Legislative Alerts

Volunteers may soon be seen throughout Colorado collecting signatures to put a measure on the November 2022 ballot that they will claim will protect animals in the state. The American Kennel Club joins many other animal welfare, livestock and animal husbandry groups in expressing grave concerns and opposition to the proposal. We urge all dog […]

Today, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) issued its 2020 Impact Report. While acknowledging the challenges provided by COVID-19 on agency operations, APHIS Administrator Kevin Shea described 2020 as the agency’s most productive year.  Accordingly, APHIS contacted 100 percent of the facilities regulated under the Animal Welfare […]

Yesterday, after hours of testimony was presented, the Texas House Business and Industry Committee took no action on House Bill 1818.  HB 1818 would limit pet stores located in counties of more than 200,000 residents to sourcing dogs from only: (1) an animal control agency, (2) an animal shelter, (3) an animal rescue organization, or (4) […]

Two bills supported by AKC have recently been approved by Texas legislative committees. HB 652—Shelter Disease Outbreak Reporting Last week, the Texas House Committee on Public Health amended and approved HB 652. In its original version, the bill would have required animal shelters to provide notice to each person who adopts an animal from the […]

Texas House Bill 604 seeks to require animal shelters and releasing agencies, including animal rescue organizations, to scan an animal for a microchip as soon as practicable after the animal is placed in their custody.  The American Kennel Club supports this measure and believes it will help return lost or at-large animals efficiently to their […]

On Wednesday March 24 at 1:30pm, the House Environment and Transportation will hold a hearing on Senate Bill 200.   As mentioned in a previous alert, Senate Bill 200 seek to prohibit contests where the sole objective is the killing of certain wildlife for prizes or monetary awards.  It further clarifies that any prohibition will not apply to […]

The Connecticut Joint Committee on Public Safety and Security has voted in favor of SB 123, which seeks to increase penalties for injuring or killing police and search/rescue dogs.  The bill has been placed on the March 22, 2021, Senate calendar for a vote.   Supportive Connecticut residents are encouraged to email their state senator in […]

Animal rights groups that oppose the purposeful breeding of dogs have long sought to unfairly tarnish the reputation of responsible breeders and shut down regulated professionals by falsely claiming that breeders are cruel or negligent “puppy mills”. A common tactic of anti-breeder groups is to push for laws that prohibit pet retailers from selling purpose-bred […]

On Tuesday, March 23, the Illinois House Cities and Villages Committee is considering a bill that would protect working animals – including animals used in competition and exhibition. Those who reside or participate in dog events in Illinois are encouraged to contact the committee and the bill sponsor to express your support.  Scroll down for […]

Tennessee Senate Bill 511, which seeks to regulate dog owners based on ownership of intact female dogs, did not advance in the Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee on March 17, 2021. Instead, it was sent to “General Sub,” which means the bill is “on hold” and is unlikely to be considered again by […]