American Kennel Club - The Dog's Champion

Legislative Information and Updates from the AKC

A Publication of the AKC Government Relations Department

February 2017

What’s New from AKC Government Relations

Recently, we focused on the importance of reaching out to your local lawmakers at the start of the new year to let them know about your expertise and involvement in canine legislation issues. But there’s another side to that equation that’s equally important: Reaching out to the community – both the community of fellow dog fanciers, breeders, exhibitors and club members, as well as the general public – to educate them about canine legislation issues and how they impact dogs and our sport.

AKC Government Relations has been hard at work reaching out to both lawmakers and the community.

AKC Hosts First-Of-Its-Kind Regional Legislative Conference

As part of AKC GR’s initiative to expand personalized outreach throughout the country, and to focus on region-specific needs and issues, the GR team took the show in January with a first-of-its-kind Regional Legislative Conference

Two Kentucky Lawmakers Receive AKC Legislator of the Year Awards

The American Kennel Club (AKC) is pleased to announce that Kentucky State Senator Robin Webb and State Representative Tommy Turner are recipients of the AKC Legislator of the Year Award for 2016.

AKC Honors GA Senator Bill Heath with Legislator of the Year Award

The American Kennel Club (AKC) honored Georgia Senator Bill Heath with the AKC Legislator of the Year Award on January 12, 2017 in recognition of his dedication to protecting the wellbeing of dogs and the rights of responsible dog owners and sportsmen.

Westwood, NJ Receives AKC Dog-Friendly Community Award

The First Dog Training Club of Northern New Jersey (FDTC) presented the American Kennel Club (AKC) Dog Friendly-Community Award to the Borough of Westwood, New Jersey, in an official in a presentation with Mayor John Birkner, Jr., on Sunday, February 5, 2017.

If you know of a local community that has demonstrated a strong commitment to making a positive, welcoming community for dogs and responsible dog owners and you would like to nominate them for this award, e-mail doglaw@akc.org for a nomination form.

Westwood Mayor John Birkner and FDTC Board Member Joe Rivers celebrate the opening of the club’s new training facility. © FDTC, Used With Permission

Over 90 Lawmakers Join AKC to Celebrate Responsible Dog Ownership at Meet the Breeds Event

More than ninety legislators from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are sharing their public commitment to responsible dog ownership this month by serving as Honorary Chairs for the Meet the Breeds™ event hosted by the American Kennel Club and Westminster Kennel Club.

CT State Representative Kim Rose- Used With Permission

Lawmakers Celebrate Dogs, Responsible Dog Ownership at Meet the Breeds in NYC

In New York City on Saturday, dozens of legislators and legislative staff had the opportunity to meet with thousands of dog breeders, owners, and dog lovers at the annual AKC Meet the Breeds event held in conjunction with the Westminster Kennel Club.

NY Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara presents a proclamation to AKC Chief Executive Officer Dennis Sprung and AKC Board Member Pat Cruz

Legislative Information and Updates

Each year, thousands of dog-related laws and regulations are proposed at the federal, state, and local levels. So far this year, AKC GR has been monitoring more than 1,200 federal and state measures that could impact dog owners. U.S. Congress, forty state legislatures, and Puerto Rico are currently in regular session, and an additional nine states are accepting pre-filed bills for upcoming sessions.

Visit the 2017 Legislation Tracking page for the most up-to-date information on state and federal legislation. This site, updated each weekday, provides the latest bill text, status, and links to legislative alerts posted by the AKC. Click on the links below to view highlights of issues that are being tracked by AKC Government Relations:

Federal — issues that may affect all dog owners in the U.S.
State — issues specific to your state
Local/Other — issues at the city, county, and metropolitan levels, and in U.S. territories

Please contact AKC GR at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org for more information or to let us know what’s happening in your local community.

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