The Fort Collins City Council is expected to vote on Tuesday, September 3, on a proposal that will restrict pet sales in the city. As currently written, the proposal would ban the retail sale of dogs and cats in the city, with the exception of shelters and rescues.  “Hobby breeders” are also exempt, so long […]

During its informal session on Thursday, September 12, the Massachusetts House of Representatives agreed to an amended version of “Ollie’s Law” that had previously been adopted by the Senate on July 31, 2024.  The bill now awaits Governor Maura Healy’s signature or veto. HISTORY As originally worded, Ollie’s Law would have undermined Massachusetts purebred dog […]

On September 17, 1884, a group of 12 dedicated sportsmen from local dog clubs convened to form the American Kennel Club® (AKC®).  Now in its 140th year, the AKC has grown into the world’s largest not-for-profit dog registry and is the second oldest amateur sport-governing body in the country. What started out as a club for […]

With autumn at our doorstep, attention is turning to the critical elections scheduled for November. While the presidential race and congressional control capture headlines, it's essential for responsible dog owners to recognize the importance of local and state elections on legislation directly affecting them. The American Kennel Club (AKC) has launched a 2024 Election Center […]

The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to take action on a problematic litter permitting and pet transfer ordinance at its meeting tomorrow (Tuesday morning, October 8, 2024). This ordinance would apply to and require the payment of fees by every county resident who, in the future, may have reason to give away, sell, […]

September 30 was the last day for Governor Gavin Newsom to sign or veto bills passed by the Legislature over the two-year session. From the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) perspective, California’s legislative session concluded quietly. The session began with bills that could have seen the definition of a “dog breeder” expanded to include many hobbyists, […]

Issues at the City, County, and Metropolitan Levels, and in US Territories GA, DeKalb County – An overreaching proposed ordinance in DeKalb County seeks to require owners of female intact companion animals to obtain a litter permit prior to the birth of a litter or within one week after the litter’s birth. The proposal seeks […]

A meeting of the DeKalb County, Georgia, County Operations Committee (OPS Committee), which was scheduled for Friday, November 8, 2024, has been cancelled. The meeting agenda included discussion of an overreaching proposed animal ordinance that seeks to require litter permits; limitations on residents who might have the need to give away, sell, or transfer ownership […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®), the world's largest purebred dog registry and a leading advocate for dogs, is pleased to announce that its Patriotic Puppy Program (PPP), has graduated it’s 100th detection dog, a yellow Labrador Retriever named K-9 Teddy. The AKC Patriotic Puppy Program, part of the AKC’s Detection Dog Task Force, works with […]

St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, is seeking to mandate the spay/neuter of all dogs at its Thursday, December 5, 2024, Parish Council meeting. The American Kennel Club (AKC) encourages all St. Tammany residents to review the information below and to contact Parish Councilmembers to share concerns about the proposal. IMPACT Ordinance Calendar Number 7740AA requires all dogs […]