American Kennel Club - The Dog's Champion

Legislative Information and Updates from the AKC

A Publication of the AKC Government Relations Department

January 2018

What’s New from AKC Government Relations

Happy New Year from all of us at the American Kennel Club!

A new year means new bills and ordinances introduced at the federal, state, and local level that will affect responsible dog owners, breeders, and exhibitors. Congress, thirty-five states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, are already in session. This means the AKC Government Relations (GR) Department is also already busy at work. But we can’t do this alone. There are several ways you can help us ensure your rights are protected.

New Year, New Dog Laws – What Does This Mean for You and Your Dogs?

2017 was another busy year for AKC Government Relations, its state federations, and responsible dog owners and breeders advocating for dogs. Over 2,000 bills impacting animals were monitored by AKC GR. Several new laws impacting dog owners and breeders were enacted over the past year, and it is imperative for responsible owners to ensure they are in compliance with all laws.

Why Breed Bans Affect You

Does your dog have almond shaped eyes? A heavy and muscular neck? A tail medium in length that tapers to a point? A smooth and short coat? A broad chest? If you said yes to these questions, then congratulations, you own a “pit bull” …At least according to the City and County of San Francisco’s Department of Animal Care and Control.

AKC GR Celebrates 2017 Legislative Successes

Thanks to the amazing efforts of AKC federations, clubs, liaisons, and dog advocates across the country, 2017 was another year of many victories for responsible owners and breeders. Visit our Legislative Success page to view a list of highlights from across the country. Thank you to all who work so tirelessly on behalf of our dogs and our sport!

AKC GR Awards Help Support Your Club’s Community Outreach – Nominate your legislator today!

It’s that time of year again … It’s time to express your appreciation for a federal, state, or local elected official who has taken a stand to protect responsible dog ownership.

Consider nominating a deserving legislator you have worked with for an AKC Legislator of the Year Award. This award is a wonderful way to recognize lawmakers who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to promoting responsible dog ownership, the well-being of dogs, and protecting the rights of dog owners, exhibitors, and responsible breeders.

Legislative Information and Updates

Congress, 35 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 2,000 bills on the federal, state, and local levels. A large number of these bill have been carried over from 2017. Additional bills will be introduced as more legislatures come back into session for the new year. For more information on these bills, and information on how you can get involved, visit our Legislative Action Center at www.akcgr.org. Here are some highlights of pending canine legislation issues across the country.

Visit the 2018 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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