This month we celebrated Independence Day, a time to pause and reflect on the freedoms we enjoy. We want to take a moment to thank each of you who have taken a stand with us to protect our rights to own, breed, and exhibit our purebred dogs.
In this issue, we recognize three individuals who we have been proud to partner with in this fight. Recently, AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) staff presented a Legislator of the Year Award to New Jersey State Assemblyman Bill Spearman and a Lifetime Achievement Award to Don Slavik, former K9 officer and current US Police Canine Association leader. We were also proud to present Nancy Fisk, President of the Virginia Federation of Dog Clubs and Delegate for Hockamock Kennel Club with AKC’s Community Achievement award.
These awards honor those whose leadership have made a difference for purebred dogs. We also remain grateful to all the club members, judges, breeders, handlers and exhibitors who take a stand in your state and community on behalf of dogs and our sports.
AKC GR is excited to announce we will be hosting a one-day legislative conference in Raleigh, NC, on Saturday, September 26. The conference is designed specifically for dog enthusiasts, federation and club members like you. It will cover recent trends in canine legislation, the animal rights movement, and empower attendees to develop new advocacy skills, build confidence in community outreach, and network with the GR team and fellow purebred dog enthusiasts. Whether you are a long-time advocate or have never talked with a lawmaker but want to get more involved, we hope you’ll join us!
Please take a few minutes to review important updates in this issue on canine legislative issues, regulations, and policies we continue to track around the country. This includes the Senate Farm Bill (Known as “Farm Bill 2.0”), which contains many important animal welfare provisions supported by AKC.
AKC GR also continues to closely monitor state regulations and policies in response to New World Screwworm, including new policies regarding bringing dogs to shows in/from affected states. The latest updates are included in this issue. We also provide updates on new federal guidelines regarding emotional support and service animals and providing appropriate accommodations in housing.
We continue to track proposals on the federal, state, and local levels impacting dogs and dog owners. If you hear of something in your state or community, please contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.