SCAWA October Update
The SCAWA Report
October 2026
Dear Advocates,
Welcome to the October edition of The SCAWA Report!
We have had an incredible amount of people join SCAWA the past few weeks and we want to say THANK YOU and WELCOME to all the new faces! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for daily updates.
Across South Carolina, animal shelters are overwhelmed, cruelty cases continue to make headlines, and outdated local ordinances leave too many animals without adequate protection.
But something important is happening: communities are beginning to demand change.
From county council chambers to courtrooms, SCAWA advocates are working to strengthen animal protection laws, hold offenders accountable, and address the root causes of our state's animal welfare crisis.
Our mission is simple: to elevate animal welfare in South Carolina through policy advocacy and grassroots action.
Whether you have attended a council meeting, contacted an elected official, supported a cruelty case, or simply joined our growing network, you are part of that mission.
We don't need everyone to do everything. We need more people willing to do something.
Together, we can turn compassion into meaningful, lasting change.
If you haven't yet, please download the GroupMe app and join your local region group for relevant updates and how to get involved! You can find these links at www.scawa.org
JUSTICE FOR ANIMALS:
Animal Cruelty Must Have Consequences
This month brought a significant development in South Carolina's fight against animal cruelty.
On October 15, Desmond Levon Brown of Orangeburg was sentenced to five years in federal prison for burning a puppy alive.
The case marked the first prosecution under the federal Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act in the state of South Carolina.
Brown's sentence also includes three years of supervised release, during which he is prohibited from possessing animals.
This case sends an important message: extreme acts of animal cruelty deserve serious consequences.
But one conviction is not enough.
Across South Carolina, SCAWA is expanding its efforts to monitor felony animal cruelty and dogfighting cases, track court proceedings, and encourage greater accountability within our justice system.
Our goal is to ensure these cases receive the attention they deserve and that advocates have the information needed to attend hearings and support stronger enforcement. Thank you Rita Morris and Lexis Frazier for attending this monumental sentencing!
One important priority is Riley's Act (H.5090), legislation introduced in 2026 to strengthen penalties for animal cruelty and improve accountability for convicted offenders.
The proposal includes increased penalties for multiple animal cruelty offenses, public reporting of cruelty convictions, and animal ownership restrictions for certain convicted offenders. This will be refiled in 2027 and we need YOUR support!
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2027: Turning Compassion into Legislation
Four Priorities. One Goal: Stronger Animal Protection Across South Carolina.
South Carolina's animal welfare crisis demands more than temporary solutions. We need stronger laws, consistent standards, and meaningful accountability.
As we prepare for the 2027 legislative session, SCAWA is focusing on four major priorities designed to prevent cruelty, reduce shelter overcrowding, and improve animal welfare statewide. *Please note some of the bill names and numbers will change once filed.*
1. RILEY'S ACT: Stronger Penalties for Animal Cruelty
Animal cruelty should carry consequences that reflect the seriousness of the crime.
Riley's Act (H.5090), introduced in 2026, seeks to strengthen penalties for animal cruelty offenses, establish a publicly searchable database of convicted offenders, and restrict animal ownership for those convicted of certain cruelty crimes.
Our goal: Ensure that animal abusers face meaningful consequences and help prevent repeat offenses.
2. BEAU'S LAW: Establishing Minimum Standards of Care
No animal should suffer simply because its county lacks adequate animal protection standards.
Inspired by Beau's Law in Alabama, SCAWA is advocating for stronger, measurable statewide requirements for adequate shelter, humane tethering, protection from extreme weather, sanitation, and basic veterinary care.
These protections should apply consistently to all animal owners, not just rescues or breeders.
Our goal: Establish clear, enforceable minimum standards of care so every companion animal receives basic protections, regardless of where it lives.
3. HUMANE BREEDING BILL: Addressing the Root of Overpopulation
South Carolina's shelters are overflowing, yet irresponsible breeding continues to contribute to the crisis.
