TAKE ACTION NOW
South Carolina Senate Bill 720, known as the South Carolina Humane Dog Breeding Act, is scheduled for a hearing before a subcommittee of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. This bill is being presented as a measure to protect animal welfare. However, the reality is that SB 720 creates unnecessary regulation, expands government control, and places significant burdens on responsible, law abiding dog breeders who are already operating under strict oversight.
This is not about stopping bad actors. This is about increasing pressure on those who are already doing things right.
Professional dog breeders are already regulated under the federal Animal Welfare Act and are subject to routine inspections by the United States Department of Agriculture. These breeders must meet established standards of care, housing, sanitation, veterinary treatment, and recordkeeping. SB 720 ignores this existing regulatory framework and instead creates a second layer of oversight at the state level.
Under SB 720, breeders who meet certain thresholds would be required to obtain a state license, submit to additional inspections, maintain extensive records for a minimum of five years, and comply with rigid requirements that may not reflect the realities of their operations. The bill also imposes new disclosure requirements at the point of sale and establishes civil and criminal penalties for violations.
At its core, this legislation is a one size fits all approach that does not account for the diversity of breeding programs, the expertise of professionals, or the differences in breeds and environments. Responsible breeders understand their animals and operate based on experience, veterinary guidance, and established best practices. Government mandates that are overly prescriptive can interfere with proper care rather than improve it.
Equally concerning is the expansion of enforcement authority. SB 720 creates opportunities for subjective interpretation and inconsistent enforcement. When standards are vague or overly broad, they can be used to target individuals based on perception rather than fact. This opens the door to regulatory overreach and places law abiding breeders in a position where compliance becomes uncertain and difficult to maintain.
This bill also fails to address the real problem. Individuals who neglect or abuse animals are already violating existing laws. South Carolina has animal cruelty statutes in place, and violations can and should be prosecuted. Adding more layers of regulation does not stop those who are already ignoring the law. Instead, it shifts focus and resources away from enforcement and toward regulating those who are already in compliance.
The economic impact of SB 720 should not be ignored. Many dog breeders are small business owners who contribute to their local communities and agricultural economy. These are individuals and families who have invested time, resources, and expertise into building responsible breeding programs. Additional licensing fees, compliance costs, and regulatory uncertainty threaten their ability to continue operating.
This issue is bigger than one bill. Policies like SB 720 are part of a broader trend where increasing regulation is used to restrict lawful animal ownership and breeding activities. These efforts often originate from ideological positions that do not align with animal welfare but instead aim to eliminate animal use altogether.
We support animal welfare. We do not support policies that punish responsible people while failing to address real issues.
The solution is not more laws. The solution is enforcing the laws that already exist.
NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE ACTION
Contact members of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee and respectfully urge them to oppose SB 720. Let them know that you support responsible breeders, proper enforcement of existing laws, and policies based on facts and experience rather than emotion.
Subcommittee Members
Senator Tom Corbin
TomCorbin@scsenate.gov
Senator Tom Young Jr.
TomYoung@scsenate.gov
Senator Josh Kimbrell
JoshKimbrell@scsenate.gov
Senator Ed Sutton
EdSutton@scsenate.gov
Senator Jeff Zell
JeffZell@scsenate.gov
HEARING DETAILS
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
10:00 AM
Gressette Building Room 207
1101 Pendleton Street
Columbia, South Carolina
If you are able, attend the hearing and make your voice heard in person. Lawmakers need to hear directly from those who are impacted by this legislation.
