USDA APHIS/ Regulatory – AKC submitted comments to the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) regarding a draft five-year strategic plan for the agency.  Comments will assist APHIS in finalizing the plan, of which a final version is expected in the fall. AKC’s comment highlights three main needs: (1) […]

This summer has been hitting record breaking temperatures, and while you are looking for ways to cool off, it’s also important to remember your furry friends. In response to some tragic situations, some lawmakers have sought to enact laws aimed at protecting dogs when they are outside in extreme weather. Many of these proposals unfortunately include […]

Issues at the City, County, and Metropolitan Levels, and in US Territories CA, Los Angeles – The Los Angeles City Council is considering a proposal to suspend the issuance of new breeding permits for the stated reason of shelter overcrowding. This would impact all who breed in the city, as well as all owners of […]

AKC Government Relations is delighted to announce that Barbara Reichman of the NAIA Trust of New Jersey has become the first two-time winner of the Walter Bebout Memorial Award for Leadership in Canine Legislation by the American Kennel Club. Mrs. Reichman was first awarded with a Bebout Award in 2014, in recognition of her work […]

  This year’s national specialty for the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America (WSSCA) was held in late April during the Cherry Blossom Cluster in Maryland. We enjoyed four days of competition and camaraderie, and it only rained once! (In 2011 we held our national specialty in Pennsylvania during “The Great Harrisburg Flood.”) Welsh Springer […]

Four decades ago, when I first became interested in Lhasa Apsos, I sought out experienced breeders and exhibitors whose dogs I admired and who were willing to share information. They shared their time and knowledge and answered my endless questions, and I learned from watching and listening. There were far fewer dog shows per year […]

Massachusetts residents, take action now! AKC Government Relations has learned that House Bill 1080 and Senate Bill 1155, which seek to be impose regulatory oversight over personal and commercial kennels, mandate annual inspections of all kennels, and create consumer protections laws is scheduled for consideration by the Joint Municipalities and Regional Government Committee on Tuesday, […]

The New Hampshire House Environment and Agriculture Committee is scheduled to hear House Bill 337 on Wednesday, February 11. This measure would prevent any dog owner from selling more than one dog or cat per year without a temporary license, which expires after 60 days. The AKC urges all responsible dog owners, fanciers, and breeders […]

Friday, September 12, is the final day for the California Legislature to vote on legislation. One bill nearing the finish line is Assembly Bill 506, which expands disclosure requirements for transferers of dogs (cats and rabbits, too) and increases consumer protection rights for purchasers of dogs. The bill, which includes some language recommended by AKC, […]

The Illinois Senate Agriculture Committee will likely consider a bill next week that would limit pet stores to sourcing dogs and cats only from shelters and rescues that have no affiliation with breeders. House Bill 1711 is virtually identical to a bill considered and defeated earlier this year by the Senate Agriculture Committee.  However, the […]