Kershaw County, SC Animal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/Neuter (2026)

Section 4-15(a) gives the owner of an impounded pet, if not found dangerous or vicious, the right to redeem it within five days upon paying all actual costs of care and treatment, including required inoculations and, if the pet is not already spayed or neutered, the spay or neuter procedure, which must occur prior to redemption, plus a daily fee set from time to time by county council. Section 4-15(b) applies the same spay/neuter-before-redemption condition to an animal found dangerous or vicious by a magistrate under Sec.

4-2 but still eligible for redemption, in addition to a confinement requirement. Section 4-15(c) carves out four exceptions to the mandatory procedure: a licensed veterinarian's statement that the pet's health cannot withstand the surgery; proof the pet is a registered purebred participating in nationally recognized conformation or performance events; a hunting dog properly registered with the state department of natural resources whose owner holds a valid state hunting license (with three days to register if not already done, or the dog becomes shelter property); and a service dog used for seeing, hearing, or other assistance for a handicapped owner. Kershaw County Animal Control administers redemption and collects the fees; unredeemed animals become shelter property after five days per Sec. 4-14(c).