Legislative Alerts

A bill to regulate pet breeders is scheduled to be voted on by the House Business and Labor Committee on March 24. House Bill 608 seeks to establish licensing, inspections, regulations, fees, and penalties for dog and cat breeders.  It would define a “commercial breeder” as: A person or entity who owns, keeps, or harbors […]

Earlier this session, bills were introduced in both the Maryland House and Senate that would have prevented owners from tethering dogs outside for an hour when the temperature was below a certain temperature, regardless of breed or whether any precautions or shelter were provided. The AKC strongly believes that no dog should ever be kept […]

Tomorrow, March 20, 2015 at 9:00 a.m., the Arkansas House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development is scheduled to consider an amended version of House Bill 1620 as a special order of business. This bill would establish regulations, fees, inspections, and problematic requirements for dog breeders. Provisions of concern with HB 1620 include, but […]

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a comprehensive passenger train bill that in requires Amtrak to develop a pilot program that would, when feasible, designate at least one car where passengers may transport a dog or cat if the pet is in a kennel that can be stowed according to Amtrak’s requirements for carry-on […]

Yesterday, the New Mexico Senate Public Affairs Committee amended House Bill 415 to address the concern that vague language contained in the bill could lead to a statewide mandatory spay/neuter program. Under amendments approved by the committee, the bill would now require the state’s animal shelter board to develop (but not implement) a voluntary statewide […]

The Joint Environment Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly will consider five proposals on Friday, March 20, 2015, that deal with dogs. Connecticut residents are encouraged to contact the committee members and express their support or concerns with the proposals. SYNOPSES OF BILLS HB 5707 HB 5707 seeks to provide for the proper sheltering of […]

The NY Assembly Codes Committee is scheduled to consider a ban on debarking at a hearing tomorrow (Tuesday, March 17).  The bill has already been approved by the Assembly Agriculture Committee. The AKC opposes this bill, which would restrict the rights of responsible dog owners to make viable, safe decisions on behalf of their pets […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC) supports North Carolina Senate Bill 209, which takes an important step to protect the health and welfare of all dogs in North Carolina. SB 209, introduced earlier this week by North Carolina Senators Trudy Wade, DVM, Bill Rabon, DVM and Andrew Brock, would establish the "NC Pets We Care Hotline" […]

A good bill that will help protect dogs and dog owners is getting closer to becoming a law in Georgia. This bill would stop cities and counties from enacting breed-specific legislation and breed bans. Your help is needed more than ever to help keep this bill moving! Senate Bill 184 would prohibit local governments from […]

The Delaware Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider a bill on Wednesday, March 18, that would amend the state definition of cruelty to include confining an animal unattended in a standing or parked motor vehicle in which the temperature would endanger the animal's health or safety. Senate Bill 22 would also allow law enforcement […]