American Kennel Club - The Dog's Champion

Legislative Information and Updates from the AKC

A Publication of the AKC Government Relations Department

August 2017

What’s New from AKC Government Relations

AKC GR staff have been busy the past several weeks traveling around the country sharing information on our positive and effective approaches to canine legislation. Everywhere we travelled lawmakers expressed their desire to work with AKC and local clubs and their appreciation of AKC’s common-sense, constructive approach to canine legislation.

AKC GR Out and About:
AKC GR Expands Outreach at Legislative Conferences

Over the past three weeks, AKC Government Relations staff has traveled around the country to interact with state and county lawmakers at national legislative conferences.

Jennifer Clark, Director, Legislative Outreach and Melissa Ferrell, Research Analyst at NCSL conference in Boston, MA
Photo ©AKC Government Relations.

AKC In Session:
Congress Goes to the Dogs

AKC Government Relations is pleased to share the latest issue of our In Session Congressional newsletter, which is sent to members of Congress and staff. This issue highlights our Capitol Hill celebration of National Purebred Dog Day, which included a reception where members of Congress, staff and guests could meet purebred dogs representing each breed group.

Bebout Award Winner Donates Prize to AKC’s Canine Legislative Support Fund

Ann Lettis, President of the Responsible Dog Owners Association of New York and winner of the AKC’s Walter Bebout Memorial Award for Leadership in Canine Legislation, has announced that she is donating the prize money accompanying the award to the AKC’s Canine Legislative Support Fund.

More Regulations Needed for Shelters and Rescues

Shelters and rescues now are the biggest source of dogs in the pet marketplace. Regulations would help protect the public from irresponsible shelter practices. Read more about this issue in a recent article by Patti Strand, President of the National Animal Interest Alliance.

Legislative Information and Updates

Seven states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are currently in session, and seven states are in a special legislative session. AKC Government Relations is currently tracking more than 1,700 bills on the federal, state, and local levels. For more information on these bills, and information on how you can get involved, visit our Legislative Action Center. Here are some highlights of pending canine legislation issues across the country.

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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