Arbitrary federal legislation to restrict the activities of dogs breeders has been re-introduced in Congress.  Though labeled as commercial breeding regulations, the one-size-fits-all requirements can also apply to small hobby breeders.  Your action is urgently needed to stop the animal-rights supported Puppy Protection Act (H.R. 1624) and to protect the rights of responsible dog breeders […]

At its upcoming hearing on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, from 1PM – 5PM, the Massachusetts Joint Judiciary Committee will consider multiple dog-related bills .  The American Kennel Club (AKC) supports two, requests amendments to four, and opposes three of the proposals.   The full agenda with links to bill text can be viewed here. AKC encourages […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Alabama – SB 2 seeks to prohibit inmates from participating in training of dogs for tracking humans. AKC is monitoring this legislation, which has not yet received a committee assignment. Arkansas – HB 1420, among other provisions, defines […]

The bills for this year’s legislative session continue to come in fast and furious. At the state level, we are seeing an abundance of ‘bond for care’ bills, breeder regulation bills, and retail pet sales bans, among other topics. On the federal level, we’ve seen we the reintroduction of the highly problematic Puppy Protection Act […]

Senate Bill 876 was heard yesterday in the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice. The bill was left pending in the committee after several senators expressed concern and urged the sponsor to work with AKC to find some common ground.  A staff member from the AKC GR team attended the hearing and testified against the bill. […]

  Welcome to the AKC . We have put together definitions for dog words that you may not be familiar with. If you have additional questions regarding the glossary, please contact our Special Services Department. A Abdomen The belly or under surface between the chest and the hindquarters. Acetabulum The concave lateral portion of the […]

Recently, two Connecticut General Assembly Joint Committees separately voted to advance dog-related bills with amendments favorable to Connecticut’s responsible dog breeders and owners.  Both the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Connecticut Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners (CFDRDO) expressed concerns with the original text of both bills. SB 1069, relative to kennels […]

On Tuesday, the Lafayette, Colorado, City Council agreed to not proceed with a ban on the private sale of dogs in the city at the recommendation of the proposal’s sponsor. The council decided to continue discussions at a future meeting on how to proceed with addressing concerns and developing alternative solutions. AKC thanks the Colorado […]

House Bill 2238 will require anyone who owns 5 or more intact female dogs over 6 months of age to become a state licensed dog breeder – even if they never breed a litter or sell a single dog. The bill has been scheduled for a hearing tomorrow Wednesday, March 22.  Scroll down to see […]

A set of arbitrary and harmful federal breeder bills (H.R. 2840 /S. 1385) that would mandate new requirements for certain hobby and professional dog breeders are gaining support in Congress.  We urge all responsible dog owners, breeders and enthusiasts to contact their lawmakers about the harmful consequences of the bills. While certain aspects of this […]