Tennessee committees will vote on Monday and Tuesday on two bills of grave concern to dog owners. Senate Bill 2175 and House Bill 2303 would require regulation, inspection, and potentially high registration fees for dog breeders.  Exemptions in the bill for exhibitors, hunters, and fanciers are essentially meaningless. These bills would also authorize warrantless searches […]

Utah House Bill 132 will define a commercial breeder as “a person who for a fee or other consideration; maintains in a kennel at any time six or more dogs for breeding or six or more cats for breeding and sells, leases, trades, barters, auctions, or provides to another person the offspring of those dogs […]

Wednesday, February 03, 2016 On Monday, February 8, 2016, the New Jersey Senate Economic Growth Committee will consider Senate Bill 63.  The bill repeals consumer protection laws for pet purchasers, prohibits the sale of dogs unless the transactions are conducted face-to-face, and requires pet shops to sell dogs sourced only from shelters and pounds.  Because […]

The Kansas House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources is considering a bill this Wednesday, February 3, that will expand who must be regulated under the state’s breeder laws. The bill will also create new requirements for those who are involved in rescue and those who keep at least 4 dogs during any week for […]

Iowa already has some of the most restrictive breeder regulation in the nation.  Nevertheless, legislation has once again been introduced to expand the state’s regulation of dog breeders, hobbyists, fanciers, groomers, and rescues and require them to pay significant license fees.  Proposals are currently pending in both the Iowa House and Senate.  Iowa dog owners, […]

The AKC Government Relations team has just become aware that the San Marcos City Council will consider a proposed ordinance which will define hobby breeders, limiting them to only three “breeding dogs, cats and/or rabbits.” It is unclear how a breeding dog, cat or rabbit would be identified and what would happen to resident breeders […]

The NY Assembly is expected to vote soon on a bill that would ban “debarking” – a veterinary practice also known as bark softening – in the state unless it is medically necessary to treat an injury, illness, or congenital defect.  The AKC opposes A1679, which would restrict the rights of responsible dog owners to […]

The Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee is scheduled to consider a bill on Tuesday, January 19, that would allow private citizens to remove a dog or cat from a vehicle if they believe that the animal’s health or safety is in danger.  Current Maryland laws only allow law enforcement officers, public safety employees, animal control […]

Thursday, January 14, 2016 On Tuesday, January 19, a committee of Stamford, Connecticut’s Board of Representatives will accept public comment on proposed changes to Chapter 111 of the City’s Code of Ordinances, which currently deals with “Dogs and Other Animals.”  While several changes have already been made at the behest of resident responsible dog owners, […]

The Virginia Courts of Justice – Civil Law Subcommittee has just scheduled a hearing on Monday, January 18, that would include consideration of two bills that allow private citizens to remove a companion animal from a vehicle if they believe that the animal is at risk of serious bodily injury or death.  All who reside […]