Animal Shelter And Animal Control
Dillon County Government provides support for both animal control services to protect the citizens and our wildlife and funds an animal shelter where pets that are lost and found or abandoned can be taken care of humanely and reunited with their family or adopted out to a new family seeking a pet.
Animal Control
The Dillon County Animal Control Department serves the public by responding to and investigating animal complaints regarding stray, injured, and neglected domestic animals in Dillon County. The department also monitors rabies vaccinations in domestic animals. This service is provided under the authority of local and state regulations.All wildlife nuisance concerns are directed to SCDNR (South Carolina Department of Natural Resources) at 803-955-4000. In most nuisance cases DNR will refer callers to private trappers as listed on their website.
Deceased animals on a State road are referred to SCDOT at 803-327-6186. Deceased animals on private property are the property owner’s responsibility.
The department operates a shelter to house animals that have been picked up in violation of the leash law and for animals that have been released by their owners. Animals in violation of the leash law are housed for a minimum of five days prior to being eligible for adoption. Other duties of our Animal Control Department include:
- Assisting public with the adoption process, including the spay/neutering of animals adopted from the shelter
- Educating citizens on the importance of responsible pet ownership and the importance of spaying or neutering pets
- Picking up and process suspected rabies carriers that have had known contact with an individual or their pet
- Picking up stray and injured dogs that are in violation of the leash law and injured or nuisance cats
- Public Education regarding local leash laws
All strays and pets found to be running at large are housed at the Dillon County Animal Shelter located at 1020 Old Latta Highway. If you have lost a pet or need to inform officers of a stray or hurt animal, call 843-845-1986.
Animal Abuse
It is unlawful to knowingly or intentionally overload, overdrive, overwork, ill-treat any animal, deprive any animal of necessary sustenance or shelter, inflict unnecessary pain or suffering upon any animal, or by omission or commission knowingly or intentionally cause these things to be done.An animal owner/keeper must provide:
- Constant access to a supply of clean, fresh, and potable water.
- Adequate food provisions at suitable intervals of quantities of wholesome foodstuff suitable for the species and age, sufficient to maintain a reasonable level of nutrition to allow for proper growth and weight.
- Adequate shelter that reasonably may be expected to protect the animal from physical suffering or impairment of health due to exposure to the elements or adverse weather. The enclosed structure must be free of urine and fecal matter and provide space for the animal to stand, turn, and lay down.
Dillon County has a zero-tolerance policy for cruelty to animals of all types not just pets. If you know of or see an instance of animal cruelty, contact us at 843-845-1986.
Animal Bites Reporting Animal Bites
If you are the victim or the owner of an animal who has bitten or scratched someone, contact the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control at 803-909-7379 immediately. The health department is responsible for recording such incidents in Dillon County. Additional information can be found on the DHEC website.If the bite or scratch occurs during normal working hours, call the both DHEC and Dillon County Animal Control. While instances of bites from animals rarely leads to rabies, there are several cases each year in South Carolina where residents come into contact with rabid animals and are scratched or bitten. For more information about rabies visit the DHEC rabies website page.
All bites from wild or domesticated animals must be reported to the DHEC Regional Office. The contact information is:
Policies
Any pet or other animal which has bitten a person must be confined for a period of at least ten days at the owner’s expense. The health department or the animal control officer shall be permitted by the owner of the pet or animal to examine the animal at any time within the ten-day period of confinement to determine whether the animal shows symptoms of rabies.
Do not destroy the animal because it may be needed to complete a rabies test. All animal bites and scratches, regardless of whether from a household pet or wild animal, should be reported because cases of rabies have been confirmed in Dillon County.
Animal Shelter
The Dillon County Animal Shelter is also located at 1020 Old Latta Highway. The shelter works with volunteers and community groups to help find the families who have lost their pet. They also work tirelessly to find foster and adoptive homes for the animal in the shelter. The shelter is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
You can review our adoption application and download it by clicking here.
Animals for Adoption
There are many beautiful cats (and kittens) and dogs (and puppies) that need a good home. Adopting a pet at the Dillon County Animal Shelter is easy:
Dogs & Puppies
- The adoption fee for a dog or puppy is $110.00. You will need a government issued photo ID.
- The adoption of a dog six months old or older is $40 but you will be required to have the animal checked with the veterinarian of your choice prior to adoption being finalized.
Cats & Kittens
- The adoption fee for an adult cat is $65.00.
- The adoption fee for a kitten is $25.00
