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 […]

Louisiana legislative staff has confirmed with AKC's Government Relations Department that today's consideration of Louisiana House Bill 163 by the House Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development Committee was voluntarily deferred. This means that no action was taken, and the bill remains in committee. The bill may, however, be considered at a future committee hearing. […]

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 […]

Patricia M. Cruz, William J. Feeney, & Thomas S. Powers Elected   At the Annual Meeting of the American Kennel Club on March 13, 2012, the AKC Board of Directors Class of 2016 was elected. The three Directors elected were: Patricia M. Cruz, Delegate for Heart of the Plains Kennel Club; William J. Feeney, Delegate for […]

Massachusetts House Bill 2809 seeks to unnecessarily and severely limit keeping dogs outdoors, and seeks to introduce guardianship language into Massachusetts statutory law when referring to animal ownership. Both the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Massachusetts Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners oppose HB 2809. Concerned Massachusetts dog breeders and owners should […]

The American Kennel Club is proud to announce the Colorado Federation of Dog Clubs has been awarded the Walter Bebout Memorial Award for Leadership in Canine Legislation. Named for the late Director of the AKC Government Relations Department, the “Bebout” award recognizes those federations and owner/breeder organizations that have been actively involved in educating legislators […]

- Highlights of 2011 - It was a pleasure to be with many of you in Florida this weekend as we enjoyed the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, AKC Agility Invitational, AKC National Obedience Invitational and the surrounding festivities. We hope you enjoyed the incredible series of events that unfolded over the weekend. We are all aware […]

- AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days Are Key to Public Education - This September hundreds of free community events for dog lovers across the country will participate in the ninth annual AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days. The AKC will host its flagship event in Raleigh, NC on Saturday, Sept. 24th. We welcome AKC clubs, Canine […]

A Massachusetts legislative committee is scheduled to consider House Bill 1023 on July 19 - a bill that would significantly change the definition of kennel to encompass training facilities or any dog event with more than 12 dogs. All those meeting the new criteria would be required to comply with all state and local licensing […]

Texas Governor Rick Perry has signed House Bill 1451 into law. AKC opposed this legislation as it will negatively impact responsible owners and breeders and will not improve animal welfare in Texas. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation is ordered to promulgate regulations by March 31, 2012. Those meeting the thresholds set forth in […]