The Senate Local Government Committee is scheduled to hear SB 861 on Monday, August 29th upon adjournment of floor session in room 3191. As California is approaching the end of their legislative session, things are expected to move very quickly. It is critical that you contact your state senator immediately. Your voice is especially important […]

Calling all California dog owners!  Governor Schwarzenegger still has not taken action on SB861.  IF HE DOES NOT VETO THE BILL BEFORE OCTOBER 9th , IT WILL BECOME LAW WITHOUT HIS SIGNATURE.  Please contact the governor's office TODAY and urge him to veto this misguided bill!   Reminder: LAST CHANCE TO STOP BSL IN CALIFORNIA! […]

-- Click here for more information about PAWS -- --Monday June, 13 AKC Delegate Meeting, Chicago IL Remarks from Dr. James Holt, AKC's Legislative Liaison Regarding the Pet Animal Welfare Statute of 2005-- The Chair now calls on Dr. James Holt, AKC's Legislative Liaison to address this body. Dr. Holt: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and […]

The California State Assembly will resume its session on August 15th, and SB 861 remains on the Assembly floor. Concerned dog owners will recall that the bill, which originally would have permitted municipalities to broadly regulate and/or restrict dogs based on their breed, was amended in June to only allow breed-specific measures that pertain to […]

Despite opposition from the American Kennel Club, the California Veterinary Medical Association, The Animal Council, the Sacramento Council of Dog Clubs, and a host of other animal organizations, SB 861 passed the Assembly Local Government Committee yesterday. The bill would permit municipalities in California to enact breed-specific laws. However, SB 861 was amended on Wednesday […]

In response to a request from San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome, Senator Jackie Speier is sponsoring SB 861, a bill that will allow local governments to regulate dogs by breed as long as they do not ban specific breeds. Currently, California is one of 12 states that prohibits local governments from enacting breed-specific ordinances. SB […]

Under the guise of updating Albuquerque's animal control ordinance to help reduce euthanasia rates at local animal shelters, City Councilor Sally Mayer has instead proposed sweeping changes that would drastically limit fanciers' ability to breed and own dogs, while doing little to address the city's problems with irresponsible ownership. The proposal is currently set for […]

-- Click here for more information about PAWS -- The following is an interview with AKC's federal government relations consultant Jim Holt in response to dog owners' questions about PAWS. The article originally appeared in Dog News June 10th, 2005. Who is regulated under current law and how would PAWS change that? In simple terms, […]

-- Click here for more information about PAWS -- To help dog owners better understand the recently introduced PAWS legislation, please see the bill analysis below as prepared by Dr. James Holt, AKC's federal government relations consultant. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS OF S. 1139/H.R. 2669, THE "PET ANIMAL WELFARE STATUTE" (PAWS) INTRODUCED MAY 26, 2005. […]

There are currently two ordinances being proposed at the county level in Florida which have the potential to dramatically impact the rights of fanciers and hobby breeders. Your help is needed to defeat these proposals and protect the rights of Floridians to responsibly breed, show and own unaltered animals.   Palm Beach County Palm Beach […]