March 7, 2019
Today the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) announced that they will suspend enforcement of a recent regulatory interpretation that would have required home-based dog breeders to obtain licensing as a pet store.
ODA has stated they will work with the Ohio General Assembly on a resolution.
The American Kennel Club worked with a number of policymakers regarding this issue. For more information about AKC’s concerns, see a letter to ODA expressing AKC concerns with ODA’s interpretation of the definition of “pet store” and its impact on home-based breeders.
AKC thanks the ODA for suspending enforcement on this issue and will continue to work with legislators for a permanent legislative solution. We will continue to provide more information in the coming weeks. For questions, contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org.