Injuring police dogs or horses

2025-2026 Bill 775: Injuring police dogs or horses - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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S. 775
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senator Elliott
Companion/Similar bill(s): 427, 1100, 3034
Document Path: LC-0201AHB26.docx
Introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026
Currently residing in the Senate Committee on
Judiciary
Summary: Injuring police dogs or horses
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

1/13/2026

Senate

Introduced and read first time (
Senate Journal-page 48
)

1/13/2026

Senate

Referred to Committee on
Judiciary
(
Senate Journal-page 48
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
01/13/2026

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING
ARTICLE 11 OF CHAPTER 3, TITLE 47, RELATING TO TAUNTING, TORMENTING, INJURING,
OR KILLING POLICE DOGS OR HORSES, SO AS TO EXPAND THE CONDUCT THAT RESULTS IN A
VIOLATION, INCREASE THE PENALTIES, REQUIRE RESTITUTION TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY, AND MAKE TECHNICAL CHANGES.

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
A
rticle 11, Chapter 3, Title 47 of the S.C. Code is
amended to read:

A
rticle 11

T
easing, Maltreating, and Injuring Police Dogs
or Horses
Prohibited

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

(
B) A person who violates a provision
of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined
not less than two thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars or
imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than five years, or both.

S
ection
47-3-620
.
(
A)
It is unlawful for a person to wilfully or maliciously
torture, mutilate, injure, disable, poison,
shoot car
while inside, hit while running in pursuit,
or kill a dog or horse used
by a law enforcement department or agency in the performance of the functions
or duties of the department or when a dog is placed in a kennel off duty or a
horse is placed in a stable off duty. However, a police officer or veterinarian
may perform euthanasia in emergency situations when delay would cause the dog
or horse undue suffering and pain.

(
B) A person who violates a provision
of this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not
less than two thousand dollars nor more than twenty thousand dollars, and
imprisoned for not less than two years nor more than ten years. In addition to
any other penalty provided in this section, the court shall order a person
convicted of a violation of this section to pay restitution to the law
enforcement department or agency in an amount that would cover the full cost of
restoring or replacing the animal that was injured or killed, including all
related purchase, training, and veterinary expenses incurred as a result of the
incident; and the court also may sentence the person to one year of
animal-related community service.

S
ection
47-3-630
.
A person who violates any of the provisions of
this article, except for Section
47-3-620
, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon
conviction, must be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one
thousand dollars or imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than six
months, or both. A person who violates the provisions of Section
47-3-620
is
guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than two
thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars and imprisoned not less than
one year nor more than five years.
Nothing in this
article may be construed to deny a person the right to assert the legal defense
of self-defense.

S
ECTION 2. The repeal or amendment by this act
of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect
pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter,
discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred
under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision
shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all
laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in
full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested
right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal
existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of
rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the
repealed or amended laws.

S
ECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval
by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on January 13, 2026 at 12:34 PM