March 7, 2025:
The Hughes County Commission has increased the fees violators must pay when the county gets called to resolve a situation with a pet that has strayed away from home.
Sheriff Patrick Callahan said depending on how long the animal picked up remains at the impound, his office can lose money dealing with at-large animal calls. He said he’s not trying to make money on animal control, but he does want the owner’s fees to cover the full cost.
The cost of a:
- first offense violation went from $50 to $75;
- second offense went from $75 to $100;
- third offense from $85 to $140.
The Animal Surrender Fee rose from $50 to $70, while the Report Printing Fee for mugshots, accident reports, etc., increased from $4 to $10 per report.
Callahan says the Hughes County Sheriff’s Office has a ‘no kill’ policy, relying on a local veterinary clinic and local animal shelters. He says the exception is the rare occasion when an animal is deemed by a vet to be too badly injured, ill or dangerous to be returned to its owner.
The proposed ordinance is below.
ORDINANCE FOR ANIMAL CONTROL IN RURAL HUGHES COUNTY
Be it ordained by Hughes County for the purpose of controlling animals and protecting the public in those areas located entirely outside of a municipal boundary, yet within Hughes County, the following animal control ordinance is hereby adopted in revision of Hughes County Ordinance No. 95-6 adopted July 18, 1995.
ARTICLE 1. Running at Large Prohibited
The owner of an animal should not permit such animal to run at large. An animal shall be deemed to be running at large whenever such animal is off the premises and not under the immediate physical control of its owner, possessor, keeper, agent, servant or a member of the immediate family thereof. Whenever an animal is found running at large, the same shall constitute prima facie evidence that the owner permitted it to run at large.
ARTICLE 2. Vicious Animals
An animal is declared to be vicious within the meaning of this Ordinance when a propensity to attack or bite human beings or other animals shall exist and is known or ought reasonable to be known to the owner. No vicious animal shall be allowed off the premises of its owner or a member of the owner’s immediate family over sixteen (16) years of age.
ARTICLE 3. Rabies Control-Vaccination Required
Every dog, cat or other animal held as a domestic pet in the area, described above, six (6) months of age or older, is hereby required to be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian or other qualified person. It shall be the animal owner’s responsibility to secure the required vaccination.
ARTICLE 4. Keeping Rabid Animals Prohibited
No person shall knowingly harbor or keep any animal infected with rabies or an animal known to have been bitten by an animal known to have been infected with rabies.
ARTICLE 5. Appointment of Animal Control Officer
The Hughes County Commission is authorized to appoint a person or enter into a contract with a person or entity whose duty it shall be to impound any animal or animals, running at large, contrary to the provisions of this Ordinance. Said person shall be designated as the Animal Control Officer.
ARTICLE 6. Unlawful to Interfere with Enforcement Officer
No person shall hinder, delay, obstruct or tamper with traps set by the Animal Control Officer, his assistants, or any law enforcement officer when engaged in capturing, securing or impounding any animal or animals.
ARTICLE 7. Contract for Enforcement of Ordinance
The Hughes County Commission may enter into a contract with a person, association or humane society to establish, operate and maintain an animal shelter or pound in and for the County for the enforcement of this ordinance for the impounding, destroying and disposal of animals. The Hughes County Sheriff shall have access to such shelter or pound at all times for purposes of inspection of the impounded animals, buildings and facilities.
ARTICLE 8. Treatment of Impounded Animals – Notice to Owners of Tagged Animals
All animals captured and conveyed to the animal shelter or pound, whether operated and maintained by the County or by a contractor shall be kept with humane treatment and supplied with sufficient food and water for a period of at least five (5) days unless sooner reclaimed by the owner or person in charge thereof. The owners of all animals having current rabies tags shall be notified within twenty-four (24) hours thereof of the capture and impoundment of said animal.
ARTICLE 9. Fees for Release from Impoundment
When the owner or claimant of any animal so impounded shall desire to reclaim such animal, such animal may be released upon payment to the Hughes County Sheriff, according to the approved Sheriff’s fine, fee, and cost schedule. No previous offense occurring more than two years prior to the date of the offense being charged, shall be used to determine that the offense being charged is a second or third subsequent offense.
ARTICLE 10. Procedures for Disposal of Unclaimed Animals
Any animal impounded under the provisions of this Ordinance and not reclaimed by its owner within five (5) days may be humanely destroyed by the Animal Control Officer or authorized agent or placed in the custody of some person deemed to be a responsible person to be the owner of such animal. The Animal Control Officer or authorized agent may destroy any sick or injured animal which has been impounded without holding it for five (5) days if its condition is such as makes its earlier destruction necessary.
ARTICLE 11. Sanctions
Violations of the County Ordinance shall be deemed a Class 2 Misdemeanor.
February 5, 2025:
The Hughes County Commission is considering raising the fees violators must pay when the county gets called to resolve a situation with a pet that has strayed away from home.
Sheriff Patrick Callahan says depending on how long the animal picked up remains at the impound, his office can lose money for dealing with at-large animal calls.
Callahan recommends a three-tier system to determine the fee owners must pay to get their animal back, which would be similar to the system used by the City of Pierre.
Callahan says he’s not trying to make money on animal control, but he does want the owner’s fees to cover the full cost.
The Hughes County Commission will consider the increased at-large animal control fees during an upcoming meeting.
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