Legislative Alerts

Two committees of the Wisconsin legislature will consider separate breeders bills in a joint meeting on Wednesday, September 23, at 10:00 AM.  The Assembly Committee on Consumer Protection and the Senate Committee on Small Business, Emergency Preparedness, Technical Colleges, and Consumer Protection will consider Assembly Bill 250 and Senate Bill 208.  The American Kennel Club […]

Senator Dean Florez, the author of Senate Bill 250, has issued a press release stating that the bill will be put on hold until the legislature reconvenes in January 2010. AKC thanks the clubs, and responsible owners and breeders who took the time to educate their legislators about this issue. We encourage you all to […]

As expected, the U.S. Senate last night approved, 63-35, the nomination of Cass Sunstein to be Director of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. The role, also known as the "Regulatory Czar" is responsible for overseeing regulatory policy throughout the government. The nomination was approved […]

California Senate Bill 250 failed on the Assembly Floor 28-42. Forty-one votes were needed for passage, meaning Senator Florez needs 13 additional votes to pass SB 250. The bill was noticed for Reconsideration today which requires 41 votes to pass. Then the bill could be taken up for another vote prior to the close of […]

Senator Florez has amended Senate Bill 250, but the changes do little to address AKC’s fundamental concerns with the bill. It is imperative that California responsible dog owners and breeders immediately contact their Assemblymembers and Senators and ask them to oppose SB 250!!! As expected, the bill now provides that an intact dog with a […]

California Senate Bill 250 passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee yesterday on a partisan vote with Democrats De Leon, Ammiano, Coto, Fuentes, John A. Perez, Skinner, Solorio, Torlakson and Hill supporting the bill and all Republicans and Democrat Charles Calderon voting to oppose. Democrats Davis and Hall and Republican Harkey abstained. The bill will now move […]

Yesterday, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell signed House Bill 39 into law.  Effective immediately, this new law now: Limits the legal practices of ear cropping, debarking, and surgical births to those procedures performed by a veterinarian.   Permits owners to perform tail docking and dewclaw removal procedures only on dogs less than five days of age; […]

The AKC submitted a letter to the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee expressing support for House Bill 123 as introduced, a bill that penalizes owners of dogs that kill or severely injure service dogs. The bill also requests that the Chairman allow the bill to receive a hearing. Read the letter to the committee. The AKC […]

California Assembly Bill 241, which prohibits any person from owning or possessing more than a combined total of 50 adult unsterilized dogs and cats at any time used for the purpose of breeding or raising those animals to sell as pets, will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on August 17th.  The quality of […]

The City of Fort Worth is considering a variety of changes to their animal control ordinance and will hold a public hearing on the changes at their August 11th meeting. Concerned dog owners are encouraged to attend and to contact their city council member regarding their concerns. Please forward this on to other members of […]