March 2, 2009 A bill has been introduced in the Florida House of Representatives to limit dog ownership and impose numerous regulations on responsible breeders and dog owners, including imposing regulations on any person owning 10 or more dogs and limiting ownership to 50 dogs.  All Florida responsible dog owners and breeders are encouraged to […]

Despite opposition from responsible pet owners, on October 10, 2023, the Floyd County, Georgia, County Commission enacted changes to the county animal ordinance that make it “unlawful for any person to own, keep, or be in possession of a sexually mature dog or cat which has not been spayed or neutered, unless otherwise exempt from […]

The US Court of Appeals sided with the USDA and AKC Tuesday in a case that would have made all residential breeders of dogs and cats subject to federal licensing and inspection. The ruling, which reversed a lower court's decision, rejects arguments by Doris Day Animal League and other animal rights groups that wanted to […]

Yesterday, the New York Assembly Agriculture Committee considered two bills relating to the tethering of dogs outdoors.  While one did pass committee, another was held, and AKC thanks the many dog owners who responded to our alert and expressed your concerns with the bills. As a result of these efforts, Assembly Bill 6145, which mandated […]

The 2021-2022 South Carolina legislative session and special sessions concluded with victories for dogs and dog owners. The American Kennel Club Government Relations team (AKC GR) thanks club members, sportsmen, dog owners, allied organizations, and every individual who contacted their state lawmakers about legislation that affects dogs.  Highlights from the two-year legislative session:  House Bill […]

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 Hempstead Town Board is continuing to debate a proposal that would regulate breeders, pet sellers, and mandate the sterilization of dogs prior to sale- even if they are only 8 weeks old.     Residents of the Town of Hempstead are encouraged to contact the Hempstead Town Board as soon as possible and respectfully ask […]

The AKC Humane Fund, Inc. is pleased to announce the creation of the John Spurling, O.B.E. Scholarship Celebrating the Human-Canine Bond.  Five scholarships will be awarded annually to full-time students enrolled in courses of study that advance responsible pet ownership.  For more information and an application, please visit www.akchumanefund.org. The scholarship is named in honor […]

By John Osborne Collier Citizen Angel, a recent addition at the Shelter for Abused Women and Children in Naples, sit in the lap of a staff member. The facility is one of very few that allows domestic violence victims to bring their pets along with them. Laura Torres/Citizen Correspondent Oftentimes, dogs are a woman’s best […]

– Breed is Sixth Coonhound to Gain Full AKC Recognition – The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) expanded its litter of registered breeds on January 1 to welcome the Treeing Walker Coonhound, growing AKC’s family to 174 breeds. "The Treeing Walker is a fast, hot nosed, sensible hunter with a clear, ringing bugle voice," said AKC […]