The Lexington County department of Animal Services assumes several roles in Lexington County. Its main purpose is to prevent animal attacks and to control the numbers of stray animals, but it is also active in a number of other areas. The top priority for Animal Services is to keep the public safe from animals that harm humans. These services include controlling vicious or rabid animals that can attack adults or children.
Animal Services also picks up stray animals and enforces ordinances that require identification tags on pets. In addition, the department provides a temporary shelter for stray animals so they can be reunited with their owners or, if unclaimed, can be adopted out to new owners.
Educating the public about the County ordinances and about spaying and neutering pets is an increasingly important component of Animal Services' duties. Beginning in fall 1999, Animal Services will visit schools and talk to children about spaying and neutering their pets. Rabies clinics will also be used to teach the public about the danger of this disease and give animals vaccinations to keep rabies out of Lexington County.
Animal Services is currently undergoing several major changes and improvements to better serve the citizens of Lexington County. Most significantly, the department is acquiring a full-time veterinarian to help boost its adoption and reclamation rates. The veterinarian will be involved in the school programs to teach children about animals and how to stop them from reproducing. Animal Services is also expanding its facilities to add larger areas for the animals and to create more office space.
Animal Services is working on a number of projects to bring cost effective services to Lexington County citizens. All food for the animals is generously donated by Kal-Kan in Columbia, at an annual savings of $6,000 to the County. These projects will ensure that Animal Services can continue to serve the citizens of Lexington County and keep their communities safe.
At its meeting of January 14, 2003, the Lexington County Council enacted an Ordinance to Regulate Exotic Animals. This law prohibits the keeping of certain exotic animals that are deemed to pose a threat to the safety and health of county residents, and are inherently dangerous. A copy of the ordinance can be viewed by clicking on the text link, above.
At the same meeting, amendments to Lexington County Code of Laws Chapter 10, Article 11 Animal Control were adopted. These amendments clarified and added to the then existing provisions of the code related to domestic animals in Lexington County. Changes in the code are highlighted in the document that can be viewed by clicking on the text link, above.
