It won't be known as Sweet Pea's Law, but that's OK with the woman whose dog inspired legislators to help people who rely on guide dogs.

After her guide dog was injured, Angela Bone, of Pelion, started a crusade that led the Legislature to approve new safeguards for dogs and other service animals that aid blind and disabled people.

"This is about doing right for these animals and protecting handicapped people," Bone said after lawmakers gave the final nod to the plan last week.

The legislation is awaiting Gov. Mark Sanford's signature.

Bone's push stemmed from injuries suffered by Sweet Pea, her Labrador retriever, when the dog was hit by a vehicle 13 months ago as she and the animal walked near their home.

Sweet Pea was crippled, forcing her retirement as a guide dog to become a pet. Bone faced $2,000 in veterinary bills before the driver's insurer reversed itself and agreed to pay for the care.

The tribulations of Bone and Sweet Pea rallied those dependent on guide dogs.

While Sweet Pea stayed at home, other guide dogs went with their owners to the State House to lobby lawmakers.

The proposal adopted establishes new penalties for injuring or killing service animals. It would:

• Make interfering with, maiming or killing service animals through carelessness or neglect a crime punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of $5,000.

• Require those responsible for the death or injury of a service animal to pay for its medical care or a replacement. New guide dogs can cost up to $60,000 to train.

While Sanford has yet to sign the legislation, backers of the proposal say he's been supportive in conversations with them.

Sanford spokesman Will Folks said the governor's office isn't familiar with final details of the legislation.

The new standards recognize that animal assistants are invaluable to the disabled, said Jim Durrance, head trainer at a guide dog school in Abbeville.

"These dogs mean independence and mobility for persons relying on them," he said. "That really changes their lives for the better."

People dependent on such aid say they would be lost without their animals' assistance.

"These dogs are our eyes in a very real sense," said Glenn McCoy, 48, a Braille literacy teacher at the state Commission for the Blind who has depended on guide dogs for 23 years.

The new standards are similar to those in 23 other states, advocacy groups for the blind say.

Dogs mainly aid the blind and disabled, but cats, horses and chimpanzees sometimes are used. It's not known how many of the 15,000 blind people in South Carolina rely on service animals.

Bone, 37, whose vision is blurred by a rare eye disorder, is preparing to get a new guide dog as soon as July.

However, the success of her cause in the Legislature has sparked a passion for politics.

The key to victory in the General Assembly is "to constantly call and call and call" with your appeal and don't be discouraged, she said.

"I'd love to go back and do more," she said.

Bone, who's in training to land a job, already has a new cause -- increased state services to give the blind and disabled a better chance of living on their own and getting jobs.

Meanwhile, Sweet Pea gets lots of hugs as Bone tries to break her of habits, like picking up something Bone has dropped. That role will go to Bone's new guide dog.

Sweet Pea, Bone said, "has earned her retirement."