Legislative Alerts

Dear AKC Delegates, Club Officers, Judges and Breeders, Please forward this information to your club members in Washington State. The Washington State House Judiciary Committee will hear Senate Bill 5501 on Tuesday, March 17th. The measure will make it a class 2 civil infraction (punishable by a fine of up to $125) to "leave or […]

House Bill 415 passed by the New Mexico House of Representatives earlier this week contains language that could allow local mandatory spay/neuter policies to be enacted in the state. As introduced, HB 415 would have established a statewide spay and neuter account and allowed for an optional tax refund for those who contribute to the […]

On March 11, 2015, the Arkansas House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development is scheduled to consider House Bill 1620, which would establish regulations, fees, inspections, and problematic requirements for dog breeders and for dogs "sold for commercial purposes." The definitions in the bill are contradictory. A "commercial breeding kennel" would be defined as […]

The NY Assembly Agriculture Committee is scheduled to consider a bill tomorrow (Tuesday, March 10) that would ban the practice of debarking in the state unless it is medically necessary to treat an injury, illness, or congenital defect. The AKC opposes this bill, which would restrict the rights of responsible dog owners to make viable, […]

Dear AKC Delegates, Judges, Club Officers and Breeders, Please immediately forward this information to your club members in Nevada. The AKC Government Relations team has just become aware of proposed changes to the Clark County, NV animal control code which will negatively impact breeders, fanciers and dog owners. Comments must be received by 5pm PST […]

A bill pending in the Minnesota Senate seeks to modify requirements for and uses of certain traps used in hunting, and would require the reporting of pets or companion animals discovered to have been ensnared. The bill, Senate File 1325, will be considered by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee's Subcommittee on Fish and Wildlife […]

Attention Georgia Dog Owners Your action is needed to stop breed-specific legislation in Georgia. Senate Bill 184 would prohibit local governments from enacting laws that apply only to specific breeds or perceived breeds of dogs. SB 184 does not restrict local governments from enacting ordinances that apply to all dogs. In the next step toward […]

A bill has once again been introduced in the North Carolina House of Representatives that would define a “commercial breeder” based solely on the number of intact female dogs someone owns. The measure also would transfer state animal welfare regulation and oversight from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Public Safety. The AKC […]

A bill has been approved by the U.S. House Rules Committee that would allow dog and cat owners to take their dogs on Amtrak trains under certain circumstances.  H.R. 749 is a comprehensive passenger train bill that in part would require Amtrak, when feasible, to designate at least one car where passengers may transport a […]

A bill to protect the rights of responsible dog owners in Kentucky passed in the Senate Agriculture Committee and has advanced to the Senate Rules Committee.  Senate Bill 124 seeks to prohibit local governments from passing any ordinance, regulation, or policy that is specific to a breed of dog.  For this bill to become law […]