By Stephanie Smith NPR’s recent story With Rescue Dogs In Demand, More Shelters Look Far Afield For Fido covered the growing number of dogs being transported across state lines for resale and rescue in other parts of the country. In areas like New England, the Northeast, the Northwest and the Great Lakes, stringent spay and […]

'Dog-Napping' a Serious Crime   AKC Appearance on ABC's Good Morning America Highlights Prevalence of Trend and Reminds Owners to Keep Pets Safe The American Kennel Club® continues to remind pet owners to heed warnings about an alarming rise in "dog–nappings." State houses across America have taken notice and are proposing laws to toughen penalties […]

Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Boulder Non-Profits Each Received $2,000   AKC Companion Animal Recovery (AKC CAR), working in conjunction with the American Kennel Club and its affiliated clubs in Colorado, has donated $6,000 from its Canine Support and Relief Fund to three non-profits caring for pets displaced as a result of the tragic wildfires […]

  Eleven new AKC® National Agility Champions were crowned yesterday at the 2012 AKC National Agility Championship (NAC) sponsored by J &J Dog Supplies, held March 30 – April 1 in Reno, Nevada. The American Kennel Club® event brought together an entry of more than 900 dogs from across the country to compete for the […]

The American Kennel Club has been advocating for purebred dog owners since our founding in 1884. Yet in 1990 we stepped up our efforts in the political arena with the formation of the Canine Legislation department. Now the time has come again for AKC to further enhance our role in protecting owners' and breeders' rights. […]

For the past eight years, I have been fortunate to serve on the Board of this great American Kennel Club, the world’s strongest and most effective champion for purebred dogs and our Sport. It has been a privilege to play a role in the advancement of AKC’s mission and to be a part of so […]

On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, the Land Development Regulation Commission of Marion County, Florida, will hold  a public hearing on “Limitations on Ownership and Possession of Dogs and Cats for unincorporated areas of the county”.  The proposal includes updated, restrictive definitions impacting dog ownership in the county, including commercial breeder (new), high volume breeder (new), […]

In addition to bills to be considered by the Joint Judiciary Committee, the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture is also scheduled to consider several dog-related bills on Tuesday, September 12.

Friday, March 30, 2018 After amendment and passage by the New Hampshire Senate, Senate Bill 569, which seeks to expand those considered “commercial kennels” by the state and create bond for care requirements, has been scheduled for consideration by the House Environment and Agriculture Committee on Wednesday, April 4, 2018.  Both the American Kennel Club […]

Oklahoma Senate Bill 1340 and Senate Bill 1712, which seek to provide state oversight over certain dog breeders, will be considered by the House Economic Development and Financial Services Committee on Wednesday, March 24.  We strongly urge all concerned responsible dog breeders and owners in Oklahoma to consider the provisions of the bills (described below), […]