Legislative Alerts

A Missouri committee is considering a bill on Monday, March 29 that would significantly broaden the definition of a “dangerous dog” in the state. The state currently defines a dangerous dog as one that has bitten a person or domestic animal without provocation on more than one occasion.  House Bill 992 would expand this definition […]

The New York Assembly is expected to soon vote on a bill that would prohibit homeowner’s insurance providers from refusing or cancelling coverage or increasing premiums based solely on the breed of dog owned by the policy holder. All responsible dog owners and breeders in New York are encouraged to contact their Assembly Member to […]

A work session to discuss Manatee County animal ordinances will be held on March 30, 2021, at 1:30pm at the Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, Florida 34205. View the agenda, information about the work session, and how to submit commentary. The file may take time to download. The ordinance, as approved […]

On Monday, March 29, at 1:00pm, residents in Springfield, Massachusetts, can provide comment at the city’s General Government Committee meeting on a proposed ordinance amending Chapter 110, which includes a new section 110-14 to ban pet retail sales. The new section would ban the sale of purpose-bred pets from state-inspected and licensed facilities, like pet […]

On Monday, March 29, an Oklahoma Senate committee is considering a bill protecting “agritourism activities” – including activities where animals are used for education, animal shows, and “activities that historically involved the utilization of working animals and other substantially similar activities.” AKC enthusiastically supports House Bill 1620, which recognizes the importance of animal events and […]

The Connecticut Joint Committee on Human Services has voted in favor of an amended version of HB 6318, which has now been placed on the calendar of the full State House of Representatives for consideration.  Amended HB 6318 would: Make technical changes to align state law terms, such as references to “guide dog,” with federal […]

Volunteers may soon be seen throughout Colorado collecting signatures to put a measure on the November 2022 ballot that they will claim will protect animals in the state. The American Kennel Club joins many other animal welfare, livestock and animal husbandry groups in expressing grave concerns and opposition to the proposal. We urge all dog […]

Today, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) issued its 2020 Impact Report. While acknowledging the challenges provided by COVID-19 on agency operations, APHIS Administrator Kevin Shea described 2020 as the agency’s most productive year.  Accordingly, APHIS contacted 100 percent of the facilities regulated under the Animal Welfare […]

Yesterday, after hours of testimony was presented, the Texas House Business and Industry Committee took no action on House Bill 1818.  HB 1818 would limit pet stores located in counties of more than 200,000 residents to sourcing dogs from only: (1) an animal control agency, (2) an animal shelter, (3) an animal rescue organization, or (4) […]

Two bills supported by AKC have recently been approved by Texas legislative committees. HB 652—Shelter Disease Outbreak Reporting Last week, the Texas House Committee on Public Health amended and approved HB 652. In its original version, the bill would have required animal shelters to provide notice to each person who adopts an animal from the […]