Earlier this week, the Palm Beach County, Florida, Board of Commissioners postponed further consideration of extensive changes to its animal control ordinance, which included negative impacts on hobby breeders.   Click here to learn more about the Palm Beach County proposal.   During Tuesday’s hearing, county staff described the main goal of the proposed [...]

Proposed updates to Palm Beach County’s Animal Care and Control Ordinance and fee schedule would expand breeder regulations; add new rules for hobby breeders, exhibitors, and people who own unaltered dogs or cats; and increase the cost of a hobby breeder permit by 166.7%. The American Kennel Club (AKC) is concerned that these changes could [...]

The Illinois Legislature adjourned the spring 2026 session in the early hours Monday morning.  While the lawmakers will come back for a short session later this fall where bills may be considered, this adjournment crosses a major hurdle for bills impacting dog owners and breeders in Illinois. Thanks to a significant response from dog owners and [...]

The Missouri Legislature has adjourned for the year, with all bills of concern to dog owners and breeders being tabled or significantly amended. AKC thanks all who took the time to contact leadership and their lawmakers regarding two bills that would have had a detrimental effect on hobby and show breeders.  We also extend special [...]

An Illinois bill seeking in part to impose commercial standards on some home-based kennels and breeding programs has been pulled from consideration and will likely not move forward during the spring session. As mentioned in previous alerts, the “one size fits all” standards in Senate Bill 2990 are geared toward large commercial facilities and fail to [...]

Yesterday, the New York Assembly Agriculture Committee approved an amended version of a bill that as introduced would have been detrimental to many home-based breeders in New York. AKC thanks the Associated Dog Clubs of New York State and all the club members and breeders who have taken the time to contact New York lawmakers [...]

The full U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled vote on the Farm Bill (H.R. 7567 – the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, the week of 27th.  The AKC is proud to support the version of the Farm Bill slated for consideration by the House as it includes important priorities for dog enthusiasts and [...]

The Illinois Senate now has until May 8 to vote on a bill impacting breeders, after extending the voting deadline on certain bills.  Illinois residents should continue contacting the Senate and express concerns that the breeder requirements in Senate Bill 2990 are not in the best interest of all dogs. Summary: As written,  Senate Bill 2990 in part [...]

Friday, April 17, 2026 South Carolina Senate Bill 720, the South Carolina Humane Dog Breeding Act, has been scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. SB 720 seeks to establish state oversight of professional dog breeders, which the bill defines as a person who possesses ten or more intact adult female dogs for breeding and sale, or who sells [...]

This is the last week for the Illinois Senate to vote on Senate bills and send them to the House of Representatives.  Among the bills expected to be considered is one that will impose a number of new requirements on anyone who is licensed as a dog breeder in the state – which could include imposing [...]

A pair of bills in New York regulating home-based dog breeders were recently amended, but our concerns still remain. As written, Senate Bill 8252 and Assembly Bill 8653 require anyone who, in a year, breeds and sells/offers to sell more than nine animals born that are raised on a residential premises to be licensed and regulated [...]

The American Kennel Club (AKC) continues to monitor legislation in Illinois that would impose problematic new requirements on licensed dog breeders. House Bill 4778, which mirrors Senate Bill 2990, was scheduled for consideration by the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee on March 24, 2026. The measure would apply “one-size-fits-all” commercial-style standards to all breeders, defined under Illinois law as [...]

South Carolina Senate Bill 720, the South Carolina Humane Dog Breeding Act, seeks to establish state oversight of professional dog breeders, which is defined as a person who possesses ten or more intact adult female dogs for breeding and sale, or who sells more than fifteen puppies or more than two litters in a calendar year [...]

The Maryland bill which required annual registration for all dog breeders, and $50 birth certificates for every puppy whelped is highly unlikely to advance this session.  Thanks to the many club members and breeders joining AKC in making your voice heard, the House Economic Matters Committee held House Bill 1551 and did not advance it prior to [...]

On Tuesday (March 24), the Illinois House Agriculture and Conservation Committee will consider a bill that would impose extensive new requirements on licensed dog breeders. This bill is identical to SB 2990 considered last week in the Senate and applies “one-size-fits-all” commercial-style standards to all breeders (Under Illinois law, a dog breeder is anyone who possesses more [...]

With yesterday, March 16, being considered the committee reporting courtesy date (the deadline to move bills out of their original committee), it appears that the Maryland House Economic Matters Committee will likely not be voting on House Bill 1551.  This is a bill that includes provisions to require annual registration for all dog breeders, and $50 birth certificates [...]

On Thursday, March 12, the Illinois Senate Agriculture Committee heard Senate Bill 2990, which would place extensive new requirements on those licensed as dog breeders by the state. SB 2990 passed out of the Senate Agriculture Committee by a narrow vote of 7–6. Thank you to the dog owners and club members who contacted the Senate Agriculture Committee and [...]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization that is the world’s largest registry of purebred and mixed-breed dogs, and a leading voice for canine welfare and responsible ownership, is pleased to announce that applications for the AKC Eddy Award are now open through September 1, 2026. The AKC Eddy Award is designed to encourage and [...]

For Karen Rowan, a lifelong love of dogs became a decades-long commitment to one breed in particular: the Dalmatian. Alongside her husband, Paul, Rowan has spent more than 30 years developing Gaelic Dalmatians in North Carolina. Their program reflects careful planning, respect for the breed’s history and purpose, and a deep commitment to responsible breeding [...]

Thank you for your participation in the recent AKC Inspection of your dogs, records, and facilities. AKC has compiled a quick reference list of links to forms, regulations, and commonly requested programs for you. Register My Dog Forms Ownership Records Form Litter Records Form Emergency Preparedness Form Regulations Regulations for Record Keeping & Identification of [...]