- 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 […]

The Suffolk County, New York Legislature has scheduled a public hearing on August 2 for IR-1545, a measure that contains numerous inaccurate, misleading, and unsubstantiated claims that impugn the integrity of the American Kennel Club and the many responsible local AKC dog owners and breeders who devote their lives to the wellbeing of dogs. The […]

-- AKC Introduces New Therapy Dog Title -- I am pleased to announce an exciting new title open to all AKC dogs. The AKC Therapy Dog title, or "THD," will launch June 27th as an official AKC suffix title and will reward dogs and their owners that have provided ongoing community service to help improve […]

The Senate Criminal Justice Committee has approved a new substitute version of HB 1451, and this bill is headed to the floor for a vote of the full Senate. It was placed on the intent calendar late today and is eligible to be voted on ANYTIME NOW! It is imperative that Senators hear from their […]

The American Kennel Club wishes to extend profound thanks to Representative David Simpson for his help in removing House Bill 1451 from the Local, Consent and Resolutions Calendar. House Bill 1451 is now on the Major State Calendar for Tuesday, April 26th. This means that legislators will cast individual votes on the bill.  It is VITAL […]

- Contact Your Representative TODAY! [April 8, 2011] The American Kennel Club Government Relations Department has just learned that House Bill 1451, which seeks to establish extensive regulations for dog breeders, has been rushed through committee and will likely be considered by the House of Representatives any day.  It is imperative that all responsible dog […]

-- New Performance and Agility Opportunities Available to Competitors -- The American Kennel Club has recently launched several new competitive opportunities for exhibitors in Performance Events and Agility, and I’m pleased to update you about the success and progress of these programs. The Blue Grass Coursing Club and Greyhound Association of Northern Georgia hosted the […]

Two overly-broad animal cruelty bills, SB 2127 and SB 2821, have advanced to the Mississippi State Senate calendar and could be voted upon at any time. The American Kennel Club (AKC) supports strong penalties for acts of animal cruelty; however, we have concerns with several aspects of these bills as currently written.  SB 2127 prohibits […]

The West Virginia House Agriculture Committee is scheduled to consider House Bill 2015 this Wednesday, February 2. This problematic bill would limit dog ownership and place restrictions on dog breeding.  The AKC strongly supports the humane treatment of dogs, including providing an adequate and nutritious diet, clean living conditions, regular veterinary care, kind and responsive […]

On January 19, the Wyoming Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously passed Senate File 100, which seeks to add "puppy mills" and "animal hoarding" to the definition of animal cruelty. The AKC strongly supports the humane treatment of dogs, including providing an adequate and nutritious diet, clean living conditions, regular veterinary care, kind and responsive human companionship […]