Legislative Alerts

Rep. Jerry Mitchell has introduced HB1128, a bill to allow Illinois municipalities to enact breed-specific laws. (A statewide dangerous dog law passed only two years ago prohibits such legislation.) The bill is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on Agriculture and Conservation on Wednesday, February 23rd at 2 p.m. The American Kennel Club […]

Illinois dog owners, your help is needed immediately to oppose HB707. Sponsored by Rep. Elaine Nekritz, the bill would amend the state’s Animal Welfare Act by requiring licenses for all “animal caretakers.” This definition includes but is not limited to anyone who sells, exchanges, or offers for adoption dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, and other […]

At last night's meeting, Mayor John Duran followed through with his introduction of a motion to ban ear cropping, tail docking, debarking and other non-therapeutic procedures. If such a measure is allowed to pass, it will establish a very dangerous model for other cities and states to follow. Help is needed immediately from fanciers --particularly […]

AKC has learned that last night the Senate Public Affairs Committee postponed hearing SB188. The bill will NOT be on the schedule for today's meeting, however it will likely be heard in the near future, perhaps as early as next week. Please check the New Mexico Legislature's Committee Calendar http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs/agecalendars.asp for scheduling information. Fanciers are […]

Hunters and dog fanciers in Texas are extremely concerned about HB326 and its companion, SB172. The identical bills would amend the state's cruelty law in several ways. First, the measures make it a crime to cause bodily injury to an animal, with "animal" being defined as any "nonhuman mammal, bird or captive amphibian or reptile." […]

UPDATE: HB2927 was stricken from the docket on February 2nd. Many thanks to the Virginia Federation of Dog Clubs and the countless Virginia dog owners who helped make this victory possible! Please continue to watch our Web site for information about other pending legislation in Virginia.    [Monday, January 24, 2005] Immediate help is needed […]

AKC has learned that Rep. Guy Liebmann has withdrawn H1282 from consideration. Congratulations to the many dog owners who alerted Rep. Liebmann to the problems with breed-specific legislation! However, Sen. Jim Reynolds's companion bill (S247) is still scheduled for introduction next week. Please keep up the concerned phone calls, letters and e-mails! See below for […]

Legislation has once again been introduced (H1016) that would prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against homeowners based on the breed of dog they own. A similar bill was considered in Washington last year but failed to pass. Your help is needed to ensure that this positive legislation is finally enacted into law! Finding and keeping […]

Many thanks to the concerned fanciers and dog owners in Georgia who contacted AKC this week regarding H78, a bill to ban "pit bulls" in the state. For those who are not yet aware, H78 defines "pit bulls" as American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, or any dogs displaying characteristics of […]

Oklahoma is currently one of 12 states that prohibit municipalities from enacting breed-specific laws. That would change if S247 (scheduled to be introduced February 7) is allowed to pass. Sponsored by Sen. Jim Reynolds, the bill allows cites and counties to regulate dangerous dogs based on breed. The American Kennel Club strongly supports sound, enforceable, […]