Hearing set for Wednesday on Vet Bill

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Columbia , S.C. (WOLO) — On Wednesday, a Senate subcommittee is expected to discuss a bill that would place restrictions on animal shelters. Non-profit organizations such as Pawmetto Lifeline said Monday they plan to be there to demonstrate their opposition to the bill. “The only ones who are hurt by this bill are the voiceless and that’s unfortunate because they can’t stand up and say ‘no, I need this,” said Taylor Wilson, Pawmetto Lifeline. Senate bill 687 aims to regulate the quality of care provided by animal shelters while placing some restrictions on them. The bill states an animal shelter can not operate their mobile vaccination clinics within 7 miles of a private veterinary clinic. It also states they can only provide veterinary services to low-income pet owners who can prove their low income status. Wilson, a strong opponent to the bill, said the impact of the bill could be crippling. “If this bill gets passed, we’re gonna have hundreds of individuals, specifically in the middle class who are not going to be able to access services for low cost and we don’t believe you should ever restrict where or who we can serve at a non-profit,” said Wilson. Supporters of the bill, such as Dr. Patricia Hill with the South Carolina Associations of Veterinarians argued it’s primarily about improving the standard of care for animals. “It brings shelters and humane societies under the same standards that veterinarians operate under right now,” explained Dr. Hill. “We’re not asking them to do anything we don’t do.” While they may disagree on the logistics of the bill, at the end of the day both sides agree animal welfare is the main concern. The meeting will take place Wednesday morning at 9am in the State Senate Gressette Building.