November 2005

Editor's Note
If disaster preparedness was not a front-burner issue for dog owners before this summer, it most certainly is now in light of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. While the outpouring of relief from the dog community has been nothing short of amazing, one cannot help but see that by proactively planning before a tragedy, rather than reacting after, we can help save countless human and canine lives. Our feature article this month therefore focuses on how clubs, federations and individual dog owners can get involved in this important issue.

There’s a lot the Canine Legislation department is doing to be proactive on this subject as well. We’ve spent the last few months supporting ongoing disaster relief efforts here at the American Kennel Club, and we recently sent a letter to Members of Congress highlighting the millions of dollars and thousands of hours of relief efforts generously donated by AKC and the fancy. Furthermore, we continue to look for ways that we can call legislators’ attention to the dire circumstances dog owners currently face in times of disaster. We strongly support federal legislation to alleviate these problems, which is why we are carefully evaluating several proposals currently under consideration in the Capitol. We want to be sure we lend support not just to any legislation, but to that which will most effectively protect owners and their pets.

Regards,
Stephanie Lane



Preparing for the Worst
During the recent hurricanes we all watched with sorrow as thousands of pets were displaced from their owners. Many concerned dog owners contributed financially to the relief efforts, while others volunteered their time at shelters, with rescue groups or opening up their homes to evacuated animals. The purebred dog community can be proud of its boundless generosity during this time. Read more.



Around the Nation: Legislation That Affects You
ARKANSAS – The City of Bentonville has tabled a proposed ordinance which would ban “pit bulls,” defined as American Staffordshire Terriers, American Pit Bull Terriers, and Stafforshire Bull Terriers, from the city. After receiving letters from several groups and model legislation from AKC, the city attorney asked the council to table the ordinance in order to evaluate other options. Concerned dog owners are encouraged to contact City Hall in support of a strong dangerous dog ordinance that is not breed-specific.

See news from other states.



 
Stephanie Lane, Director
Sarah Sprouse, Program Administrator
Phone: 919-816-3720 | Fax: 919-816-4275 | Email: doglaw@akc.org

© The American Kennel Club 2005