Legislative Alerts

Thanks to the quick action of animal owners in Fairfield County, South Carolina, the county council unanimously decided to send a radical animal ordinance back to committee. The same ordinance or a revised version could be considered at a future date. NEXT STEPS:  Resident animal owners are urged to continue working with their county council […]

On Friday, September 20, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy signed “Ollie’s Law” into law as Chapter 213 of the Acts of 2024. The new law will take effect in 90 days. The Department of Agricultural Resources (the department), with advice from the committee as established in subsection (b) of Section 7 of the Act, is required […]

A second and enacting vote is likely to be held Monday, September 23, 2024, on a proposed Fairfield County ordinance that seeks to establish problematic requirements and numerous new fees for dog and cat owners, exhibitors, breeders, and sportsmen. What you can do:  Concerned dog owners are urged to immediately contact county council members to […]

During its informal session on Thursday, September 12, the Massachusetts House of Representatives agreed to an amended version of “Ollie’s Law” that had previously been adopted by the Senate on July 31, 2024.  The bill now awaits Governor Maura Healy’s signature or veto. HISTORY As originally worded, Ollie’s Law would have undermined Massachusetts purebred dog […]

AKC understands that local animal rights groups are putting increased pressure on local cities in Arizona (particularly Phoenix) to enact breeder regulations in an effort to address shelter population concerns.  This is a trend we are increasingly  seeing in cities throughout the United States. While nothing has been formally introduced, now is the time for […]

Saturday, August 31, marked the close of California’s 2024 legislative session. Throughout the session American Kennel Club (AKC) has closely watched two bills that would affect how law enforcement K-9s are deployed in the state. Although the bills advanced out of the state Assembly, neither were voted on by the full state Senate; and neither […]

A proposed ordinance that would have lifted restrictions on ownership of “pit bull” dogs in Sherwood, Arkansas, has been withdrawn. As a result of this action, Sherwood’s animal ordinance continues to prohibit the ownership of: Pit Bull Terriers Staffordshire Bull Terriers American Pit Bull Terriers American Staffordshire Terriers American Bull Dogs Mixed breed dogs with […]