At their November 4th meeting the Lee County Board of Commissioners will be introducing a revised animal control ordinance that essentially repeals a problematic ordinance adopted back in February. The revised ordinance will REMOVE the mandatory spay/neuter provisions, the breeder licensing and inspections provisions, and will reinstate reasonable animal control laws in Lee County. It […]

The Montana Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider Senate Bill 115 on January 20, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. This bill would expand provisions regarding bonds for care of seized animals. The American Kennel Club’s concerns with SB 115 include, but are not limited to: SB 115 would limit the court’s discretion in cases of […]

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is holding a public hearing on Tuesday, December 23 prior to the possible signing of a number of measures. The agenda includes the legislation recently passed by the New York City Council that would, among other provisions, require all pet shops to sterilize dogs prior to sale- regardless […]

The Nebraska Legislature’s Agriculture Committee will consider several bills on Tuesday, February 17 that will impact dog owners and breeders, including a bill (LB 377) that could force a dog owner to forfeit their animals for only a suspicion of animal cruelty – even before a conviction by the court. AKC encourages dog owners and […]

The Montana House Agriculture Committee is scheduled to consider House Bill 179 on January 27, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. This bill would make it illegal for a humane shelter or its employees to engage in activities at an animal facility without the owner’s consent. It would not apply to the lawful activities of a government […]

The Maryland House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider a bill on Thursday, February 19, that would amend the state’s tethering laws and ban dogs from being left tethered outdoors in extreme hot or cold conditions.  However, like a Senate bill recently considered, this bill as introduced prohibits any dog from being tethered outside unattended […]

Dear AKC Delegates, Club Officers, Judges and Breeders, Please forward this information to your club members in Washington State. The Washington State House Judiciary Committee will hear Senate Bill 5501 on Tuesday, March 17th. The measure will make it a class 2 civil infraction (punishable by a fine of up to $125) to "leave or […]

On March 11, 2015, the Arkansas House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development is scheduled to consider House Bill 1620, which would establish regulations, fees, inspections, and problematic requirements for dog breeders and for dogs "sold for commercial purposes." The definitions in the bill are contradictory. A "commercial breeding kennel" would be defined as […]

Tomorrow, March 20, 2015 at 9:00 a.m., the Arkansas House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development is scheduled to consider an amended version of House Bill 1620 as a special order of business. This bill would establish regulations, fees, inspections, and problematic requirements for dog breeders. Provisions of concern with HB 1620 include, but […]

The American Kennel Club supports a bill filed in the United States House of Representatives that would add federal protections for the pets of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence.    Known as the “Pet and Women Safety Act of 2015” (PAWS), H.R. 1258 is principally sponsored by Congresswoman Katherine Clark […]