‘Cost of care’ must be burden of abuser

‘Cost of care’ must be burden of abuser

I am deeply troubled that South Carolina does not have a law that provides a process for owners of abused animals to be held responsible for the expense of caring for their abused animals while cruelty cases are pending.

Shelters, counties and taxpayers should not be solely burdened with the cost of caring for seized animals that have been abused and neglected, when it is the owners who are legally responsible for caring for the animals in the first place.

Animals seized from accused abusers are often caught in legal limbo that leaves these animals stuck in shelters for months - or even years - while alleged abusers are prosecuted. Meanwhile, the shelters caring for the abused animals might not be able to afford to take in other at-risk animals, or provide other essential services because of the financial burden imposed on them.

South Carolina is ranked in the bottom tier in the nation on its animal cruelty laws.

I urge our government officials to introduce a bill on ‘Costs of Care for Seized Animals’ to provide a hearing process so that anyone who has animals lawfully seized due to cruelty may be required to post a bond for their care, or relinquish the animals so they can be put up for adoption.

This story was originally published April 6, 2015 at 3:20 PM with the headline "‘Cost of care’ must be burden of abuser."