SCAWA is advocating for humane breeding legislation that would establish registration requirements, reasonable inspections, and minimum standards of care for breeding operations.
Responsible breeding practices, transparency, and accountability are essential to reducing preventable suffering and the number of unwanted animals entering shelters.
Our goal: Promote responsible breeding, prevent neglect and exploitation, and reduce the burden on our already overwhelmed shelters.
4. STANDARDIZATION OF ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS: Strengthening Enforcement Statewide
Animal protection laws are only as effective as the people and resources available to enforce them.
Across South Carolina, animal control officers operate with varying levels of training, resources, procedures, and enforcement authority.
SCAWA supports establishing consistent statewide training and professional standards for animal control officers, including animal cruelty investigations, evidence collection, humane handling, and enforcement procedures.
We also recognize the importance of adequate staffing, equipment, and resources to help officers perform their duties safely and effectively.
Our goal: Give animal control officers the training, tools, and support they need to protect animals and serve their communities consistently across all 46 counties.
CHANGE BEGINS WITH LEGISLATION. SUCCESS DEPENDS ON ADVOCACY.
These four priorities represent an important step toward a South Carolina where animal protection is not determined by a ZIP code, cruelty carries real consequences, and prevention becomes a statewide responsibility.
As these initiatives move forward, SCAWA will keep advocates informed about legislative developments, opportunities to contact lawmakers, and ways to support these reforms.
We have the opportunity to make 2027 a turning point for animal welfare in South Carolina. But we cannot do it without you.
The more local ordinances we can bring up to the state baseline, the more likely it is to pass at the state level. We need your local support NOW more than ever, before the next session starts.
ADVOCATES IN ACTION: Showing Up Makes a Difference
SCAWA's strength comes from people who are willing to get involved in their own communities.
This month, our Midlands advocates participated in a Healing Species fundraiser hosted by the Animal Legal Defense Fund chapter at the University of South Carolina School of Law.
The event provided an opportunity to connect with community members, discuss our legislative priorities, and introduce more people to SCAWA's mission. Thank you, Kim Snyder!
Across the state, advocates are also attending council meetings, researching local ordinances, supporting animal cruelty court proceedings, and helping build relationships with elected officials. If you want to speak at a local meeting, please send a message in your regional GroupMe. We can even help you write your speech and prepare!
We are especially interested in expanding community outreach and recruiting volunteers to coordinate events and local advocacy efforts.
You don't need to be an attorney, animal welfare professional, or experienced advocate to make a difference.
Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply show up.
WHAT'S COMING NEXT
As we move toward the end of 2026, SCAWA will continue:
Expanding our statewide animal cruelty and dogfighting court tracker
Reviewing county ordinances and supporting local advocates
Preparing legislative priorities for the 2027 session
Building relationships with lawmakers and community organizations
Recruiting volunteers and developing outreach opportunities across South Carolina
Our work is just beginning, and every new advocate makes our collective voice stronger.
South Carolina's animal welfare challenges did not develop overnight, and they will not disappear overnight.
But change is possible when people work together, demand accountability, and refuse to accept preventable suffering as normal.
THREE WAYS YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
1. Attend a Local Council Meeting
Local governments make important decisions about animal protection, animal control resources, and shelter operations. Your presence helps show elected officials that animal welfare matters to their constituents.
2. Help Us Identify Gaps in Your County
Does your county have clear standards for adequate shelter, humane tethering, breeding, and responsible ownership? Help SCAWA identify ordinances that need improvement.
3. Help Grow Our Advocacy Network
Invite friends, neighbors, rescue volunteers, and other concerned residents to join SCAWA. Stronger local networks create stronger opportunities for change.
BONUS:
Share the petition for Riley's Act
Ask for Donations
Order a CODE RED T-shirt
Thank you for standing with us, speaking up, and helping build a more compassionate South Carolina.
Compassion. Community. Change.
South Carolina Animal Welfare Alliance
INFO@SCAWA.ORG
WWW.SCAWA.ORG
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