April 17, 2026 The Honorable G. T. Thompson Chairman House Agriculture Committee U.S. House of Representatives 400 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 RE:        American Kennel Club Support for H.R. 7567 – the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. Dear Chairman Thompson. On behalf of the American Kennel Club (AKC), our […]

On Wednesday, November 17, more than one dozen animal bills impacting dogs and breeders are on the agenda for review by the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (JENRA). The virtual public hearing is scheduled to start at 2pm.  The American Kennel Club Government Relations Department (AKC GR) has tracked most of […]

Several bills impacting animals and animal ownership are scheduled for hearings at the Florida state legislature this Tuesday, January 21, 2020. SB 1044 is on the agenda of Senate Criminal Justice Committee.  Among other provisions, SB 1044 would require veterinarians to report suspected animal cruelty against a dog or cat to a law enforcement or […]

Florida dog owners breathed sighs of relief when the hard-fought 2023 Florida legislative session adjourned on Friday, May 5th. Several problematic bills did not advance, while positive bills passed in the state legislature and await action by the Governor. Possibly the most egregious state-level dog breeder bills (HB 1581/SB 1492) filed in the U.S. to […]

September 16, 2019 An overreaching animal ordinance is back on the agenda for 9/17/19 in Hattiesburg, MS.  The ordinance has been minimally amended, and additional amendments might be added.   However, as of the time of this message, many provisions of concern remain in Draft #3 of the ordinance, and new problematic provisions have been added. […]

On October 22, the Ojai City Council voted 4-1 to adopt a first-in-the-nation law that prohibits the breeding of dogs and cats with “congenital anatomical features” that are likely to cause the animal or its offspring to suffer pain, deformity, or difficult expressing natural behaviors, difficulty breathing, difficultly with physical exertion or exercise, or difficulty […]

Tomorrow, Tuesday April 8, 2025, the Board of County Commissioners of Marion County, Florida, will consider adopting animal-related changes to the County’s Land Development Code.  Should these amendments be adopted, they will impact those who reside in unincorporated areas of the county.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Florida Association of Kennel Clubs (FAKC) […]

-- Join Us in the AKC Conversation -- This isn't so much a Chairman's Report as it is a little straight talk among friends. And I intend it to be the first of many. We are fortunate that my predecessors, Ron Menaker and David Merriam, had the foresight to carefully plan for a financially sound […]

More Canine Victims of the Hurricanes Airlifted Out of Ravaged Area Continuing its efforts to aid the canine victims of the hurricane affected areas, the American Kennel Club (AKC®), along with its affiliate AKC Companion Animal Recovery (AKC CAR), airlifted 4,000 pounds of furry passengers to Illinois and Wisconsin. This is the sixth airlift of […]

Including the family dog in the family vacation plans this summer can be a great alternative to sending Rover off to the local kennel. By planning ahead, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable trip for you and your cherished canine companion. The American Kennel Club provides tips on what you need to know: By […]