H*3752(Rat #0577, Act #0512 of 1988)  General Bill, By M.D. Burriss, 
J.D. Bradley, Davenport, F.L. Day, J.G. Felder, Harvin, A. Humphries, Kirsh, 
A.C. McGinnis, J.T. Petty, Rhoad and T.F. Rogers
 A Bill to amend Chapter 3, Title 47, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976,
 relating to the regulation of dogs and other domestic pets, by adding Article
 11 so as to make it unlawful for a person to wilfully and maliciously taunt,
 tease, physically abuse, interfere or meddle with, or to injure or kill a dog
 used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the
 functions or duties of the department or agency or when placed in a kennel off
 duty, and to provide penalties for violations.

   02/11/88  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-1104
   02/11/88  House  Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural
                     Resources HJ-1104
   03/09/88  House  Committee report: Favorable Agriculture and
                     Natural Resources HJ-1823
   03/16/88  House  Read second time HJ-2142
   03/16/88  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-2144
   03/17/88  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-2164
   03/22/88  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-13
   03/22/88  Senate Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural
                     Resources SJ-13
   04/14/88  Senate Committee report: Favorable Agriculture and
                     Natural Resources SJ-182
   04/19/88  Senate Read second time SJ-53
   04/27/88  Senate Read third time and enrolled SJ-42
   05/03/88         Ratified R 577
   05/09/88         Signed By Governor
   05/09/88         Effective date 05/09/88
   05/09/88         Act No. 512
   05/19/88         Copies available

AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 3, TITLE 47, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF DOGS AND OTHER DOMESTIC PETS, BY ADDING ARTICLE 11 SO AS TO MAKE IT UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO WILLFULLY AND MALICIOUSLY TAUNT, TEASE, PHYSICALLY ABUSE, INTERFERE OR MEDDLE WITH, OR TO INJURE OR KILL A DOG USED BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FUNCTIONS OR DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY OR WHEN PLACED IN A KENNEL OFF DUTY, AND TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Teasing, maltreating, injuring police dogs prohibited

SECTION 1. Chapter 3, Title 47 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Article 11

Teasing, Maltreating, and Injuring Police Dogs Prohibited

Section 47-3-610. It is unlawful for a person to wilfully and maliciously taunt, torment, tease, beat, strike, or administer or subject any desensitizing drug, chemical, or substance to a dog used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or agency or when placed in a kennel off duty; or to interfere or meddle with a dog used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or agency.

Section 47-3-620. It is unlawful for a person to wilfully or maliciously torture, mutilate, injure, disable, poison, or kill a dog used by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions or duties of the department or when placed in a kennel off duty. However, a police officer or veterinarian may perform euthanasia in emergency situations when delay would cause the dog undue suffering and pain.

Section 47-3-630. A person who violates any of the provisions of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined no less than five hundred dollars and no more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for no less than thirty days or no more than six months, or both."

Time effective

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.