House Bill 4094 would require owners of unsterilized “pit bull dogs” and additional breeds to register their dogs with a governmental animal control agency and remit fees of $25.  The bill contains additional problematic provisions for all South Carolina dog owners. H. 4094 is on the agenda of the House Special Laws Subcommittee for Thursday, […]

A bill that exempts individual participants in squirrel or furbearing animal field trials from the Texas hunting license requirement is scheduled for consideration by the full Texas House of Representatives today, May 22. If signed into law, the bill will only require a field trial organizer to purchase a field trial permit to cover all […]

The voices of Tennessee dog owners were heard! Senate Bill 2013, legislation supported by the American Kennel Club (AKC), was signed by Governor Bill Lee on June 1st, and takes effect on July 1, 2022. Also known as “Joker’s Law,” this bill revises the offense of killing or severely injuring a police, fire, search-and-rescue, or […]

-- Click here for more information about PAWS --   On May 26, 2005 Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) introduced legislation which will bring under coverage of the federal Animal Welfare Act some persons who import dogs for resale or sell dogs at retail through the internet or the mass media which they did not breed […]

Yesterday, the Vermont Senate favorably voted passage of amended House Bill 421. The bill would (1) narrow the list of individuals authorized as “humane officers” who investigate cases of animal cruelty and (2) mandate the completion of trainings approved by the Animal Cruelty Investigation Advisory Board (“Board”).  As noted in this prior alert, the American […]

With the COVID-19 pandemic altering the Massachusetts legislature’s process last year, “Nero’s Law”, which would allow emergency care and transportation for a police dog injured in the line of duty, unfortunately did not make it onto the Governor’s desk before the end of the session.  The bill is named for “Nero”, the K9 partner of […]

The AKC is pleased to report that Ohio Governor Kasich signed House Bill 14 this morning, thereby finally removing the term "pit bull" from the state's definition of "vicious dog" and holding all dog owners accountable, regardless of the breed they own. The AKC believes this new law goes a long way toward ensuring that […]

New York Assembly Bill 5507, sponsored by Assemblyman Greg Ball, seeks to classify more residents as "pet dealers"; seeks to impose ambiguous rules on all animal facilities, including homes of responsible breeders and shelters; and to define and regulate certain entities as commercial kennels.  The American Kennel Club is urging all concerned responsible dog breeders […]

GCH Lockenhaus' Rumor Has It V Kenlyn, a German Shepherd Dog known as “Rumor,” triumphed over more than 4,000 dogs to earn a $50,000 cash prize and the title of Best in Show at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, held this weekend in Orlando, Fla. “Rumor,” owned by Deborah Stern, Pamela Buckles, Patti Dukeman, Pam McElheney […]

From skateboarding dogs to cats working the runway, New Yorkers will have the opportunity to meet these and more than 200 different dog and cat breeds up close and personal when the American Kennel Club (AKC®) and The International Cat Association (TICA) host the fourth annual AKC Meet the Breeds® event October 20 & 21 […]