September marks the beginning of fall, and while summer and many legislative sessions are coming to an end, advocacy never stops. In this newsletter you will learn about the work of two clubs utilizing American Kennel Club (AKC) resources to improve their communities, as well as other programs launched by the Government Relations department. For […]

News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. California – HR 61 is a resolution that declares the Assembly’s intention to only support “sensible and humane therapeutic veterinary procedures for companion animals.”  As defined, this could mean the Assembly opposes such procedures as ear cropping, tail […]

Puck poses for a photo in Wyoming en route to the 2016 Anatolian Shepherd Dog Club of America National Specialty in Pleasanton, Calif. That 6,400 round-mile road trip was the longest time he has been away from home.   His Australian breeders named him Puck, since each puppy in his litter carries a moniker for […]

Moderator Laura Reeves points to an audience member ready to ask a question at a Del Monte Kennel Club Friday Night Forum in Carmel, Calif., last month. Panelists are, from left, Pat Trotter, Dorothy Macdonald, and Kimberly Meredith-Cavanna. Photo by Cook Dog Show Photography.   Bridging the gap is defined as connecting two things — […]

Every year, the American Kennel Club honors five outstanding dogs with the Award for Canine Excellence (ACE).   This is our 16th year honoring our canine heroes and the winners are more amazing than ever before and we want to introduce you to them.   1. Pablo, the Belgian Malinois Pablo is a nine-year-old Military Working […]

The Golden Retriever may be America's third most popular dog breed, but Tammy Tomlinson is not your average Golden owner. From her Ligonier, Pennsylvania-based Hillock Goldens kennel, Tomlinson has bred, owned, and handled the adored Sporting Group breed for over 40 years, and produced scores of conformation champions and dog sport athletes across the spectrum. […]

About, 2,400 years before the founding of the AKC, Plato invented the dog show. Well, not really, but kind of. The great philosopher theorized that all things around us in the natural world—the chair I’m sitting in, the keyboard I’m typing on—are but imperfect versions of the ideal representations of these objects that dwell in a higher realm of consciousness. These […]

As mentioned in a previous alert, the Waynesboro (VA) City Council recently heard a presentation from the City Manager about proposed amendments to City Code regarding animals, which included a provision that would limit the number of animals that may be kept or maintained on any property. At the beginning of last night’s meeting, Mayor […]

The American Kennel Club leads in supporting legislation across the country that protects the rights of responsible dog owners.   The AKC PAC accepts voluntary contributions from individuals and uses these donations to support legislative candidates who defend dog owners’ rights and can effectively influence legislation impacting animal owners. Donations are pooled with contributions from AKC […]

A bill will soon be sent to the governor that would prohibit homeowner’s insurance providers from refusing or cancelling coverage or increasing premiums based solely on the breed of dog owned by the policy holder.  For the past 10 years, AKC has advocated for legislation in New York on this issue, which will protect responsible […]