The Sixth District Court of Appeals in Ohio handed responsible dog owners a monumental victory last week when it ruled that local and state breed-specific "vicious" dog laws were unconstitutional. In a 2-1 decision, the Court held that Toledo Municipal Code 505.14a. (limiting ownership to one "pit bull" per household) and Ohio Revised Code 955.11 […]

On Tuesday, Congressional lawmakers released the final version of a must-pass $1.7 trillion fiscal year 2023 federal spending bill that provides funding for the U.S. Government. The agreement between House and Senate appropriators contains spending for several key areas impacting dogs. It also includes report language impacting canine policy, including legislative proposals AKC has tracked […]

The American Kennel Club (AKC) and our Texas federation of owners, the Responsible Pet Owners Alliance (RPOA), remain deeply concerned with the proposed changes to San Antonio's animal ordinance. The proposed ordinance is unreasonable, unenforceable, and unfairly penalizes responsible dog breeders and owners. For example, if adopted, the new law will impose many burdensome restrictions, […]

The City of Palm Springs will formally introduce a proposal tomorrow (July 11) that will ban all “backyard breeding”, defined as any breeding for a business or commercial purpose on residential property. Those who reside or exhibit in Palm Springs are strongly encouraged to contact the city council TODAY and ask them to oppose the […]

The American Kennel Club Government Relations Department has learned that Louisiana House Bill 163, a bill which further threatens the rights of responsible dog owners and breeders with ownership limits and vague care and conditions standards, will be considered on Thursday, April 12, 2012, by the Louisiana House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural […]

The AKC and the Michigan Association for Purebred Dogs are pleased to report that the Detroit City Council has unanimously rejected a proposed breed ban. Local fanciers and responsible dog owners successfully convinced the council members that breed-specific legislation would be unenforceable, penalize responsible dog owners and would not improve public safety. The proposal would […]

The American Kennel Club Government Relations Department has learned that Representative Bill Caul has publicly stated that he will not move House Bill 6395 forward. As written, HB 6395 attempted to strictly regulate virtually all responsible dog breeders in Michigan. (For more information on HB 6395, click here.) The AKC congratulates all concerned Michigan fanciers […]

Taking the Time to Pick the Right Breed Makes You The Real Hero With the release of the action adventure movie Underdog, the American Kennel Club® reminds moviegoers about the importance of making careful, educated decisions when considering adding a dog to their home. Distributed by (c) Disney Enterprises, Inc., Underdog is a live re-make […]

All dogs are welcome to join the fun whizzing through weave poles and flying over jumps at the FREE AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day, hosted by AKC this September 22, 2012 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at the NC State Fairgrounds. The AKC is celebrating the tenth anniversary of the AKC RDO Days program […]

In 2023, AKC Government Relations (GR) remained actively engaged with federations, club members, breeders, and dog owners nationwide, addressing legislative proposals impacting the dog community. Throughout the year, GR tracked over 2,400 bills and regulations at state and federal levels, emphasizing the importance of constituents' voices in shaping responsible dog ownership policies. The department’s legislative […]