Friday, February 01, 2019 The Hawaii House Agriculture Committee is scheduled to consider several dog-related bills at its meeting on Friday, February 8, 2019.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) and our Hawaii federation, the Pacific Pet Alliance, encourage all concerned Hawaiian dog breeders and owners to contact the committee members and express their views before […]

Thursday, January 31, 2019 New Hampshire House Bill 688 - An Act Relative to Transfer and Inspection of Animals, which both the American Kennel Club (AKC) and our New Hampshire federation, the Dog Owners of the Granite State (DOGS), have serious concerns about, has been scheduled for public hearing on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at […]

Maryland House and Senate committees are considering bills over the next week that could cause an owner to permanently lose ownership of their animals when they are suspected of cruelty – even if they are found not guilty. The AKC agrees that anyone found guilty of cruelty should be punished appropriately, including being responsible for […]

Friday, January 25, 2019 The American Kennel Club (AKC) and our New Hampshire federation, the Dog Owners of the Granite State (DOGS), are seriously concerned about a newly filed bill, HB 688 - An Act Relative to Transfer and Inspection of Animals. The bill is expected to be considered in a public hearing before the […]

Last year, AKC GR tracked more than 2,100 bills and regulatory acts with the potential to affect dogs and dog owners. Success in protecting the rights of dog owners and ensuring the well-being of dogs is achieved through the hard work of dedicated owners, breeders, sportsmen, and exhibitors who take action. What was very clear […]

2018 was another busy year for AKC Government Relations, its state federations, and responsible dog owners and breeders advocating for dogs.  Over 2,100 bills impacting animals were monitored by AKC Government Relations department.  Several new laws impacting dog owners and breeders were enacted over the past year.  It is imperative for responsible owners to ensure […]

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 […]

Dog owners are nothing if not fickle in their tastes. Breed popularity is cyclical through the years and, too often, based on a dog’s random star turn in a movie, TV commercial, or YouTube video (with little research done on the breed’s exercise and grooming needs.) What Happened to Afghan Hounds? Most people are surprised […]

Anyone who mentors newcomers to showing dogs knows the steps to follow on the path to success. Yet we may present the advice as if it were a script,  forgetting to take that occasional refresher course ourselves. The start of the year is an excellent time to get back to dog show basics and try […]

Monday, January 14, 2019 New Jersey Assembly Bill 4552 seeks to prohibit the leasing of dogs and cats.  The American Kennel Club (AKC) is concerned that the bill may impact the ability of responsible breeders to enter into limited-term leases for the purposes of breeding.  Such leases have historically been used by AKC’s preservationist breeders […]