Legislative Alerts

On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, the Vermont House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry will hear testimony on HB 567, which seeks to restrict retail pet sales by: Requiring the one current Vermont pet store to maintain ownership in order to continue selling dogs and cats, and cap sales at the same number they […]

SUMMARY: On Thursday, March 28, 2024, the New Hampshire House of Representatives is expected to vote on House Bill 1102, an extremist bill that seeks to describe brachycephaly as a “birth deformity that causes suffering” and would criminalize the sale and breeding of brachycephalic dogs and any dog that could be claimed to have a […]

On Tuesday, March 26, a New York Senate committee will consider legislation to ban “debarking” – a standard veterinary practice also known as bark softening – unless the procedure is medically necessary to treat an injury, illness, or congenital defect. The AKC opposes Senate Bill 142, which would restrict the rights of responsible dog owners […]

Earlier this week, the Delaware Senate approved legislation that would allow for the Sunday hunting of Gamebirds (See previous alert for more information). Previously passed by the House of Representatives, House Bill 271, which would eliminate the current prohibition against hunting game birds on Sundays, now goes to Governor Carney for his signature. Those wishing […]

At its recent Committee meeting, the Pennsylvania Senate Game and Fisheries Committee amended a bill that would have had serious implications for those who hunt with dogs.  The proposed legislation makes changes to the laws related to trespassing on private property while hunting. As originally propose, Senate Bill 1087 would have made changes to the […]

Dear Club, Officers, Legislative Liaisons and Delegates, please share this alert immediately with club members and other dog enthusiasts in Florida. Currently, animal rights/ “protection” groups are actively lobbying members of the U.S. Senate to introduce Goldie’s Act, a harmful bill that undermines the rights of responsible breeders. Your Senators, particularly Senator Scott, need to […]

The 2024 regular session of the Florida state legislature has adjourned, and the American Kennel Club (AKC) thanks the hardworking members of the Florida Association of Kennel Clubs (FAKC), AKC-affiliated clubs, dog owners, sportsmen, allied organizations, and every individual who contacted their state lawmakers about bills that affect our dogs. This session, the AKC Government […]

On Tuesday, March 19, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed House Bill 1012, a bill that protects owners and pets during extreme weather situations. This was the final step in House Bill 1012’s two-year journey. Summary: House Bill 1012 was written in response to a severe heat wave in the state in 2021 that left many […]

On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, the Connecticut General Assembly’s Public Safety and Security Committee voted unanimous support for SB 339, which requires restitution by anyone that injures or kills a police K-9 or volunteer search and rescue dog by paying the cost of incurred veterinary services and, if the dog is no longer able to […]

On Wednesday, March 20, at 9:30a.m., the Pennsylvania Senate Game and Fisheries Committee is scheduled to consider a bill with serious implications for those who hunt with dogs.  The proposed legislation makes changes to the laws related to trespassing on private property while hunting. Senate Bill 1087 would not only allow for a hunter, even […]