This morning, the Michigan Senate Agriculture Committee passed two bills that would establish a new Animal Welfare Commission in the state to create new rules, licensing, inspections, and other requirements for anyone who breeds dogs in Michigan.    This commission will be given broad powers to regulate animal welfare in the state, and yet those directly […]

New Jersey Senate Bill 1013 will be considered by the Senate Economic Growth Committee on Monday, December 12, 2016. As originally introduced, this measure contained numerous prohibitions on the crating, confinement, transportation and keeping of dogs that would have arbitrarily and unnecessarily banned standard, humane temporary care practices utilized at dog shows and events.    AKC […]

The New Jersey Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee is considering several bills on Monday, November 14, that impact New Jersey dog owners and breeders.  AKC encourages dog owners who reside or participate in events in New Jersey to contact the committee members prior to the hearing regarding these bills on Monday, November 14 at […]

New Jersey Senate Bill 1013 will be considered by the Senate Economic Growth Committee on Thursday September 29, 2016.  The AKC is concerned with many aspects of the bill, and urges all concerned dog owners in New Jersey, especially purebred dog fanciers and enthusiasts, to request that the members of the committee amend the bill […]

The Santa Fe County Commission is holding the first of two public hearings on Tuesday, September 13, on a proposal that would impact all dog owners residing or participating in events in the county. Those who reside or participate in events in the county are strongly encouraged to contact the committee, and if possible, attend […]

Yesterday, AKC GR reported that Massachusetts Senate Bill 2370 was passed by the Senate with amendments.  Since then, we have learned that the bill has been given a new bill number and descriptive title, and assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee.  Now numbered as Senate Bill 2390, the bill is described as, “An […]

Yesterday, the Massachusetts Senate’s Ways and Means Committee passed an amended version of Senate Bill 2370, the “Act Relative to Protecting Puppies and Kittens” (previously Senate Bill 1103).  The bill could be voted on by the full Senate as soon as Tuesday, June 28.  The new version of this bill makes several changes – including […]

Yesterday, a resolution was introduced in the U.S. Senate to declare May 1 as National Purebred Dog Day.  Senate Resolution 447 “designates May 1 as National Purebred Dog Day in celebration of purebred dogs and the many service and companion benefits purebred dogs have and continue to provide to the United States.” The resolution further […]

Friday, April 15, 2016 Connecticut Senate Bill 228, which seeks to allow non-economic damages in cases involving injury to a pet, and House Bill 5344, which seeks to create court-appointed animal advocates in court cases involving pets, are currently pending in the Connecticut General Assembly.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) believes that far-reaching unintended consequences […]

An Illinois committee is scheduled to consider a bill on Tuesday, April 19, that would make several changes to the laws regarding those charged with cruelty and whose animals are seized. AKC’s concerns with HB 4443 include the following: Requirement that peace officers arrest without a warrant or “issue a notice to appear in person” […]