The AKC Government Relations Department is pleased to assist dog owners with canine legislation issues in their local communities, but we can't help unless we are aware of the proposal. Please contact us at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org when new laws are discussed or introduced in your city or county. We will provide you with resources and […]

The AKC Government Relations Department (GR) is dedicated to protecting the rights of all dog owners, promoting responsible dog ownership and ensuring that laws governing dog ownership and breeding are reasonable, enforceable and non-discriminatory. The Government Relations department leads the AKC's legislative efforts and identifies its goals as "working to protect the rights of all […]

Congratulations to Elin and Jay Phinizy and members of the Dog Owners of the Granite State (D.O.G.S) federation, winners of the first quarter 2018 Walter Bebout Memorial Award for Leadership in Canine Legislation. Elin and Jay Phinizy have been actively involved in Dog Owners of the Granite State since its inception in 1991. As a […]

Election Day 2020 is Tuesday, November 3. This year, the U.S. President, all 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate, 13 governorships, and countless other state and local elections will be contested. To preserve the future of purebred dogs, it’s important to identify dog-friendly candidates and use your […]

The dog days of summer have been busier than ever for the American Kennel Club Government Relations (AKC GR) team and advocates. This August marks the launch of several new initiatives and resources to better serve dogs, dog owners, and the community at large. AKC has noticed an increase of reports of animal rights activists […]

Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Arkansas –  An executive order signed by Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson extends certain liability protections to businesses that open or remain open during the COVID-19 health emergency.  Among other provisions, persons and their employees, agents, and officers shall be immune from civil liability for damages […]

The AKC Government Relations Department is pleased to assist dog owners with canine legislation issues in their local communities, but we can't help unless we are aware of the proposal. Please contact us at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org when new laws are discussed or introduced in your city or county. We will provide you with resources and […]

Since the inception of dog registries and the shift from dogs as functional livestock, divisions have occurred. I will not add to the debate that will never end, but will expand on the differences in finding dogs for detection roles in law enforcement. You can train many dogs to perform tasks both simple and complex. […]

Since the inception of dog registries and the shift from dogs as functional livestock, divisions have occurred. I will not add to the debate that will never end, but will expand on the differences in finding dogs for detection roles in law enforcement. You can train many dogs to perform tasks both simple and complex. […]

In June, staff of the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission recommended that the state’s Licensed Breeders Program should be eliminated due to fundamental flaws with the law that created it, the program’s ineffectiveness, and significant operational costs.  The Sunset Advisory Commission will meet on Thursday, August 20, to accept testimony on recommendations to eliminate 15 regulatory […]