S.C. House of Representatives to Consider Bill Strengthening State’s Animal Cruelty Law

May 21, 2008

The HSUS Commends House Judiciary Subcommittee for Approving S. 833

The Humane Society of the United States praised South Carolina's House Judiciary committee for approving legislation that may result in the most comprehensive animal cruelty law that the state legislature has considered in years.

"Representatives Murrell Smith and James Harrison and the House Judiciary committee have demonstrated that South Carolina refuses to be a haven for animal abusers," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president for The HSUS. "Lawmakers should swiftly pass this legislation to take a measurable step forward toward cracking down on cruelty and abuse."

While in the Criminal Laws subcommittee chaired by Rep. Smith (R-Sumter), S. 833, a bill originally addressing just the cruel tethering of dogs, was upgraded to include the following provisions strengthening the state's animal cruelty law:  

• Restraining or confining animals in a cruel manner will be a crime;
• Penalties for animal cruelty will be strengthened;
• Sharpening the teeth of animals for the purpose of dogfighting will be a crime;
• Cockfighting will become a felony upon a first offense.

The bill now moves to the full House of Representatives, and The HSUS is calling for its swift passage. 

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.