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TO AMEND CHAPTER 69, TITLE 40 OF THE 1976 CODE, RELATING TO VETERINARIANS, BY ADDING SECTION 40-69-300 TO DEFINE ANIMAL SHELTER AND VETERINARY SERVICES; TO PROVIDE FOR REGULATION OF ANIMAL SHELTERS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING, AND REGULATION, AND TO REQUIRE CERTAIN MEDICAL RECORD MAINTENANCE AND RETENTION POLICIES FOR THE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Chapter 69, Title 40 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 40-69-300. (A) For purposes of this section:
(1) 'Animal shelter' means:
(a) a facility operated by or under contract with the State or a county, a municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the State for the purpose of impounding, care, adoption or harboring seized, stray, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted dogs, cats, and other animals;
(b) a veterinary hospital or clinic operated by a veterinarian or veterinarians which operates for the purpose set forth in subitem (a) in addition to its customary purposes; or
(c) a facility operated, owned, or maintained by an incorporated humane society, animal welfare society, or other nonprofit organization for the purpose of providing for and promoting the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of animals, and for the purpose of impounding, care, adoption or harboring seized, stray, homeless, abandoned, or unwanted dogs, cats, and other animals.
(2) 'Veterinary services' means the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of animal patients, administration of vaccines, diagnostic, imaging, surgery, laboratory, pharmacology, and provision of hospitalization and emergency treatment.
(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all animal shelters operating in this State that provide veterinary services shall be subject to the supervision and regulation of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
(C) Veterinarians providing veterinary services in an animal shelter, and all animal shelters, shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, a written or electronic record concerning the animals in its care. The shelter shall maintain records for a minimum of three years after the last entry. A copy of any records relating to an animal being whose ownership is being transferred shall be provided to the owner at the time of adoption or fostering.
(D) Animal shelters shall prepare and maintain records documenting the number of animals admitted to the facility and the method by which they exit the facility, whether by adoption, fostering, natural death, euthanasia, transfer to another state, or other means of discharge. This data shall be compiled in a report and submitted to the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation by January 31st of each year and made available on the Department's website. The report shall also contain the mailing address, street address of the current place of business, and working telephone number of the animal shelter."
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on January 13, 2016 at 4:26 PM