Legislative Alerts

Monday, October 19, 2015 The Joint Judiciary Committee of the Massachusetts General Court is scheduled to consider 20 legislative proposals concerning animals at its next meeting on Wednesday, October 21, 2015.  Included in the agenda are bills that deeply concern both the American Kennel Club and the Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog […]

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a hearing for October 20 on a proposal that would, among other provisions, prohibit tethering a dog for more than 1 hour cumulatively a day – with no exceptions.  The proposal specifically states that this restriction is in place even if the dog is provided with the […]

The Iredell County Board of Commissioners is having a public hearing on October 6 regarding numerous proposed changes to the county’s animal control laws.  Several of the concerns originally mentioned by the AKC and local clubs have been addressed; however, there remains an unclear definition of “household pet”. The proposal defines a “household pet” in […]

September 30, 2015 Late yesterday, the U.S Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) released additional guidance in a Question and Answer format to assist pet breeders, brokers, adoption organizations, importers, transporters and other groups who may be subject to licensing under the federal Animal Welfare Act.    The Retail Pet Store […]

The Hempstead Town Board is continuing to debate a proposal that would regulate breeders, pet sellers, and mandate the sterilization of dogs prior to sale- even if they are only 8 weeks old.     Residents of the Town of Hempstead are encouraged to contact the Hempstead Town Board as soon as possible and respectfully ask […]

A bill has passed two Michigan Senate committees that would prohibit local governments in the state from enacting or enforcing laws that focus solely on a dog’s breed.  The AKC supports Senate Bill 239, which would ensure that local governments regulate dogs based on specific actions, rather than their appearance.  Governments could still pass animal […]

This week the North Carolina General Assembly approved the state budget for next year.  Previous versions of the budget had included items of significant concern to the AKC, such as a transfer of the animal welfare budget and oversight away from the Department of Agriculture.  Another version included a tax on veterinary services.  Neither of […]

The Ulster County Legislature has made numerous changes to the proposal that would regulate dog breeders and sellers in the county, and a public hearing will be held in October. The Ulster County Legislature is demonstrating a willingness to listen to constituents on this proposal, and residents are encouraged to continue contacting the legislators to […]

The Ulster County Legislature has decided to not proceed with a vote on an ordinance that would have regulated breeders and imposed kennel requirements that were not in the best interest of dogs.  The AKC was pleased to assist the efforts of local clubs and hobbyists who worked tirelessly to educate the legislature on the […]

The Ulster County Legislature is considering a proposal that would regulate hobby breeders in the county and could vote as early as tomorrow (Tuesday, August 18).  County residents are urged to contact the legislature immediately and urge them to not allow this proposal to pass as it is currently written.  Type in your address on […]