Legislative Alerts

May 18, 2015 The NY Assembly Agriculture Committee is considering a bill tomorrow (Tuesday, May 19) that would clarify current law regarding minimum standards for dogs kept in outdoor shelters.  Current law already provides minimum requirements for dogs kept outdoors in inclement weather and extreme temperatures.  Assembly Bill 7033 contains reasonable clarifications to these requirements […]

May 12, 2015 A bill is advancing in the Pennsylvania Senate that would amend the state’s cruelty laws to regulate tethering and sheltering for dogs kept outdoors. The AKC strongly believes that no dog should ever be kept in a situation that endangers its health, wellbeing, or safety.  Senate Bill 373, however, could directly impact […]

May 8, 2015 A New York Senate Committee is considering a bill on Monday that would allow owners to take their companion animals on public transportation if a state of emergency is declared.  This is meant to partner with identical legislation passed in New Jersey to assist those utilizing public transportation through the Port Authority […]

Tuesday, May 05, 2015 Last week, a committee of the Connecticut General Assembly approved Senate Bill 946 that would extend Connecticut’s sales tax to veterinary services.  The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) opposes the bill.  All concerned Connecticut dog owners are encouraged to contact their state legislator and Governor Malloy to express their concerns.  Providing […]

May 5, 2015 A bill remains active in Iowa that would further regulate breeders, hobbyists, fanciers, groomers, and rescues and require them to pay significant license fees.  Iowa dog owners, breeders, and fanciers are strongly encouraged to contact your State Senator and ask them to oppose Senate File 502.  Even if you already contacted your […]

April 29, 2015 A bill is moving in the New York Assembly that would require licensing, inspections, and other regulations for pet grooming facilities. Assembly Bill 1451 has passed the Economic Development Committee and is pending consideration in the Assembly Codes Committee before being sent to the full Assembly.  Those who wish to comment on […]

April 28, 2015 Attention Alabama Dog Owners: Alabama House Bill 548 seeks to establish criminal penalties for failure to comply with overreaching, undefined, and arbitrary requirements for the care, feeding, and housing of dogs.  Compliance with the problematic provisions of HB 548 would be required for every person or organization that has “custody or ownership” […]

Monday, April 27, 2015 On Wednesday, April 29, the Rhode Island House’s Health, Education, and Welfare Committee will consider numerous bills that may impact dogs and their owners.  Of specific concern, House Bill 5800 would reinstate localities’ breed-specific ordinances that were enacted prior to the state’s 2013 ban on such local laws. House Bill 5573 […]

The North Carolina House of Representatives has passed House Bill 159, which would define certain dog owners as “large commercial dog breeders” based solely on the number of intact female dogs they own.  Read AKC’s previous Legislative Alert for details on this legislation. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it has been assigned […]

April 23, 2015 The Nebraska Legislature has given initial approval to a series of amendments that would change the Commercial Dog Breeder and Operator Inspection Act.  They also approved Amendment 1194, which would allow the court to force owners to relinquish their animals for suspicion of cruelty – even before a court hearing begins. The […]