Legislative Alerts

Yesterday, division leaders of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NC Wildlife) conducted a virtual public meeting regarding the proposed temporary, emergency regulations regarding Controlled Rabbit Hunting Preserves.  The meeting was scheduled due to the response of local field trial clubs, hunters, and the American Kennel Club (AKC) to the proposal. NC Wildlife staff explained […]

The Missouri Legislature is back in session, and the Missouri House is likely to soon be voting on a bill that, among many other provisions, would provide important and necessary protections for Missouri dog owners. As approved by a House committee, Senate Bill 600 has become a large omnibus bill that includes a number of […]

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) is proposing temporary, emergency regulations that could impact those who train or participate in field trials with rabbits. Due to extensive feedback from local field trial clubs, hunters, and the AKC, the WRC has scheduled a second public hearing on April 30, to allow those concerned with the […]

Despite opposition from the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs (MassFed), and the Congressional Sportsmen Foundation (CSF), and an ongoing global health pandemic, two identical Massachusetts bills have again been granted extended time for legislative committee consideration - until May 8, 2020. Massachusetts dog laws already provide for civil fines and […]

Yesterday, the Virginia General Assembly rejected Governor Northam’s recommendation to strike a provision regarding research animals from SB 891. As mentioned in a previous alert, the bill changed the definition of “commercial dog breeder” and added a provision to exempt a person who breeds an animal regulated under federal law as a research animal. At […]

National Purebred Dog Day is a great opportunity to educate your legislator about the importance of purpose-bred dogs. On May 1st, reach out to your decision makers through email and social media and let them know the many reasons you love purebred dogs.  Lawmakers want to hear from their constituents. During this 'new normal,' the […]

National Purebred Dog Day is a great opportunity to educate your legislator about the importance of purpose-bred dogs. On May 1st, reach out to your decision makers through email and social media and let them know the many reasons you love purebred dogs.  Law makers want to hear from their constituents. During this 'new normal,' […]

Tomorrow (Wednesday, April 22), the Virginia General Assembly will hold a one-day session to act on bills that have been sent back to the General Assembly by Governor Northam with recommendations for approval prior to becoming law. One those bills is SB 891.  Originally intended to deal with the adoption of comprehensive regulations governing the […]

Recently, Governor Northam signed SB 272/HB 1552  into law.  The new rules regarding tethering will take effect on July 1, 2020. As mentioned in a previous alert, this bill contains language that sets absolute temperatures and weather conditions language, along with a new (and unclear) provision that would allow an animal control officer to assess […]

Earlier this week, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) posted changes  to the state’s proposed animal health regulations for dogs temporarily imported into the state for shows.  The changes clarify animal description requirements and allow veterinarians to be on call instead of on the show premises.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) supports these […]