An important bill for dogs and dog owners in Michigan continues to advance and could be considered by the Michigan Senate very soon. House Bill 4035 would protect the rights of responsible dog owners in the state by prohibiting municipalities from enacting breed-specific laws.
As House Bill 4035 is currently written, local governments would still be permitted to enact other policies and regulations on dog owners and dangerous dogs, so long as these laws do not target specific breeds.
This would be a significant step forward for Michigan dog owners, as there are several local governments in the state that have considered or enacted breed-specific laws over the past several years affecting a wide variety of breeds. These laws impact responsible dog owners and clubs looking to host shows in local Michigan communities.
This bill has already been approved by the House of Representatives and yesterday passed Senate committee. It could be considered by the full Senate at any time. All who reside or participate in dog events in Michigan are encouraged to contact the Michigan State Senate TODAY and ask them to support House Bill 4035.
Talking Points:
The AKC supports House Bill 4035, which protects the rights of dog owners while still allowing communities to enact laws that hold all owners accountable. Visit the Breed-Specific/Dangerous Dog Laws page in the AKC Legislative Action Center for more talking points on this issue.
How to Contact the Senate:
Contact your State Senator: Type your address in using the tool on the Michigan State Legislature website to find the contact information for your State Senator. Let them know you are a constituent when contacting them.
Contact Senate Leadership: Also contact the Senate Leadership to express your support:
Senate President Pro Tempore Aric Nesbitt: https://www.senatoraricnesbitt.com/contact/
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey: https://www.senatormikeshirkey.com/contact/
Senate Majority Floor Leader Peter MacGregor: https://www.senatorpetermacgregor.com/contact/
Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich: https://senatedems.com/ananich/contact/
Senate Minority Floor Leader Stephanie Chang: https://senatedems.com/chang/contact/
AKC Government Relations will continue to closely monitor this legislation and provide more information as it becomes available. For questions or more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.