The South Carolina legislature treats animal cruelty as a serious offense and prosecutes the most grievous violations as felonies. Police and representatives of the South Carolina Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) are authorized to remove mistreated animals from the custody of their owners.
Mistreatment
Misdemeanor cruelty involves cases of an owner depriving his animal of sufficient food and shelter, intentional physical abuse and using cruel treatment to force a work animal to labor. Animal torture and subjecting animals to prolonged cruelty are felony offenses.
Fighting and Baiting
Anyone who owns or trains animals used for fighting or baiting, or provides facilities used for staging animal fights or baiting events is guilty of a felony. South Carolina law defines baiting as the use of animals to harass another animal and provoke it into fighting.
Penalties
Misdemeanor animal mistreatment convictions carry sentences of up to two years, a $2,000 fine or both (as of 2010). A felony animal cruelty conviction is punishable by a prison sentence between 180 days and five years, and a $5,000 fine. Offenders convicted of fighting or baiting offenses involving training animals or providing venues face a five year prison term, a $5,000 fine or both.
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