Legislative Alerts

Yesterday, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship published the final updates to the state’s animal welfare regulations. Visit the IDALS website to view the regulations in their entirety.  AKC thanks all those who took the time to submit comments to the department. Summary: The purpose of these updates in part is to address […]

Recently, AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) reported on a troublesome amendment to the U.S. Senate FY 2020 combined “minibus” Appropriations Bill that would mirror a U.S. House proposal removing certain privacy protections for USDA licensed pet breeders. We are pleased to report that the proposal failed in the Senate bill. However, the troublesome language does remain […]

The Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security has reviewed HB 2037 and SB 1431 providing for EMT care and transportation of police dogs injured in the line of duty and just favorably released a re-drafted bill, now SB 2423, to the Senate Ways and Means Committee.  In addition to authorizing EMTs to […]

The Johnson City Board of Commissioners is scheduled to hold a third and final vote on Thursday, November 21, 2019 to enact an overreaching new animal ordinance.  Proponents of the ordinance state that they will immediately seek to pass this same legislation throughout Washington County. AKC agrees with the city’s intent to protect dogs in […]

The Prince George’s County Council (Maryland) is scheduled to consider numerous changes to the county’s animal laws on Tuesday, November 19, at 1:30 pm. Several weeks ago, a county committee approved multiple amendments, including repealing the county’s long-standing breed-specific laws and instituting new, comprehensive dangerous dog laws.  This will be considered on Tuesday, along with […]

Monday, November 11, 2019 A problematic proposed ordinance in Smithfield, Rhode Island, which seeks to ban the sale of animals in any retail pet store or commercial establishment, is scheduled for public hearing on December 17, 2019.  The proposed change to Chapter 126, regarding “Animals,” would instead allow pet stores, retail businesses, or other commercial […]

On Wednesday, November 6, the New Cumberland (PA) Borough Council is scheduled to consider a proposal that would limit the number of animals that may be kept or maintained on any property. The proposal states that “due to the close proximity of the properties” in the Borough, no one may keep or maintain on a […]

On Tuesday, November 5, residents in the town of Middleton, Massachusetts, are being asked at a Special Town Meeting to vote on a new dangerous dog bylaw that could categorize dogs as “nuisance” or “dangerous” indefinitely. Article 13 is a petition by the Board of Selectman amending the Middleton General Bylaws, Chapter 107: Animals, by […]

On Thursday, October 31, the Michigan Senate Agriculture Committee will be taking testimony on a bill regulating rescues and foster homes operating in Michigan. Senate Bill 419 seeks to regulate “animal rescues”, defined as a person that acquires an animal for the purpose of finding that animal a new home and maintains the animal in […]

Several months ago, a last-minute amendment was made to section 760 of the 2020 House Agriculture Appropriations bill that would require the USDA to make privately identifiable information about licensed breeders, including home addresses, pet inventories, and other sensitive information, available to the public online. That measure currently awaits reconciliation and attention from Senate appropriators. […]