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The Year in Review: 2004
CALIFORNIA - In August, fanciers across the country celebrated
the removal of the amendment banning ear-cropping from SB1548, a bill
pertaining to veterinary medicine. The bill would have made it a
misdemeanor to crop a dog's ears unless the procedure was performed
as treatment due to injury or disease. AKC and fanciers across the
country worked tirelessly throughout the summer to oppose the ban.
Read the full article.
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Canine Legislation: By the Numbers
In 2004, the Canine Legislation department provided support to
thousands of fanciers, Legislative Liaisons, federation members and
concerned dog owners on a variety of local, state and federal issues.
The department:
---Answered approximately 3,200 email inquires to
doglaw@akc.org
---Posted over 60 legislative alerts to AKC's Web site
---Launched the electronic version of
Taking Command
---Released the new brochure,
Preserve Your Rights as a Dog Owner: Be Your Dog's Owners, Not Its Guardian
---Hosted our second annual Lobby Day in Washington, DC
---Networked with over 10,000 legislators at the National
Conference of State Legislators and National League of Cities
Conference
---Cosponsored "Pet Night" on Capitol Hill for Members of Congress
---Hosted and/or participated in several legislative workshops
across the country
Read the full article.
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ARKANSAS - In November, the North Little Rock City Council
approved a breed-specific dangerous dog ordinance that bans new "pit
bulls," Staffordshire Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers and
American Bull Dogs from the city. The measure further requires
current owners of these breeds to register their dogs with the city
and obtain $100,000 in liability insurance. The Canine Legislation
department worked with concerned dog owners to oppose the ordinance.
For more information, contact Kim Grandison.
Read news from other states.
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Season's Giving
As we enter the holiday season, many dog owners choose to give to
charities that benefit the animals we love. The AKC commends this
decision but advises you to carefully select organizations that best
serve your desired ends.
There is a difference between animal welfare organizations and
animal rights organizations. Animal welfare involves providing a dog
with love and proper responsible care for its entire life. Animal
rights include extreme views that disapprove of and seek to eliminate
companion animal ownership.
The AKC supports and encourages the best premises of animal
welfare. Before making charitable donations to animal-related causes,
the AKC urges you to thoroughly investigate, understand, and approve
of the programs or ideals your donation will support. Ask for a
written summary of the organization's goals or mission. Request and
review a recent annual report. Will your funds go directly to help
animals or will they be used for administrative costs? Don't be
afraid to ask detailed questions about how your donation will be
used, or to discontinue donations if you are not fully satisfied with
the charity's work.
You may consider donating
to worthwhile causes such
as your breed's parent
club rescue organization,
an AKC-recognized
federation, a local
animal shelter, the AKC
Canine Health Foundation,
AKC
CAR Canine Support and
Relief Fund, AKC
Museum of the Dog,
Take
the Lead, The
Dog Fanciers' Fund, Inc.,
or the National
Animal Interest Alliance,
to name a few. |
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This month's issue brings you our traditional year-end report
highlighting the most noteworthy initiatives addressed by AKC and the
purebred dog fancy in 2004. I'm pleased to report that thanks to
your help, we were able to maintain an impressive success rate once
again this year. However, the staggering number of bills we had our
eye on is indicative of the growing attention legislators are giving
to animal care and control issues. In my six years with the AKC, I
have watched that number rise every year, which means we will likely
be very busy in 2005. If you haven't already started preparing for
the next legislative session, now is the time to do so!
As 2004 draws to a close, the Canine Legislation department would
like to extend our appreciation and gratitude to all of you working
on the front lines on behalf of dog owners across the country. To
our federations, Legislative Liaisons and other concerned advocates,
thank you for your ongoing efforts.
Best wishes for a happy and safe holiday season!
Regards,
Stephanie P. Lane
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