The voices of Tennessee dog owners were heard! Senate Bill 2013, legislation supported by the American Kennel Club (AKC), was signed by Governor Bill Lee on June 1st, and takes effect on July 1, 2022. Also known as “Joker’s Law,” this bill revises the offense of killing or severely injuring a police, fire, search-and-rescue, or […]

Today the Oklahoma House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee passed Senate Bill 1223. The bill now awaits a vote before the full Oklahoma House of Representatives. AKC supports this bill and condemns the deliberate mischaracterization of service dogs and attempts to benefit from service dog status when the person is not someone with a disability. Oklahoma […]

The California Legislature has returned from its summer break and continues to consider a variety of legislative issues which could impact animals and animal owners. Bills currently advancing include the following: HR 63: Supporting Working and Service Dogs – This resolution supported by the AKC declares September as Service Dog Awareness Month and recognizes the […]

Many of us say that our dogs are our best friends, but for some people, they're the key to a better life as well. For veterans, service dogs provide more than just emotional support, especially for people dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Specialized service dogs not only perform specific […]

At ten years old, Cal's life was a struggle. He had been diagnosed with autism a year earlier, and his family was working with a team of psychiatrists and counselors to find the right treatment for him. But life was hard: he was "just not a happy kiddo," says mom Brandy Keippala; "always upset and […]

Last Week, U.S. Senator Deborah Fischer introduced S. 951, Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS), to establish a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) grant program to provide service dogs to veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) . AKC supports this measure, and its House companion, H.R. 1022, which was introduced […]

On Friday, December 4, 2020, the Massachusetts Conference Committee charged with resolving differences in the House and Senate bills prioritizing funding for state programs in FY 2021, released HB 5164.  Among the funding included, not less than $50,000 will be expended for the NEADS Inc. “service dogs for veterans program” to train service dogs for […]

New proposed rules from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) that seek to clarify Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) regulations regarding the transportation of service animals by air and that are intended the ensure that America’s air transportation system is safe for the travelling public and accessible to individuals with disabilities, are expected to be published in the Federal […]

Wednesday, September 11, 2019 On Tuesday, September 17 at 1pm, the Massachusetts General Court’s Joint Committee on Judiciary will consider HB 3657 regarding the misrepresentation of service animals.  The bill ensures that individuals and businesses will be protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act, by making the misrepresentation of a pet dog as a service […]

Every day, specially trained mobility service dogs help people with balance, strength, or moveability issues live a happy, independent, and fulfilling life. What Do Mobility Service Dogs Do? Mobility service dogs can be trained to perform a variety of tasks, including: Pressing the button on automatic doors Retrieving dropped items Retrieving out-of-reach objects (like a […]

Not so long ago, De'Angelo Wynn was taking 11 medications for the anxiety, PTSD, and other mental-health struggles he had faced since returning from military deployment in Afghanistan. Now, he's down to just two medications. What changed? The arrival of Jug, a Labrador Retriever who came into his life a little over a year ago. […]

Tuesday, May 14, 2019 This Thursday, May 16, the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs will consider SB 2158, an Act Relative to Protecting Service Dogs.  To ensure that individuals and businesses will be protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act, this bill makes the misrepresentation of a pet dog as a service dog […]

Friday, March 15, 2019 The American Kennel Club (AKC) is pleased to support Minnesota House File 478.  Like its companion bill, SF 1109, this bill seeks to provide $150,000 in funding for the training of service dogs to assist some of the state’s firefighters with posttraumatic stress disorder.  All Minnesota residents are encouraged to join […]

Tuesday, February 12, 2019 The American Kennel Club (AKC) is pleased to support Minnesota Senate Bill 1109.  The bill seeks to provide $150,000 in funding for the training of service dogs to assist some of the state’s firefighters with posttraumatic stress disorder.  All Minnesota residents are encouraged to join in support of the bill. AKC’s […]

Friday, January 25, 2019 The American Kennel Club (AKC) is pleased to support North Dakota House Bill 1128.  The bill seeks to provide for funding for the training of service dogs to assist some of the state’s veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.  All North Dakota residents are encouraged to join in support of the bill. […]

