Due to a number of changes on the Governor's staff, House Bill 2810 is still sitting idle. This bill would increase the instances where an animal is seized on suspicion of cruelty and may result in more Illinois dog owners losing their pets even if they are ultimately found not guilty.

SB 139 which sought to ban cropping and docking in Illinois, has been amended to remove all substantive language from the bill. It now simply exists as a placeholder or "shell", should the sponsor choose to revisit the issue later in session.  AKC will continue to monitor this legislation and will update our website if new language […]

As reported in July 2021, the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is considering amendments to the regulations that carry out the state’s Animal Welfare Act. The proposed amendments, which may be viewed here, add: (1) sanitation and safety requirements; (2) requirements for primary pens to be safely constructed, be large enough for the animals, and […]

A bill is moving through the Illinois Senate that will allow retired police dogs to be adopted by the officer or employee who had custody of the dog during its service. “As a dog owner myself, I recognize there is a special connection formed between an officer and their dog,” bill sponsor Senator Tom Cullerton […]

Numerous state and local measures have included nearly identical legislative findings that are inaccurate, offensive to breeders, and directly reference “HSUS puppy mill estimates.” Such findings are designed to limit debate from the start, undermine alternative sources of information and put opponents on the defensive. While legislative findings are not actual laws, inaccurate, pejorative or […]

Forty-six state legislatures and the District of Columbia are currently in session. The following are highlights of current, active legislation around the country: Alabama – HB 249 would specifically prohibit animal abandonment in Alabama.  The bill is currently at second reading in the Alabama House of Representatives.  Click here for more information. Arizona – Senate […]

Forty-seven legislatures and the District of Columbia are currently in session. The following are highlights of current, active legislation around the country:  Arizona – Senate Bill 1457 would establish a new Office of Domestic Companion Animal Health within the Office of the State Veterinarian.  It would, in part require “all backyard breeders and hobby breeders […]

Seventeen state legislatures and the District of Columbia are currently in session. The following are highlights of current, active legislation around the country: Arizona – Senate Bill 1047 seeks to regulate dogs outdoors. It provides specific exemptions for police and working dogs, hunting, training, “sporting and competitive functions”, and “lawful competitions”.  As introduced, the bill […]

Twenty-eight state legislatures and the District of Columbia are currently in session. The following are highlights of current, active legislation around the country: Arizona – Senate Bill 1047 seeks to regulate dogs outdoors.  It provides specific exemptions for police and working dogs, hunting, training, “sporting and competitive functions”, and “lawful competitions”.  As introduced, the bill […]

Issues at the City, County, and Metropolitan Levels, and in US Territories CA, Los Angeles – The Los Angeles City Council has passed a moratorium on issuing new breeder permits until the shelter population levels reach a 75 percent capacity.  AKC expressed significant concerns with the proposal, and continues to ask that current law be […]

Thirty-five state legislatures and the District of Columbia are currently in session. The following are highlights of current, active legislation around the country: Arizona – Senate Bill 1047 seeks to regulate dogs outdoors.  It provides specific exemptions for police and working dogs, hunting, training, “sporting and competitive functions”, and “lawful competitions”.  As introduced, the bill […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Ten state legislatures and the District of Columbia are currently in session, and two state legislatures are in special session. AKC Government Relations is currently tracking more than 1,444 local, state, and federal issues. The following are highlights […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Twelve state legislatures and the District of Columbia are currently in session, and three state legislatures are in special session. AKC Government Relations is currently tracking more than 1,429 local, state, and federal issues. The following are highlights […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Alabama – SB 2 sought to prohibit inmates from participating in training of dogs for identifying scents and tracking humans. AKC monitored this legislation, which was not considered in the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee and failed at end of […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Alabama – SB 2 seeks to prohibit inmates from participating in training of dogs for tracking humans. AKC is monitoring this legislation, which was assigned to the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. Alabama – SB 242 seeks to remove the […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Alabama – SB 2 seeks to prohibit inmates from participating in training of dogs for tracking humans. AKC is monitoring this legislation, which has not yet received a committee assignment. Arkansas – HB 1591, a bill supported by AKC that limits a local […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Alabama – SB 2 seeks to prohibit inmates from participating in training of dogs for tracking humans. AKC is monitoring this legislation, which has not yet received a committee assignment. Arkansas – HB 1420, among other provisions, defines […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Alabama – SB 2 as pre-filed seeks to prohibit inmates from participating in training of dogs for tracking humans. AKC is monitoring this legislation. California – AB-240: This proposal would create a tax on the sale of pet […]

Here are some highlights of state and federal regulatory issues AKC GR recently addressed.  Visit AKC’s Regulatory Resource Center for more information on these and other significant regulatory issues addressed by AKC Government Relations. Federal - On June 1, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced an extension and modification of the July […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Alabama – House Bill 485, among other provisions, would have allowed a dog to be confiscated without court authorization if suspected of harassing, harming, or killing livestock. Minor amendments were adopted in committee, and AKC GR advocated for […]