The Joint Municipalities and Regional Government Committee of the Massachusetts General Court is scheduled to consider 14 legislative proposals at its next meeting on Thursday, January 21, 2016.  Included in the agenda are bills pertaining to dogs.  All concerned Massachusetts dog owners are encouraged to contact the members of the Joint Municipalities and Regional Government […]

As part of its required five-year review process, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) has proposed extensive changes to regulations applying to high volume breeders, pet stores, and dog brokers.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) encourages anyone potentially affected by the proposals to express their comments or concerns to ODA in one of the methods […]

Joint committees of the Massachusetts legislature will soon consider legislation about veterans’ service dogs, prohibiting animal cruelty violators from owning animals, establishing an animal cruelty registry, allowing non-economic damages, animal neglect cases, and animal tethering practices. Massachusetts residents are encouraged to review the information below, and contact legislators. TUESDAY, JULY 22: The Massachusetts Joint Committee […]

The American Kennel Club Government Relations Department has just learned that Illinois House Bill 5771, which seeks to impose both government oversight over most responsible dog breeders and litter limits, has been removed from tomorrow’s agenda of the Illinois House Agriculture and Conservation Committee. The Government Relations Department will report new developments regarding HB 5771 […]

Due to the length of its previous hearing, during which deep concerns were expressed by many dog owners, the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Dog Owners of the Granite State (DOGS), the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, the New Hampshire Farm Bureau and the New Hampshire Veterinary Medical Association, the New Hampshire House Environment and […]

In addition to bills to be considered by the Joint Judiciary Committee, the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture is also scheduled to consider several dog-related bills on Tuesday, September 12.

The AKC Government Relations Department has learned that the House Finance Committee will likely consider Senate Bill 460 on Wednesday, June 30, 2010.  This bill was originally scheduled to be heard on June 24, but the hearing was postponed after the committee received an enormous volume of calls and e-mails from concerned dog owners and […]

A radical nationwide campaign continues to seek government-sanctioned restrictions on retails sales of pets. The latest threat emerges from the California State Legislature.

The Joint Judiciary Committee of the Massachusetts General Court is scheduled to consider four dog-related bills at its upcoming hearing on Tuesday, September 12, 2017.

On Wednesday, July 28, SB1548 was amended to clarify an enforcement question by including the following language: "Any person who crops the ears of any dog or procures the cropping of a dog's ears within the State of California, except for treatment of disease or injury of the dog, is guilty of a misdemeanor." For […]

New Hampshire Senate Bill 569, which seeks to expand those considered “commercial kennels” by the state and create bond for care requirements, is scheduled for consideration by the House Environment and Agriculture Committee on Wednesday, April 4, 2018.  This may be residents’ last chance to personally express concerns with SB 569.  All concerned dog owners […]

The AKC® Humane Fund is proud to announce the winners of the 22nd annual AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). These awards celebrate five loyal, hard-working dogs that have significantly improved the lives of their owners and communities. The five winners were carefully chosen from a pool of nearly 1,000 impressive nominations. The […]

Enhanced Guidelines and New Format Provide Best Practices For All Responsible Dog Owners As the only purebred dog registry in the country with an ongoing kennel inspection program, the American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is proud to announce recent enhancements to its Care and Conditions of Dogs policy.  Since 2000, AKC has conducted more than 55,000 […]

American Kennel Club Honors Black Hills Dog Training Club With a Community Achievement Award The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) announced recently that Black Hills Dog Training Club (BHDTC) of Rapid City, South Dakota has been named a recipient of the AKC Community Achievement Award for hosting an exceptional AKC Responsible Dog Ownership (RDO) Day event. […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC®), the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs is proud to announce the winners of the 2022 AKC® Lifetime Achievement Awards: James (Jim) Crowley (Conformation), Linda Mecklenburg (Companion Events) and Pluis Davern (Performance). The Awards, created by AKC President and CEO Dennis Sprung in 1999, are presented […]

American Kennel Club & Cat Fanciers' Association Celebrate All-American Dogs & Cats for 4th of July   – Buy Your Tickets to Meet American Breeds and Many More at NYC’s Javits Center October 17-18, 2009 at www.meetthebreeds.com -  With dogs and cats having been domesticated for thousands of years, many of the breeds we know and […]

The American Kennel Club announced today the winners of the seventh AKC Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE), the award designed to commemorate loyal, hard-working dogs that have made significant contributions to their community. The ACE is given annually to dogs in each of the following five categories: Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, Therapy, Service and […]

New York, NY – The AKC® Humane Fund is pleased to announce the winners of the 17th annual AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE). These awards celebrate five loyal, hard-working dogs that have significantly improved the lives of their owners and communities. One award is presented in each of the following five categories: […]

Greetings everybody. A year ago, almost to the day, the American Kennel Club and our constituents had to face the grim reality of a lockdown due to an unprecedented pandemic. Incredibly, we are still grappling with this global disaster. COVID-19 has taken an unbearable toll on our Events, Clubs, Exhibitors, Handlers and Judges. But, there’s […]

For the past eight years, I have been fortunate to serve on the Board of this great American Kennel Club, the world’s strongest and most effective champion for purebred dogs and our Sport. It has been a privilege to play a role in the advancement of AKC’s mission and to be a part of so […]