Local Ordinances

• Within the City of Columbia, all dogs are required to be on a leash at all times. Any animal found running large may be impounded by the City.

• Within the City of Columbia, all owners are required to remove any dog waste deposited on any public or private property. There are several dog waster bag stations throughout Elmwood Park and Roy Lynch park for your use. Please deposit any used bags in either a City trash container or your residential trash bin.

• Within the City of Columbia, if you strike an animal with your vehicle, you must contact the Police Department and/or the Animal Control Shelter to report the incident.

• For detailed information regarding Animal Control, you can refer to Chapter 4, Article 3 of the City's Code of Ordinances.

Licenses

• Residents of City of Columbia are required to license their dogs and cats and renew the registration annually. For information about licensing your pet, visit the City's Animal Services webpage. You will need to download a PDF of the Pet License application from the City of Columbia.

• To obtain a license from the City, you will be required to show proof that the animal has received either a one-year or three-year Rabies vaccination.

Adoption

Local pet adoption agencies include:

• City of Columbia Animal Shelter / 127 Humane Way / 803.776.7387

• PETS Inc. / 300 Orchard Drive, West Columbia / 803.739.9333

• Pawmetto Lifeline / 1275 Bower Parkway / 803.465.9150

• Homeward Bound Pet Rescue / 246 Harbison Road / 803.454.9094

Spay and Neuter Services

• The Animal Mission is a 501c3 charitable nonprofit organization which works to improve the safety and quality of life for animals in the Midlands. To that end, Animal Mission provides free or low cost spay/neuter vouchers to residents of Richland County. For additional information about the vouchers, contact the Animal Mission at 803.776.7387.

• The vouchers may be used at the SPCA Spay/Neutering Clinic at the Humans Society, Pawmetto Lifeline Clinic, or for discounted services at your local veterinarian.

Lost or Stolen Pets

• If your pet is lost, we recommend posting messages on the Elmwood Park and Chasing Tails Facebook pages.

• If you need to post flyers around the neighborhood, please staple the flyers to wood utility poles only. We love our historic trees almost as much as our pets, and want to keep both safe.

• If you find a lost pet, we recommend posting messages on the Elmwood Park , ECCO, and Chasing Tails Facebook pages. If you are able to care for the pet for a few hours until his human is found, we appreciate your assistance. If you are unable to keep the animal, or if you think the animal may be dangerous, please contact Animal Control at 803.776.7387 to have him picked up by the City. Any canine or feline picked up by the City will be transported to the City's Animal Shelter on Humane Lane. The Animal Shelter will keep impounded animals for only five (5) days before they are humanely euthanized.

Membership-Only Dog Parks

• NoMa Bark Park

  • 1250 Parkside Drive

  • Open from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm daily

  • The NoMa Bark Park is located in Earlewood Park, and is approximately one mile from Elmwood Park. Annual memberships are $25 per dog from January 1 to June 30, and $15 per dog after July 1. Memberships expire on December 31, and will need to be renewed for the following year. Children under 10 years of age are not permitted in the NoMa Bark Park. Additional information about the NoMa Bark Park is available on their website and Facebook page.

• City of Columbia Dog Park

  • 127 Humane Lane

  • Open 24 hours

  • The City of Columbia Dog Park is located near the City's Animal Shelter, and is approximately seven miles from Elmwood Park. Annual memberships are $36 per dog. For more information on this park and how to become a member, contact Tina Heckman at 803.783.8193.

• Barking Lot Dog Park at Saluda Shoals

  • 5605 Bush River Road

  • Open 7:00 am to 5:30 pm daily, and until 8:30 pm from March 1 to October 31. Closed on New Year's, Thanksgiving, and Christmas days.

  • The Barking Lot Dog Park is located at Saluda Shoals Park, and is approximately 11 miles from Elmwood Park. Annual memberships are $55 for either one or two dogs. Annual parking passes are available for $45 and daily parking passes are available for $5. Additional information about the Barking Lot Dog Park is available on their website.

Free Dog Parks

• Page Ellington Park at BullStreet

  • 2336 Gregg Street

  • The crown jewel of BullStreet is Page Ellington Park. Named for a prominent, Reconstruction-era African American architect and builder, Page Ellington, this 20-acre public park features running and walking paths, a 1.75 acre dog park and natural water habitat featuring a two-acre pond and Smith Branch Creek, 2,600 linear feet of which have been daylighted or restored.

Veterinarians

Area veterinarians include the following practices ( listed by distance from Elmwood Park)

• Griffin Animal Hospital / 1510 Barnwell Street / 803.758.1333

• Five Points Animal Clinic / 900 Harden Street / 803.799.4302

• Four Paws Animal Clinic / 4 Monckton Boulevard / 803.790.7297

• Shandon-Wood Animal Clinic / 912 Daly Street / 803.253.9257

• Forest Acres Animal Hospital / 3327 Forest Drive / 803.738.1515

• Cat Clinic / 4600 Trenholm Drive / 803.787.2445

Emergency Veterinary Care

In the event of an after-hours or life-threatening illness or injury, you may wish to contact one of these Emergency Animal Hospitals:

• South Carolina Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Care / 3924 Fernandina Road / 803.561.0015

• Palmetto Regional Emergency Hospital for Animals / 10298 Two Notch Road / 803.865.1418

Pet Boarding and Day Camps

Overnight Pet Boarding is available at many local veterinarians. Area day camps and boarding facilities include (listed by distance from Elmwood Park)

• Camp Bow Wow / 655 Superior Street / 803.748.4544

• Carolina Pet Resort / 1160 Berl Mar Road / 803.749.1162

• Wescott Acres Pet Resort / 6005 Wescott Road / 803.407.4708

Backyard Chickens

Elmwood Park residents may raise up to four hens at home, but no roosters are allowed within City limits. The City prescribes coop and run sizes based on the numbers of hens. Residents will need to obtain a certificate of inspection from the Animal Control division before the hens arrive, and will need to pay an annual inspection fee of $5 per bird. Coops must be screened by shrubbery or a privacy fence when located within 25 feet of the property line and/or within 50 feet of an adjoining residence. For additional information, please download the livestock ordinance.