Maine LD 1239, sponsored by Representative Paul Davis, seeks to clarify, streamline, and promote fair animal welfare laws in Maine. The American Kennel Club (AKC) believes LD 1239 represents an improvement over current Maine law, and joins the Federation of Maine Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners (Maine Federation) in support of LD 1239.  Maine […]

The New York Assembly Codes Committee will consider a bill on April 16 that would prohibit insurance companies from denying, cancelling or raising premium rates for homeowners' insurance based on the breed of dog owned by the policyholder. All responsible dog owners and breeders in New York are encouraged to contact the Assembly Codes Committee, […]

The Maryland General Assembly adjourned late yesterday without passing Senate Bill 160, which would have overturned the Tracey v. Solesky court of appeals ruling. The original ruling, issued in April 2012, declared all "pit bulls" as inherently dangerous and held landlords liable for any actions caused by these dogs on their properties. On reconsideration in […]

New Hampshire House Bill 497 seeks to make significant changes to the state’s animal cruelty statutes.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Dog Owners of the Granite State (DOGS), AKC’s New Hampshire federation, both oppose HB 497 as unnecessary.  Concerned New Hampshire dog owners are encouraged to contact the members of the NH House […]

Several bills important to dog owners will be considered by two committees of the New York Assembly on Thursday, April 26, 2012. The American Kennel Club encourages all concerned New York dog owners to consider the provisions of these bills, and to contact the respective committee members with their concerns. ASSEMBLY BILL 3507 – AB […]

A recent donation of $5,000 by the Dog Show Superintendents Association to the AKC’s Canine Legislation Support Fund (CLSF) will allow the American Kennel Club® (AKC®) the ability to strengthen even further its efforts to ensure that the rights of AKC registrants as responsible dog owners are protected.   "The DSSA shares a mutual interest […]

New York, NY – AKC President and CEO Dennis B. Sprung announces staff promotions as a result of a number of recent retirements in several departments. "We are at a time when a number of members of our management team are reaching retirement age," said Sprung. "As a result, AKC's carefully crafted Succession Plan has […]

Enhanced Guidelines and New Format Provide Best Practices For All Responsible Dog Owners As the only purebred dog registry in the country with an ongoing kennel inspection program, the American Kennel Club® (AKC®) is proud to announce recent enhancements to its Care and Conditions of Dogs policy.  Since 2000, AKC has conducted more than 55,000 […]

-- Preserving and Protecting Our Breeds -- In describing his 1889 trip to Idaho, Theodore Roosevelt noted "a certain half melancholy feeling as I gazed on these bison, themselves part of the last remnant of a doomed and nearly vanished race. Few, indeed, are the men who now have, or evermore shall have, the chance […]

--A Shared Agenda for Success-- President John F. Kennedy’s address to a special joint session of Congress on May 25, 1961, was both an historic and a defining moment for the United States. It was during that speech that he announced a plan to put a man on the moon before the decade was over. […]