The American Kennel Club’s name is recognized internationally as the standard for excellence in purebred dogs. However, when questioned more deeply, few people truly know the extent of AKC’s commitment to dogs. AKC’s Communications team has developed these new memes to highlight our investment in canine health research, our inspections process, AKC’s support of search and rescue […]

A Wisconsin Assembly Committee is scheduled to consider a bill on Wednesday, January 13, that would make several changes to current law regarding animals taken by shelters and local humane societies.  Those who reside or participate in dog events in Wisconsin are strongly encouraged to contact the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety […]

  Ohio police are mourning the loss of one of their K9 officers after a shootout during an attempted robbery. Saturday morning, police in Canton, Ohio, responded to a call of an alarm at a grocery story. When they arrived, the suspect opened fire, striking their K9 officer Jethro three or four times. The public […]

Fireworks are a universal symbol of celebration. Crowds eagerly gather to take in the dramatic spectacle of the explosion of color that fills the sky, and the inevitable boom and noise that go with it. Unfortunately, many pets have a very different reaction. With their sensitive hearing and lack of understanding about what’s actually going […]

by Faith Rogers, Junior Handler Agility is in every sense of the word a team sport, a combination of speed, consistency, and trust. This is a sport filled with magical runs, but also frustrating disappointments. Perseverance builds character when training plans don't succeed and the only choice is to try again. The dedication and commitment […]

The AKC Canine Health Foundation announced Jan. 6 the funding of a grant that is focused on further understanding hemangiosarcoma, an aggressive form of cancer in dogs. The project, titled "A Novel Approach For Prevention Of Canine Hemangiosarcoma," is funded by three groups whose breeds have been affected by this cancer, the American Boxer Charitable […]

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 […]

In 2015, AKC Government Relations (GR) tracked more than more than 1,700 federal, state and local bills as well as a variety of regulations at the state and federal levels. The GR team is also tracking a number of pre-filed bills for upcoming 2016 legislative sessions. Some of the major issues and emerging trends in […]

Numerous state and local measures have included nearly identical legislative findings that are inaccurate, offensive to breeders, and directly reference “HSUS puppy mill estimates.” Such findings are designed to limit debate from the start, undermine alternative sources of information and put opponents on the defensive. While legislative findings are not actual laws, inaccurate, pejorative or […]

AKC Government Relations has tracked more than a dozen bills introduced in 2015 that would require owners accused (but not convicted) of cruelty to pre-pay for the care of the animals for the period of a trial. In many cases, if an individual is late with a payment or misses a payment, they permanently forfeit […]