rabies spread in a community, and it is necessary in the interest of the public's health and safety, the commissioner of the department or his designee may issue an order to include the general quarantine or immediate inoculation, or both, of pets against rabies within the affected community w…
S.C. Code § 47-5-150
Department to provide or insure availability of human vaccine; reimbursement
The department must ensure the availability of antirabic (human) vaccine and globulin products for persons bitten by or otherwise exposed to a pet or other animal found or suspected to be affected by rabies. The provision of such products shall be in accordance with departmental guidelines. The department is authorized…
S.C. Code § 47-5-180
Enforcement
The department shall enforce this chapter. The sheriff and his deputies, the police officers in each incorporated municipality, and animal control officials in each county and municipality shall assist and cooperate with the county health department in enforcing this chapter.
S.C. Code § 47-5-190
Liability for accident or subsequent disease from inoculation
The county health departments, the county rabies control officers, their assistants, the department, the public health veterinarian or anyone enforcing the provisions of this chapter are not responsible for any accident or subsequent disease that may occur in connection with the inoculation of any animal as provided in…
S.C. Code § 47-5-200
Violation; penalty
A person refusing to comply with the provisions of this chapter or violating any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished up to the maximum penalties that may be imposed in magistrate's court.
S.C. Code § 47-5-210
Power of political subdivisions to prohibit pets running at large and impose additional control measures
Nothing in this chapter may be construed to limit the power of any political subdivision within the State to prohibit pets from running at large, whether or not they have been inoculated as provided in this chapter; this chapter may not be construed to limit the power of any political subdivision to regulate and contro…