Legislative Alerts

Tuesday, May 21, 2019 AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) has confirmed that the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) has extended the period during which the public may offer comments about proposed changes to Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations.  Comments will now be accepted through Wednesday, June 5, […]

May 16, 2019 Four bills have been introduced in New York which will prohibit retail pet stores from selling any dogs or cats.  Instead, they would only be allowed to “showcase” animals available for adoption from a shelter, rescue, or adoption agency. Current law requires that pet dealers (defined in part as anyone who sells […]

  Thursday, May 16, 2019 Amended Texas House Bill 3092 seeks to require animal shelters to provide notice to each person who adopts an animal from the shelter of any epizootic infectious disease that occurs among the animals in the shelter within a 15-day period before and after the date of transfer.   The bill has […]

USDA APHIS Proposed Rules Comment Period Extended Until June 5 Tuesday, May 21, 2019 AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) has confirmed that the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) has extended the period during which the public may offer comments about proposed changes to Animal Welfare Act (AWA) […]

Tuesday, May 14, 2019 This Thursday, May 16, the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs will consider SB 2158, an Act Relative to Protecting Service Dogs.  To ensure that individuals and businesses will be protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act, this bill makes the misrepresentation of a pet dog as a service dog […]

Friday, May 10, 2019 On Tuesday, May 14, 2019, the Joint Judiciary Committee will consider six dog-related bills at its upcoming hearing from 1pm – 5pm.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) supports with amendment one of the proposals, is concerned with two others, and opposes three more.  The AKC encourages all concerned Massachusetts residents to […]

Friday, May 10, 2019  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has temporarily suspended the importation of dogs from Egypt, effective May 10, 2019.  This suspension also applies to dogs originating in Egypt that are imported from or routed through third-party countries if the dogs lived in those countries for less than six […]

Monday, May 6, 2019 New Hampshire residents are encouraged to contact their state representative and respectfully urge them to vote “YES” on SB 77 as AMENDED BY HOUSE ENVIRONMENT AND AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE. The bill is expected to be debated on Wednesday, May 8, or Thursday, May 9. To identify your representative and their contact information […]

Wednesday, May 1, 2019 The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has extended the period during which it will accept comments on proposed regulations for the operation of animal shelters and animal rescue organizations, and amendments to the Commonwealth’s regulations applying to pet stops.  The comment period is now open until 5PM, Tuesday, May 7, 2019. […]

Tuesday, April 30, 2019 The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently unveiled a new online licensing and registration tool that helps businesses and individuals identify their regulation needs under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Regulations established under the AWA set standards for the humane care and treatment for […]