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South Carolinia Pit Bull Rescue strives to only accept dogs from shelters.
Shelter dogs are always our top priority.
STRAYS: INTAKE POLICIES
WITHIN THE CITY OF CHARLESTON:
According to the laws of the City of Charleston, any dog found as a stray must be turned into Animal Control. Keeping the dog or turning it over to rescue is not legal. You can find this ordinance in Section 5-17 of the City of Charleston Ordinances here: http://www.municode.com/Resources/gateway.asp?pid=10245&sid=40; Under this ordinance, it is "unlawful for any person in the city to knowingly and intentionally harbor, feed, keep in possession by confinement, or otherwise, any animal which does not belong to him unless he has, within twenty-four (24) hours from the time such animal came into his possession, notified the department. Upon receiving such notice, the division shall take such animal and place it in the animal shelter and shall deal with it as provided in section 5-51 of this chapter. (Code 1975, § 5-27; Ord. No. 1976-29, § 1, 9-14-76). Due to this law, we CANNOT accept any stray dogs found within the city limits of Charleston. The city limits include all of downtown, along with most of West Ashley and James Island. According to our research, Charleston County does not have the same law in effect. The Charleston County Code of Laws can be read here: http://www.municode.com/Resources/gateway.asp?pid=19955&sid=40.
OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF CHARLESTON:
If you are not located within the city limits and you find a stray, you must make every effort to find the owner before we can accept that dog into our program. This means you must: (1) be willing to keep the dog in your care for no less than 14 days from the day you find the dog; (2) place an ad in the Post & Courier found dog classified ads (this is a free service); (3) hang fliers in the area you found the dog; and (4) make a found dog report with each of the shelters in all three counties in the tricounty area. This is a legal requirement of the rescue. If we take in any dog that has not been given a good faith effort to find its owner, we are in violation of the law. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
OUTSIDE OF THE TRI-COUNTY AREA:
Unfortunately, we cannot accept strays from outside of the following counties:
Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester, Beaufort, and Colleton.
We do not have the capacity or resources to reach outside of area. Please refer to our rescue links page to find a rescue closer to you, or go to www.Petfinder.com and search for a rescue close to you.
OWNER TURN-IN INTAKE POLICY:
If you wish to give up your dog, please know that we have a long waiting list.
In order to be placed on our waiting list, your dog must be:
- Up to date on all vaccinations - records are required
- Vaccinated for Bordatella (kennel cough)
- Temperament tested by one of our volunterrs using our temperament test procedures
If you would like a better chance of your dog being accepted, you should also have him/her spayed or neutered.
Any dog with proof of prior obedience training or an AKC Canine Good Citizenship certification will be moved to the top of our waiting list. Previously trained dogs are much easier to place into foster homes.
We cannot take any owner turned-in dogs which:
- Have EVER bitten someone
- Are strongly dog aggressive
Our waiting list sometimes never changes. There are so many dogs in shelters that taking in a dog from an owner sometimes becomes an impossibility. If you wish to give up your dog and want to become a part of our waiting list, please fill out the Contact Form on this website.
If you feel you must give up your pet, please consider the following: Should I give up my pet? We would urge you to do everything you can to keep your dog. If that is not possible, try to find a new home through friends and family. You should only relinquish your dog to a shelter as a last resort. Please realize that Pit Bulls are at a much higher risk of euthanasia then most other breeds. If you decide to take your Pit Bull to an animal shelter, your Pit Bull will probably be euthanized. Please do not dump your dog at an apartment complex thinking someone will take it in, or along a rural road. Abandoned animals usually do not find their way into caring homes. Instead they are often subject to lack of food and/or water, exposure to extreme heat and cold or human cruelty if not killed on the streets. Abandoned animals starve or become ill in a short period of time. If a Pit Bull is picked up by Animal Control, the likelihood that he/she will be euthanized is very high. If you have reached a point in which you have exhausted all means to re-home your animal, please contact your local animal shelter.
I am moving and cannot take my pet. If you search hard enough, you can always find an apartment or temporary housing that will allow Pit Bulls. We are working on a full list of the Charleston are apartment complexes which allow breeds commonly known as Pit Bulls. A good resource is the Post and Courier. Check the classified ads regularly and call landlords to inquire about their pet policies. Another good resource is Craigslist. Craigslist is a free ad listing website.
I've had a baby, and I cannot keep my pet. Yes, it can be more challenging and more work, but the satisfaction of watching a child with his or her dog can be such a joy. Consider putting up a baby gate to keep your dog confined to certain areas when the child is awake. Also, studies show that children who grow up with two or more pets have less allergy related problems. If the dog is exhibiting behavioral problems, consider consulting with an animal trainer/behavioralist. We have a listing of Pit-friendly trainers here.
My pet's behavior is disruptive. Most behaviors can be redirected to positive activities. Most poorly behaved dogs are simply unhappy dogs who are "acting out." They are trying to get your attention; to tell you what is wrong. Most of these issues can be dealt with by crate training, obedience work, and time. These animals can be worked with and their place in your family preserved. Please let us assist by directing you to a personal or group training class. Please give your dog a chance and do the work necessary.
My pet is very old and/or very sick. These animals are harder to find new homes for. Please understand that when these animals are taken to shelters, they are overlooked in favor of healthier, younger animals. This means that the animal sits in a kennel surrounded by concrete until it is put to sleep. If your animal is ill or older, please consider being with him/her while you and your vet humanely end his life (consult your veterinarian). If you can give just a little extra time and effort, you will not only save the life of the pet that you took responsibility for, but the one in the shelter who would possibly have been euthanized to make room for yours.
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