September 2005

Editor's Note
Countless dogs and their owners have been impacted by the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina. In the wake of the storm, the American Kennel Club and affiliated organization AKC Companion Animal Recovery (CAR) are working to provide relief where it is most needed by animals and the people helping them. We strongly urge all of our readers to visit AKC's home page for information on how you can get involved in these much-needed efforts. Any support you can provide is greatly appreciated! Read more.



Democracy in Action
Experienced Legislative Liaisons know that the path from the introduction of a bill to its implementation can be a long and complex journey. Even those who have been involved at the state and local level can find the federal legislative process to be a bit intimidating. To help new and old canine legislation advocates understand how a bill becomes the law of the land, we are providing the following guide. Read more.



Around the Nation: Legislation That Affects You
CALIFORNIA -- Sen. Speier's SB861, to allow local governments to enact mandatory spay/neuter for specific breeds, has passed both the Assembly and the Senate and will now head to Governor Schwarzenegger. Dog owners are encouraged to contact the Governor's office and request a veto. For more information and to find out how you can help, please read our Legislative Alert.

See news from other states.



Networking Opportunity
Responsible Dog Ownership Day will be celebrated in parks across America during the month of September. These events are a great opportunity for clubs and Legislative Liaisons to reach out to communities and elected officials in a positive, non-controversial manner. They also allow clubs to showcase their wonderful canine friends and to educate the public about the importance of proper socialization and care of their animals. Several scheduled events will offer information about the Canine Good Citizen program and some will even offer the test at the event. Read more.



The Not-So-Friendly Skies
Due to their recent merger with America West Airlines, US Airways will cease to accept live animals as checked baggage or cargo as of October 1, 2005. US Airways will make an exception for ticketed reservations made before August 17, 2005, and will honor these through November 1, 2005. The policy change does not apply to the transportation of service animals. The move will bring US Airways into alignment with the policies of America West. Read more.
Stephanie Lane, Director
Sarah Sprouse, Program Administrator
Phone: 919-816-3720 | Fax: 919-816-4275 | Email: doglaw@akc.org

© The American Kennel Club 2005