If you combine dogs with Disneyland, what do you get? Literally the happiest place on Earth. Four puppies from the non-profit Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) recently took a trip to the California-based theme park as part of their training. "It’s great socialization for the dogs since they get to be around all the different […]

The Hawaii House Health and Human Services Committee is scheduled to consider House Bill 1823 on Tuesday, January 30, 2018.  The bill seeks to create a misdemeanor for those found to have knowingly and misrepresents themselves, through conduct or verbal or written notice, as being disabled in an attempt to receive the benefits and protections afforded under […]

After owning dogs his entire life, retired Marine Cpl. Justin Crabbe feels that having a dog is second nature to him. However, when he enrolled in the United States Marine Corps in 2008, it’s unlikely he realized the crucial role a dog would come to play in his life seven years later. Crabbe is now […]

  Since the first issue of AKC Family Dog in 2003, we have been telling the stories of service dogs who guide the blind, hear for deaf, perform household tasks for wheelchair users, indicate on impending seizures and diabetic trauma, and perform many other jobs for disabled owners. During our 13-plus years of interviewing service-dog […]

  Veterans undoubtedly are heroes who selflessly serve our country, but many people don’t realize what these brave men and women go through when their duty concludes. Many return home suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and struggle to ease back into a “normal" day-to-day routine, even with their friends and family. This can become even […]

  Few dogs are suited to life as a service dog, whether it’s as a guide dog for the visually impaired, a medical alert dog, or a psychiatric service dog. Therefore, service dog organizations need to be very particular about which dogs enter their programs. Despite that, many of the dogs that enter service dog […]

The people of Indianapolis had an extra special Valentine's Day this year as service dogs from an organization called ICAN delivered nearly 650 gift boxes to local businesses. The ICAN service dogs are trained by inmates from three different prisons in the Indianapolis area. The dogs are trained to help people with a range of […]

By now, I’m certain you’re sick of presidential politics and want this election to be over. Enter a welcome distraction: "Secret Service Dogs: The Heroes Who Protect the President of the United States" by Maria Goodavage, a New York Times bestseller. This insightful read serves up plenty of brief, punchy slices of dog life that […]

At six prisons in New York and New Jersey, inmates can participate in a program where they learn to train purpose-bred Labrador Retrievers to become service dogs for veterans and explosive detection dogs for law enforcement. But as much as the inmates are helping train the dogs, the dogs are teaching the inmates responsibility and helping them gain a sense of self. […]

A Maryland Senate Committee is scheduled to consider a bill on February 11 that will provide further protections for owners of service animals.  Senate Bill 264 creates two new provisions that would protect service dogs and their owners.  It amends the crime of aggravated cruelty to state that a person may not intentionally inflict bodily […]

Would you lie to get a handicapped parking placard? Would you fake an injury that required the use of a wheelchair to obtain special services? Would you feign a life-threatening illness to qualify for a Make-A-Wish trip? Most people would never do these things because they harm those who are truly disabled and need special […]

Would you lie to get a handicapped parking placard? Would you fake an injury that required the use of a wheelchair to obtain special services? Would you feign a life-threatening illness to qualify for a Make-A-Wish trip? Most people would never do these things because they harm those who are truly disabled and need special […]

Kallie, a psychiatric service dog, and Rio, a puppy in training to become a service dog, go on an outing to Walmart to work on their training. Rio is a Labrador Retriever, and Kallie is a Border Collie/Cattle Dog mix.

“I’m happiest in the month of May,” says Nancy Bromberg, a veterinary ophthalmologist in Fairfax, Virginia. It’s not the spring flowers or nicer weather that warms Dr. Bromberg’s heart, though. It’s the ACVO/StokesRx National Service Animal Eye Exam Event that has taken place every May for the past eight years. The program provides screening eye exams […]

By Jamie Williams  People frequently ask why many service dog organizations provide purpose-bred dogs to their clients, as opposed to training rescued or shelter dogs. We talked to Molly Morelli, Warrior Canine Connection’s (WCC) Dog Program Manager about this topic. "While a majority of dogs put up for adoption make wonderful pets, there are a number […]