Last night, the Evanston City Council voted to delay action on a measure that would significantly restrict the sale of dogs in the city. As stated in the previous alert, sales would be banned in the city unless the animals are from a shelter, a rescue, or a breeder that BOTH has a USDA license […]

March 9, 2020 The City of Evanston has suspended its procedural rules and will be considering and possibly voting on an ordinance TONIGHT (Monday, March 9) that would ban the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in the city unless the animals are from a shelter, rescue, or a breeder that BOTH has a USDA […]

This weekend, the Virginia House and Senate passed a Substitute version of SB 272 and the bill now heads to the governor. This Substitute included the absolute temperatures and weather conditions language, along with a new (and unclear) provision that would allow an animal control officer to assess a situation a determine the ability of […]

Next week, several Connecticut General Assembly Joint Committees have scheduled public hearings on a number of bills impacting dogs.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) is encouraging all dog owners to review this list and submit your comments via email to the respective committees. Sentencing Commission Review of Animal Cruelty Laws: SB 388 requires the Connecticut […]

Legislatures are in full swing across the country and AKC Government Relations (GR), clubs, breeders, and federations are walking the halls in capitols across the country to advocate on behalf of our dogs, breeding programs, and sport. In addition to the outreach and advocacy work conducted by AKC’s four regional GR staff, GR team members […]

Local/Other: Issues at the City, County, and Metropolitan Levels, and in U.S. Territories 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 […]

Elections Are Coming: Ideas for Identifying Dog-Friendly Candidates Primary elections across the U.S. are narrowing the list of candidates who will be on the ballot on Election Day, November 3. To preserve the future of purebred dogs, it’s important to identify dog-friendly candidates and use your vote to elect those who will protect the rights […]

State Issues: News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Visit the 2020 Legislation Tracking page and click on your state to get the latest updates on state bills monitored by the AKC. Alabama – HB 209 seeks to authorize food service establishments to allow pet dogs in […]

From Our Nation's Capitol AKC Government Relations team continues to monitor Congress for issues of interest to dog owners. Visit our 2020 Legislation Tracking page and click on “US Fed” on the map to get the latest updates on federal bills currently being monitored by the AKC. Highlights of issues we are currently addressing on the federal […]

This Friday, March 6, the Connecticut Joint Environment Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on HB 5338, which seeks to prohibit the sale of animal fighting paraphernalia.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes the difficulties in prosecuting those who engage in animal fighting under current law, which requires catching individuals in the act.  […]