The Indianapolis City-County Council has approved a proposal to require all owners of intact dogs to register and comply with certain requirements for care and breeding, including reporting each litter produced. The proposal now goes to the mayor for his signature.  Those who wish to contact the mayor should call his office today at (317) […]

South Carolina dog fanciers and enthusiasts: Extensive proposed amendments to Spartanburg County’s Animals ordinance seek to create new licenses for dog breeders, require inspections of their facilities, establish care and conditions standards for all dogs, and impose ownership limits.  The ordinance is likely to be considered at the County Council’s next meeting, scheduled for Monday, […]

Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 15, the New Jersey Senate Environment and Energy Committee is scheduled to consider two dog-related bills.  New Jersey residents are encouraged to contact the members of the committee and respectfully share their concerns. Senate Bill 3607 As introduced, S.3607, dubbed the “Responsible Dog Ownership Act”, seeks to establish new dog related rules, […]

The Animal Welfare Program of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DAFC) has proposed amendments to its Animal Welfare regulations.  The amendments apply to breeding kennels, boarding kennels, shelters, and pet stores licensed by the state. The proposal seeks to improve accountability for animal facilities importing animals for sale or adoption and improve […]

The Missouri House Local Government Committee will again consider two bills tomorrow, February 23 that would prohibit local municipalities from enacting breed-specific laws in the state. The hearing will begin at 4:00pm. AKC supports House Bill 1588 and House Bill 1657 and encourages clubs and those who participate in dog events to contact the committee […]

Monday, July 15, 2019 On Monday, July 22nd, two bills of concern will be reviewed by the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.  Those who reside in Massachusetts are strongly encouraged to contact the committee to express concerns with these bills, which would significantly impact dog trainers and consumer protection. Summary: SB […]

The AKC has learned that on Tuesday, January 10, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold another hearing on House Bill 14, which would remove the breed-specific language that has been in state statute for over 20 years.  It is possible that the committee will vote at this hearing, and responsible Ohio dog owners are strongly […]

California Senate Bill 250 has been amended to allow local governments to utilize existing procedures to issue intact dog licenses or to charge a fee to offset their costs. These amendments are an attempt to prevent the state from having to reimburse local governments for costs associated with enforcement of SB 250. The amendments also […]

Friday, June 14, 2019 The American Kennel Club (AKC) is seriously concerned that the New Hampshire Legislature, through procedural maneuvers avoiding the full legislative process, may be on the verge of eliminating the state’s recognition of “breeders” and instead labeling them as newly-defined “pet vendors”.   Because this proposal is problematic for multiple reasons, it is […]

  -- Importance of Responsible Dog Ownership Now Recognized by 23 States -- As a state that is fighting extremely restrictive dog ordinance proposals, Kentucky has joined the growing list of states that have passed AKC Canine Good Citizen® (CGC™) resolutions. Kentucky's CGC resolution endorses the CGC program and acknowledges that problems related to dogs […]