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Livestock attacks prompt Colleton County to expedite animal-control committee review
Summary
Multiple residents reported repeated dog attacks killing and injuring livestock; county staff said they have expedited a public health and safety committee meeting to review Title 6 animal-control ordinances and provide recommendations.
Several Colleton County residents used the Aug. 12 public-comment period to report multiple, repeated dog attacks that they say have caused thousands of dollars in livestock losses and ongoing safety concerns. In response, county staff said they will expedite a committee review of local animal-control laws and recommended enforcement options.
Why it matters: Residents described large financial losses, danger to children and animals, and limited remedies under current county enforcement practices. County staff acknowledged gaps and called an expedited Public Health and Safety committee meeting to review Title 6 of the Colleton County Code.
Herbert Hires Jr., who identified himself during comments, said packs of dogs attacked his cattle on multiple occasions and estimated damages of “probably $8,000 to $10,000” to his animals. He described late-night efforts by family members to deter the dogs and said he found limited sympathy from initial field contacts with animal control but that one deputy, identified as Scruby in remarks, provided answers and escalated inquiries to superiors.
Philip Adams, another resident, described tracking dogs to a neighboring property and finding images on social media that, he said, connected dogs to the address. Multiple commenters said they have repeatedly reported the animals to patrols and animal-control personnel with limited results.
A citizen who described herself as a livestock farmer (referred to in the transcript as Farmer Fishburn/Fishburne) said she reviewed South Carolina ordinance language and county code and told the council that local ordinances allow prosecution of owners of aggressive dogs, with fines and potential jail time under some circumstances. She asked why existing enforcement provisions were not being used more aggressively.
County staff and the administrator told the council they take the incidents seriously and indicated they had already visited affected properties. The administrator said staff had reviewed Title 6 (the county’s animal-control chapter) and would expedite the Public Health and Safety committee meeting to 5:30 p.m. the following day to identify ordinance deficiencies and provide immediate recommendations to give law enforcement and animal-control personnel more tools.
Ending: Staff invited affected residents to provide input at the expedited committee meeting. The council and staff indicated follow-up actions will include ordinance review, coordination with the sheriff’s office and consideration of additional enforcement tools; no new county law was enacted at the Aug. 12 meeting.
