Legislative Alerts

Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate debated and decided numerous amendments to  SB 4, its version of the budget bill.   We are grateful to Senator Bruce Tarr for filing Amendment #331 and the continued support for “Nero’s Bill”.  Unfortunately, in agreement with the House of Representatives, the Senate decided not to attach the bill’s text to its […]

Reminder:  A revised proposed animal ordinance is scheduled for a final vote by the Aiken County Council today, November 17, 2020.  Please see AKC’s previous legislative alert on this measure. Among other requirements, the proposed ordinance seeks to require registration with the county as an offender by any person convicted of a dangerous dog violation […]

Thank you to those who contacted your state representative in support of working dogs last week!  Every year the legislature sends an annual budget to the Governor to fund government operations, and funding for training service dogs was adopted in the House. Now, as the Massachusetts Senate has begun debating their fiscal priorities in SB […]

While debating a bill to fund state operations next year, the Massachusetts House of Representatives voted to adopt Amendment #19 to HB 5150, which will provide that not less than $50,000 be expended for the NEADS, Inc. service dogs for veterans program to train service dogs for veterans. Unfortunately, Amendment #18, aka “Nero’s Bill”, which […]

The state of Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has proposed new rules to create a nonlethal enforcement program for the purpose of training dogs to assist in locating offending bear, cougar, and bobcat. The Fish and Wildlife Commission is authorized to allow the use of dogs to hunt or pursue bear, cougar, or […]

The City of Las Cruces announced that residents have the opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions on several changes to the city’s animal control laws.  Feedback will be accepted through November 23, 2020. Residents are encouraged to review the full ordinance changes online.  You can also watch a powerpoint presentation outlining the changes. Changes […]

The Barrow Count Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing and voting session on Tuesday, November 10, 2020, on problematic changes to the county animal ordinance.  The proposed ordinance seeks to ban the use of enclosures of less than 144 square feet per animal with limited exceptions; to ban all unsupervised tethering of dogs; […]

Last week, the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee released HB 5150, which establishes a state budget for 2021.  777 amendments to the bill have been filed for consideration, including two specifically impacting working dogs. Amendment #18 to H5150 – “Nero’s Bill” would allow emergency care and transportation for a police dog injured in the […]

Voters in Denver have overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure that repeals the city’s 30-year breed ban. Ballot Proposal 2J, which was approved by an almost two-thirds margin, replaces the current ban on “pit bulls” with a new law that would allow residents to keep these dogs, with certain regulations. As outlined in a previous AKC […]

The City of Denver is letting the voters decide the fate of the long-standing dog breed ban. If approved by city voters, Ballot Proposal 2J would replace the current ban on “pit bulls” with a new law that would allow residents to keep these dogs, with certain regulations. As outlined in a previous AKC alert, […]