The Maryland Legislature has approved a bill which will prohibit retail pet stores (defined as any “for profit establishment open to the public that sells or offers for sale domestic animals to be kept as pets”) from selling any dogs or cats.  Instead, they would only be allowed to “showcase” animals available for adoption from […]

Breeding and showing dogs is a roller-coaster ride, with exhilarating highs and great disappointments in equal measure. You must make difficult decisions, and when they impact friends, saying "no" can be especially hard. If you own a stud dog, one of those difficult decisions will be turning down a bitch owner who wishes to breed […]

March came in like a lion and continues to roar for the American Kennel Club’s Government Relations department. The GR department is currently tracking over 1,860 pieces of legislation to ensure that your rights as a dog owner, breeder, and fancier are not infringed upon. As always, if you are aware of a new local […]

State Issues: News from the State Capitols Here are some highlights of state-level issues AKC GR is currently tracking. Visit the 2018 Legislation Tracking page and click on your state to get the latest updates on state bills monitored by the AKC.  Alabama – SB 232, among numerous other provisions, establishes procedures by which a dog can […]

The AKC Government Relations department had a busy month meeting with clubs, legislators, associations, and breeders across the country! Jennifer Clark, Director of Legislative Outreach, traveled to Lebanon, Missouri, to speak at the Missouri Pet Breeders Association conference, attended by hundreds of breeders from Missouri and throughout the Midwest.  She spoke on legislative issues impacting […]

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 […]

The Maryland House Economic Matters Committee is scheduled to consider a bill on Monday, March 12, which will prohibit retail pet stores (defined as any “for profit establishment open to the public that sells or offers for sale domestic animals to be kept as pets”) from selling any dogs or cats.  Instead, they would only […]

At its meeting on Wednesday, February 28, the Rhode Island House Health, Education, and Welfare Committee is scheduled to consider two bills of major concern to the American Kennel Club (AKC).  Part of a multi-state effort by animal rights groups to aimed at ending the purposeful breeding of dogs, House Bill 7477 would mandate that […]

On Tuesday, the Agriculture Committee of the Nebraska Legislature will consider Legislative Bill 893, which will prohibit pet retailers from selling pet animals (defined as dogs or cats under 15 months of age) unless the animals were obtained from an animal control facility, animal shelter, or animal rescue. The Nebraska Legislature is unique as it […]

Whether it’s learning pedigrees, wrapping your head around difficult breed standards, or staying on top of important medical issues that can adversely affect our beloved show dogs, achieving success in our sport demands that we remain lifelong students. We pore over a wealth of data and try to make the wisest, most objective decisions possible. […]