Legislative Alerts

A significantly amended New Jersey Senate Bill 63 was approved late last week by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.  The bill could now be considered for a vote by the full Senate this Thursday, June 30.  Although some important and necessary changes have been made, the AKC remains deeply concerned with SB 63.  It […]

Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate’s Ways and Means Committee passed an amended version of Senate Bill 2370, the “Act Relative to Protecting Puppies and Kittens” (previously Senate Bill 1103).  The bill could be voted on by the full Senate as soon as Tuesday, June 28.  The new version of this bill makes several changes – including […]

A bill has been approved by the Delaware House Health and Human Development Committee that would ensure the state and local Delaware municipalities cannot declare a dog as dangerous based solely on “a dog’s breed or perceived breed.”  The bill also makes several amendments to streamline current state laws, including removing all references to the […]

A number of bills have been introduced in North Carolina over the past year to allow certain municipalities to donate a working dog to its handler when the animal is retired from service.  Yesterday, a bill was amended in the Senate that would clarify that these procedures for the donation of retired service dogs apply […]

The California Senate Public Safety Committee will hear Assembly Bill 797 which will allow private citizens to remove a companion animal from a vehicle if they believe that the animal is in imminent danger of suffering harm. Dog owners who reside or participate in events in California are encouraged to contact the Public Safety Committee or […]

The Sarasota County Commission will discuss a proposed amendment to an ordinance adopted in April of 2016. The staff is recommending that the hobby breeder definition be eliminated and that the definition of “Commercial Establishment” be modified to more clearly exclude those who engage in occasional sales and responsible hobby breeding. This action is in […]

AKC Government Relations has confirmed that New Jersey Senate Bill 63 will be heard by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on Thursday, June 23, at 10AM in Committee Room 4, 1st Floor of the State House Annex, Trenton (125 W State St #2, Trenton, NJ 08608).  As currently written, the bill seeks to repeal […]

AKC Government Relations has learned that New Jersey Senate Bill 63, which seeks to repeal consumer protection laws for New Jersey pet purchasers and restrict individuals’ choice of a purpose-bred dog, will likely be considered by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee on Monday, June 20.  While a committee substitute may be introduced at Monday’s […]

The Puerto Rico Senate Health and Nutrition Commission will hold a public hearing on P.S. 1631 on Tuesday, June 21.  P.S. 1631 would mandate the sterilization of all dogs in Puerto Rico, which punishes responsible owners and dog breeders and could endanger a dog’s health, while doing nothing to address the true issue. Talking Points: […]

On Monday, June 20, a committee of Stamford, Connecticut’s Board of Representatives will accept public comment on proposed changes to Chapter 111 of the City’s Code of Ordinances.   Since the proposal was first considered, several changes have been made at the behest of resident responsible dog owners.  However, the proposal still seeks to create breeder […]