About Animal Care

About Richland County Animal Care

Statement of Mission

The Department of Animal Care provides the citizens of Richland County with the protection of life and property through prompt response time and efficient procedures. The Department attempts to reduce the number of strays, control the outbreak of rabies and educate the public on the importance of licensing their pets and the responsibilities of pet ownership.

The Department of Animal Care is responsible for the enforcement of laws that protects people, animals and property. Some of the services provided are to:

	Transport sick, injured and stray animals to designated facilities that can provide proper care and treatment.
	Respond to citizens’ requests for service.
	Patrol the County for stray and unwanted animals at large.
	Investigate reports of animal bites in cooperation with the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
	Investigate reports of abandoned or abused animals.
	Investigate reports of vicious or dangerous animals.
	License pets and keep up-to-date rabies vaccination records.
	Rescue distressed animals.
	Issue citations and testify in court.
	Reunite lost pets with their owners.
	Provide educational information to communities.
	Provide shelter for stray, lost and abandoned animals.
	Trap at large and quarantined animals.
	Conduct public information campaigns.
	Provides 24-hour emergency service.

Animal Care Officers and staff respond to over 12,000 complaints or requests for service annually.

Richland County Animal Care does its best to maintain high standards in containment, housing and veterinary needs of the animals in their care. Animals are housed at several locations throughout the county. Please call or contact Animal Care through this website concerning a missing animal.

Location:

The main office of Richland County Animal Care is located at

400 Powell Road

Columbia, South Carolina 29203

Phone: (803) 576-2461

The Office is open from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday

Pet Licensing Hours - 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Monday through Friday
Redemption Hours - 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Monday through Friday

To file a concern or request for service, call the Ombudsman's Office at

(803) 929-6000

Animal Care can be reached at our general E-mail address of:

AnimalCare@rcgov.us

or you can E-mail us individually at the following addresses:

Director	Sandra Haynes	hayness@rcgov.us
Assistant Director
Animal Care Supervisor	Gary Daniels	danielsg@rcgov.us
Dispatcher	Felicia Pringle	pringlef@rcgov.us
Animal Care Officer	Lewis Johnson	johnsonl@rcgov.us
Animal Care Officer	Leroy Cain	cainl@rcgov.us
Animal Care Officer	Kevin Reynolds	reynoldsk@rcgov.us
Animal Care Officer	Andrew Thompson	thompsonan@rcgov.us
Animal Care Officer	Eric Davis	daviser@rcgov.us
Animal Care Officer	Audrey Hudson	hudsona@rcgov.us
Animal Care Officer	Marquis Gantt	ganttma@rcgov.us
Animal Care Officer	Talmadge Clemons	clemonst@rcgov.us

After hours, weekends and evenings, citizens are asked to call 803-252-2911 in the event of an emergency.