Animal Shelter FAQs
- What happens if my pet is brought to the Shelter?
- What does it cost to reclaim my pet from the Shelter?
- Do I have to have my pet spayed or neutered?
- Does the Humane Society pick up stray animals?
- If I witness what I believe to be an act of animal cruelty, who do I call?
- Do you euthanize (“put to sleep”) animals?
- What does it cost to bring an animal to the shelter?
- How long do you keep animals before they are euthanized?
- Can you call me before you euthanize an animal?
- If my pet is missing, could it be at the Animal Shelter?
- Can my pet be microchipped at the Humane Society?
- To Report an Abused, Neglected, or Stray Animal …
What happens if my pet is brought to the Shelter?
If your pet is not readily identifiable by tag or microchip, your pet will be held five business days as required by County requirements. If your pet is identifiable, it can be held for a maximum of fourteen days. The Shelter will make every effort to contact you regarding your pet. Reclaim fees apply in each situation and must be paid prior to reclaiming your pet. Unclaimed pets become the property of the Humane Society and will be either adopted or, in the case of lack of space, poor health, and/or ill temperament, humanely euthanized.
What does it cost to reclaim my pet from the Shelter?
Pet owners are charged an impound fee of $10.00, plus an additional $25.00 if their pets were impounded by Animal Control. Boarding fees of $7.00 per day are charged for each day of impound after the initial twenty-four hours of arrival at the Shelter. EVERY reclaimed pet is required by South Carolina law to have a microchip implanted at a cost ($28.00) to the owner. Pet owners without proof of current rabies vaccination for their pets will be charged an additional $10.00.
Do I have to have my pet spayed or neutered?
Spaying or neutering is not required for reclaimed pets, although the Humane Society encourages responsible sterilization of pets and operates a low cost spay and neuter clinic by appointment.
Does the Humane Society pick up stray animals?
The Humane Society does not pick up animals. Stray animals should be reported to Greenwood City/County Dispatch by calling (864) 942-8679 to have an Animal Control Officer issued the call.
If I witness what I believe to be an act of animal cruelty, who do I call?
The Humane Society encourages the public to IMMEDIATELY report acts of animal cruelty or neglect to Animal Control by calling (864) 942-8679. Messages or calls of this nature to the Humane Society are forwarded to Animal Control Officers for investigation. We do want to know if the report was handled to meet your expectations.
Do you euthanize (“put to sleep”) animals?
Yes. Although the ultimate goal of the Humane Society is to operate as a “no-kill” facility, humane euthanasia is still currently performed at the animal shelter simply because more animals are turned over to us than are adopted. Demand does not meet “supply” and, sadly, there is no space for so many unwanted animals. Spay and neuter is an answer for stopping millions of wonderful animals from being put to sleep every year.
What does it cost to bring an animal to the shelter?
There is no fee to surrender an animal to the shelter; however you must be a Greenwood County resident. The animal shelter receives unwanted animals and strays from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
How long do you keep animals before they are euthanized?
Euthanasia decisions may be made at any point following the standard holding period for impounded animals. Stray animals with no identification are held five days. Identifiable animals (tagged or microchipped) are held for a maximum of fourteen days, and animals surrendered by their owner(s) are not subject to a holding period and become the immediate property of the Humane Society for disposition as necessary according to space.
Can you call me before you euthanize an animal?
To protect your feelings and the rights and privacy of possible current or future owners, the decision to surrender an animal to the shelter needs to be final and definite before doing so. A decision to surrender an animal should be made by determining that you are either unable or unwilling to provide the necessary care for the animal’s best interests.
If my pet is missing, could it be at the Animal Shelter?
About four thousand or more animals come into the shelter every year from Greenwood County. If your pet is missing, it is important that you contact the Animal Shelter as soon as possible so that a missing pet report can be completed and shelter staff can be notified to look for your pet. It is also important that you visit the shelter in-person and look for your pet on a regular basis. Please remember that it is the responsibility of the pet owner to search for their missing pet; however, the Humane Society will do everything possible to assist you in doing so.
Can my pet be microchipped at the Humane Society?
Yes! Impounded pets are required by law to be microchipped prior to being reclaimed by their owners; however, the shelter staff will microchip pets for the public during normal business hours for a nominal fee of $15. Please be advised that micro-chipped pets cannot be tracked in “real time” (similar to GPS) and must be scanned by a Veterinarian or Animal Shelter upon entering either facility. However statistics show that microchipped pets have a very high percentage of being returned home safely. Currently over 7,000,000 pets in the United States have been microchipped.
To Report an Abused, Neglected, or Stray Animal
It is the responsibility of Greenwood County and Greenwood City law enforcement to pick up stray, neglected, and abused animals.
GREENWOOD COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL
Sheriff’s Department – Animal Control
(864) 943-8056
GREENWOOD CITY ANIMAL CONTROL
(864) 942-8405
