The Township Committee of Shamong, New Jersey, is expected to consider amended proposed changes to its animal ordinances at its upcoming Wednesday, November 7, 2018, meeting.  Due to the successful outreach of concerned local stakeholders, the Township Committee eliminated some troublesome provisions of earlier proposals, including a ban on future breeders and kennels and pet […]

Click here for an update to this Alert The Los Angeles County Animal Board of Supervisors will meet April 18th to discuss their proposal to require all dogs to be spayed or neutered unless their owner purchases a $60 intact animal license (currently $30) and meets the stringent criteria established by the county. The measure […]

On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, the Connecticut General Assembly’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee will accept public testimony on SB 1386, concerning dog breed insurance underwriting and service dogs.  The bill would prohibit homeowners' insurance and renters' insurance policies from discriminating based on harboring or owning any dog of a specific breed or mixture of […]

On Friday, December 1, the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation (Commission) adopted the first round of rules to implement the 2023 changes to the state’s Dog or Cat Breeders Act.  These changes were needed to quickly implement rules for additional breeders who are required to comply with the law by January 1, 2024. SUMMARY […]

A Hawaii joint Senate committee is holding votes on Tuesday and Wednesday for HB 1736—addressing Hawaii’s feral cat overpopulation crisis that does not (currently) include dogs. However, proposed amendments expand the bill’s mandatory sterilization requirements to include dogs brought into Hawaii. Dog owners are strongly encouraged to contact the joint committee and urge members to […]

The first year of Georgia’s two-year legislative session ended with several bills carrying over to 2024. The American Kennel Club Government Relations team (AKC GR) thanks the Georgia Canine Coalition, AKC club members, and every individual who contacted lawmakers and spread the word to fellow owners about bills that affect dogs. Among the 2023-2024 bills […]

Massachusetts Senate Bill 885 and House Bill 1437, which protect dog owners in Massachusetts from housing and insurance breed discrimination, are scheduled for a virtual public hearing on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 before the Joint Committee on Housing at 11am. The COVID-19 pandemic threatened to alter housing arrangements for Massachusetts residents unable to pay their […]

Friday, February 01, 2019 The Hawaii House Agriculture Committee is scheduled to consider several dog-related bills at its meeting on Friday, February 8, 2019.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) and our Hawaii federation, the Pacific Pet Alliance, encourage all concerned Hawaiian dog breeders and owners to contact the committee members and express their views before […]

Hobby breeders could soon be considered "dealers" in Tennessee if H148 or its companion S1686 are enacted. Both bills would require anyone who breeds and sells more than one litter of puppies per year to be licensed as a "dealer." In Tennessee, dealers must be inspected by the state and pay anywhere from $125-$1000 annually […]

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 […]